Yam L'Yam

As a group, we entered our weekend dividing separate ways. Many of us found ourselves with family, friends, and in some cases within the home of strangers. Although a few began the weekend with some doubts about being thrown in a new environment with people they'd never met, I can confidently say that I think the majority of us had a pleasant weekend, and started or strengthened friendships we look back on happy that we were given the chance to create. It is also likely that a great deal of us entered our Yam L'Yam adventure with differing amounts of worrying questions or uncertainty. However, I feel that in the end through those 5 days of shared moments, challenges, and activities, we created a bond unique to anything we've experienced so far this semester. As we stepped onto the bus ride that would lead us to start Yam L'Yam, everyone was excited and buzzing with stories from Pesach, and thoughts of a trip to come. After a couple hours of chatting and rest, both buses reconvened at a water path, where the entire NFTY EIE group was divided into two separate groups that each possessed their own individual guide. Personally, I found this composition of new groups a refreshing change from our usual Adama and Shmayim setting, and I think for many it gave the chance to interact with, and form stronger relationships with people they hadn't engaged with as much before. Each group then set out for the opening part of Yam L'Yam, where everyone's little efforts to keep primarily dry became short-lived after some water games with our guides. Needless to say, everyone that trudged back up on shore ended up much more soaked than expected!

After a fresh change of clothes, our bus brought us to our campsite where we would end up staying for two nights due to some 'rain difficulties'. We were also divided into smaller 'sub-groups', where we would cook breakfast and lunch, and on one day complete a team navigation hike together! I found these groups a fun bonding experience, as they offered the opportunity to both eat and have conversations with individuals in a close environment that we otherwise might not have. It was also fun to challenge ourselves in stepping up for different leadership positions within the group, whether that be trying to cook a meal, chop some vegetables, or spy on other groups for food ideas. When we arrived at our camp sites, I think many of us were surprised to find set tents, ice-cream, and even bathrooms, (and porta-potties). Over the course of the next few days, we embarked on multiple hikes down our first mountain, to a water pool, and through so much breathtaking scenery. Our Saturday night also ended with a wonderfully planned Havdalah, that ended in rap presentations from different people, Israeli dancing, and an all-inclusive song sesh. Although our hikes from the trip were occasionally separated by bus rides, there was still an overriding sense of fun and accomplishment as each day passed! This also included one hike that was back up a mountain we had walked down after visiting a water well on our second day, which I think many of us would agree to be the most challenging physical work of the trip. Although the walk was about a 20-30 minute steeper uphill, many of us finished the hike bubbling with energy and a perception of personal pride and achievement. I also found the amount of encouragement I heard being shouted from person to person, no matter their place on the hill amazing. 

Some of my favourite memories of the trip were also formed as our day came to a close, and a fire started at night that was surrounded by marshmallows, stories, and the laughter of our group. It was important that although many of us still had access to our phones, we chose the presence of one another after a long exhausting day. It was in those moments that were filled with the noise from talking and music, that I think many of us felt the strength of community we had established over the course of the past 2 and a half months. 

As our final day on Yam L'Yam approached, we changed our pace from hiking to biking. Although many of us started peddling with doubts and skepticism about our 'biking abilities' covered up by humour, the overall ride was about an hour and a half pleasant journey with beautiful nofs! Most of the ride was on the paved paths of village streets or more main roads, with some downhills and some uphills many stopped and walked up. However as we finally approached the Mediterranean Sea there was a sense of finale in spending the rest of the afternoon cooling off with ice cream, tanning, and washing off the grime of the past few days with fun (and safe!) fights in the cool water by the beach for a few hours.  

Although some of us may have been 'more in our zone' than others beginning the trip, we all took huge steps out of our comfort zones; whether gaining the confidence to try new activities, or interacting with newer individuals. Inevitably, we all grew together as a community in sharing such an unforgettable experience. 

Also a huge shoutout to Eliora Goodman and Ryan Gordon for providing 99% of the photographs featured on this post! Thank you for documenting this experience for us :)

What was your favourite memory from Yam L'Yam? Do you think you would embark on a similar 'hiking adventure' again?