NC Hillel Blog

• Welcoming New Hillel Staff

  Jun 5, 2018
  We're so excited to welcome new colleagues to our North Carolina Hillel team!
  Get to know new Hillel staff members Laura, Sarah, Tamara and Jordan!
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• Reflections on the Birthright Extension

  May 30, 2018
  Hear reflections from some of the 12 students on our unique Birthright extension program. 
  
  

  “I really the enjoyed the extension program because it exposed us to new narratives and perspectives. It introduced us to issues within Israeli society that we didn’t get to touch on our Birthright trip. We spent our time in south Tel Aviv, home to many asylum seekers from North African countries like Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. We met a girl our age who fled war in Sudan and crossed the Egyptian border illegally and is now seeking citizenship. Hearing her story was very inspiring and made me feel extremely grateful for living safely in a country free from persecution and war..."

  
  
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• Exploring Jerusalem

  May 22, 2018
  
  We spent Friday night bringing in Shabbat as a community in Jerusalem by eating dinner, singing songs, and reflecting on our day. On Saturday morning we got to sleep in (!!!) for Shabbat. We then
  headed by foot to the Israel Museum. On the way we had the opportunity to take in Jerusalem on Shabbat, a much quieter, calmer version of the city than we saw Friday afternoon in the shuk. We also walked down Ben Gurion Boulevard, where many important government buildings are located.
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• Up North: both Fun and Heartbreak

  May 19, 2018
  
  
  After waking up at the crack of dawn, we enjoyed a traditional Israeli breakfast. We all loaded up the bus and headed north towards the Galilee, where we took a nature walk. We walked along the Israel trail where many of us fell in the water and mud (but it was still a blast)! The views were outstanding and it was cool seeing the mountains, river, and beautiful fields of flowers. It served as a nice juxtaposition to the urbanization of Tel Aviv we saw yesterday. We ate a delicious lunch of falafel or schwarma. 
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• 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.
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• 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. 
  
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• 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. 

   

  
  
  
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• 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. 

  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. 

  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. 
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• 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...
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• "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...
  
  

   
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