Opportunity to grow
The room was packed. One would assume that because it was filled with so many people one would hear the whispers and giggles of those distracted from prayer, but, in that special setting, that assumption ...
Fake news?
Eitan posing a question to the Chargé d’affaires
“I hope you aren’t spreading fake news!” jested Emily. A quick-witted Hungarian girl was grilling the American Charge d’Affaires to Hungary about the U.S.’s inadequate reaction to the rigged ...
A unique sense of happiness
It’s only the second day of the exchange and I’m already skiving off during lunch. While no one in the group normally struggles with truancy, all six of us are actively involved in skipping the ...
Feeling of pride
“Ok guys, time to go to your rooms. See you all in six hours, and please try to get some sleep. We have a big travel day tomorrow” Rabbi Soskil announced. We shuddered as he delivered these dreaded ...
Familiarity in a foreign world
Amidst the jabber of the unfamiliar Hungarian language, I finally heard familiar words. I sighed in relief, as after two days of understanding not one word of Hungarian, these words had meaning to me: ...
Importance of my Jewish education
With the crowd breathing deeply, the final hugs and words of departure were being given. Leaving Budapest, Hungary and twenty-four amazing students I had learn to call my friends and family over the ...
Continuing our history
Peering up at me, little smiling face awaited to learn about and meet “real Americans”. Being my first time out of the country, I joined eleven other Beth Tfiloh students on a journey to Hungry ...
An incredible journey
During these four amazing days in Budapest, Hungary, I had the privilege of attending a cultural, religious, and social experiment that has truly changed my life for the better. Throughout this incredible ...
Importance of community
My first time in a European country, I had no idea what to expect. We got to the school and were instantly greeted by countless of smiling, nervous faces. I immediately sprang into action, meeting every ...
Embracing the Jewish culture
One week after a trip of a lifetime, to Hungary, and I am still drowning in work. Neither the school work, nor my friends and family’s lives stopped for me during the trip. Consequently, I have a ...
Differences between our experiences as Jews
Surrounding a crackling campfire at midnight, we sing, dance, eat as friends. Friends that have only known each other for four days but it feels like more. One song, one dance, one s’more after another; ...
Inspirational
It’s weird to transition from vacation back to regular life. It’s something most people go through a few times in their life but not really something we get used to. Despite one of my fellow trip ...
Jewish Identity
It might be a culture or a religion or a mindset or just a set of circumstances but being Jewish will always be an unbreakable connection to a common history, present and future. This was the undeniable ...
What if you had a chance to change the world?
What if you had a chance to change the world? One of the great questions in my favorite literary genre of science fiction is what if you could travel in time and manipulate some small thing, so that ...
Create your own future
“Shabbat Shalom to Julia! . . . . Shabbat Shalom to Zita! . . . . Shabbat Shalom to Abel! . . . . Sha Sha Shabbat Shalom!”
The Shabbat song, incorporating the names of Scheibor Sandor and Beth Tfiloh ...
Gratitude
I would like to express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to travel to Hungary with my talented colleagues and an outstanding group of BT students for “Part 2” of the Morim/Limmud Project. ...
Now What?
“Now what?” A Hungarian teenager questioned the American Chargé D’affaires of Hungary. Discussing the Hungarian politics, the students at Scheiber Sándor wonder what they can do to change the government’s opinion. A month ago over 100,000 people, including the Hungarian teenagers, protested in Budapest...
I guess you just had to be there
There are moments in life that are hard to explain. Like when the most hilarious thing happens but then when you tell it over to new people they just stare at you. You can’t understand what they didn’t ...
Bridging Jewish communities
Dear Friends,
You are soon arriving home.
This was our third time that we had spent together. The third, but not the last. That is why we can surely be happy and optimistic.
I am sure that all of us think ...
Bearing witness
As someone whose home runs on a well, I appreciate rain. Of course, like most people, I would rather not see precipitation while I’m traveling and certainly not while I’m touring outside. With one ...
