NC Hillel Blog

Inspiration at Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl

May 18, 2018

Today we started by going to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust museum. Our guide, Jackie, led us on an educational and emotional tour, while still adding touches of humor and optimism. It was so humbling to walk through the children’s memorial and realize that someone as young as 4 was not given special consideration because of their age. All of us had varying levels of understanding about the Holocaust but we all left Yad Vashem with a newfound motivation to spread knowledge of the Holocaust and what could have changed the outcome.

First Day on Birthright

May 15, 2018

This morning we woke up and even though we were feeling a bit jet-lagged, it was so exciting to begin the day! After a quick breakfast at Aroma, the "Israeli Starbucks," according to Ran, we got on the bus. We started with a journey to Independence Hall, where Israel was founded. It was incredibly interesting for our group to see where the State of Israel began. Visiting Independence Hall was an amazing way to begin our trip.

Work With Us!

Apr 5, 2018

Spread the word: there's a great opportunity to join our staff of Jewish professionals! We're searching for our next Jewish Student Life Coordinator - Greensboro. Join our team and help enrich the lives of Jewish students at UNC-Greensboro, a diverse public institution, and Guilford College, a small, private, liberal arts campus...

To see the full job description and apply, click here.

Last Day: Cardio at Masada

Dec 28, 2017

Hear about students last day on this winter's birthright trip.

We are so sad this trip is coming to a close. Despite our seemingly eclectic group, interactions with other Taglit groups have shown us that we are 187% sure to be the best group birthright has ever seen (Double check those numbers, though). Since we got off our El Al flight in Israel, we haven’t stopped laughing and having fun...

It is your favorite family again. We are so sad this trip is coming to a close. Despite our seemingly eclectic group, interactions with other Taglit groups have shown us that we are 187% sure to be the best group birthright has ever seen (Double check those numbers, though). Since we got off our El Al flight in Israel, we haven’t stopped laughing and having fun.

Hump Day: Camels & A Bedouin Oasis

Dec 27, 2017

Hear about students second day in Jerusalem on this winter's birthright trip.

It’s hump day!!! Just kidding, but we did ride camels today. We had a busy day exploring two deserts. It was interesting to see the differences in the landscapes. Before our desert adventures, we took a tour of Ran’s kibbutz. What an interesting place! The whole idea of a kibbutz is so different from anything we have in the United States. We heard stories of Ran’s “wild” life as the son of a kibbutz member...

"The Salad Trail," Ran's Kibbutz and More!

Dec 26, 2017

The Birthright December adventure continues hear about the "Salad Trail" and more!

We are officially more than halfway through our trip to Israel which is extremely bittersweet. We kicked off an early morning with breakfast and a lecture about the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All of us left with a more comprehensive understanding of the history behind the conflict and what is necessary for a solution. After loading the bus, we were on our way at a confusingly slow pace. As it turns out...

A Trip We'll Never Forget: Mount Herzl & Yad Vashem

Dec 24, 2017

Hear about students second day in Jerusalem on this winter's birthright trip.

Today, Sunday, December 24th, was an amazing but emotionally taxing day! For us a hard day usually means finals or a tough day at work; but for Israelis, any day could be a hard day. Today we visited Mount Herzl, the burial site for Israel's most beloved: Their former leaders and the Israeli Defense Force soldiers. We were moved by...

Jerusalem!

Dec 23, 2017

The Birthright December adventure continues in Jerusalem!

We started out the day by visiting the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall. Many people found the Wall to be an emotional experience, crying with joy when they witnessed and touched it. We found it interesting that there is controversy over the Orthodox Jews controlling access to the Wall. Going to the Western Wall was an unforgettable experience, but the true surprise came from immersing ourselves in the Shuk (Jerusalem's open-air market)...

The Birthright Adventure Continues

Dec 22, 2017

The Birthright December adventure continues in Tzfat and the Sea of Galilee!

Today was just another day...OF ADVENTURE! We started off by visiting an artist in Tzfat named David Friedman who sees the world through lens of Jewish spirituality and mysticism. We visited his studio, and his explanations of the paintings blew our minds and opened our hearts- we can't wait to share it with you. Next we toured around the cobblestone streets of Tzfat (also spelled Zafed or Tsfat...there is lots of dispute over the correct spelling) where we learned that all of the details of the city have Jewish meaning; for example, you can find blue everywhere that is said to ward off evil....

A Letter Home

Dec 20, 2017

Birthright has begun! The first blog post is here!

Hi Mom & Dad!

Just finished our first full day in Israel and we are never coming home! Just kidding!! The theme of the day was borders and security. We spent our time exploring the Golan heights and even had a chance to taste some Israeli wine. #yolo #IsraeliLife...