Page 24 - Issue 33

ago on my gap
year - that the
simple act of
getting to know a
group of people
was the most
exciting thing in
the world.
Together, we
established a
home together,
opened a shared
bank account,
and shaped our
shared lives. In honor of our beautiful home, Carmiel, we
call ourselves Kvutzat Kerem (vineyard). We live in the
Educator’s Kibbutz in Carmiel. All of us are educators,
working at various Dror Israel projects including HaNoar
HaOved youth movement branches in the Misgav regional
council, an elementary school in Carmiel, the Iftach army
prep program on Ravid, and of course the Eshbal boarding
school.

And thus I find myself beginning my sixth year in Israel, still
excited for every new day and every new challenge. I think
back on the moment that I knew that my connection to this
place was more than a passing phase. It was in the
summer of 2014, when I came to Israel as a counselor on
Habonim Dror’s summer teen trip. I hadn’t been back to
Israel since my gap year two years prior. I stepped off the
plane at Ben Gurion Airport and was flooded with emotion. I
felt, for the first time in two years, myself exhale. I felt
excitement fill my heart for the summer that was ahead of
me. I felt that I was right where I was meant to be; and to
my great surprise, that feeling has never gone away.