Rafi S. (Siren):

For the first time in our lives, we experienced Yom Hazikaron in Israel. Hearing the siren felt surreal; although we had watched it in school many times, I never truly realized how authentic and real it was. Being together with our class and experiencing this event collectively was so impactful. Before coming to Israel, I was unaware that two sirens occurred: one at 8:00 p.m. to signal the beginning of Yom Hazikaron, and another at 11:00 a.m. the following day. On Tuesday night, we held our own ceremony at the kibbutz, listening to the siren and sharing meaningful stories to connect with the moment. Ms. Barak and Ms. Benizri shared moving personal experiences about losing friends who fought for Israel's defense, explaining why this day was so significant to them. On Wednesday, we attended a tekes (ceremony) at Tel Saki. Seeing hundreds of people gathered to listen to the siren and cherish the memory of fallen soldiers made me feel very proud of the Jewish people. I feel fortunate to have experienced this special time in Israel.

Jonah J. and Ethan B. (Jeep):

Today, we went off-roading in the Golan Heights. We followed a trail around the mountain that overlooked the Hula Valley. We stopped at a Syrian bunker to learn about the area's history. Because we were so close to the Syrian border and due to the conflict between the two countries, warning signs on fences indicate the presence of buried land mines. We saw many cows grazing in the fields and on the land around the area. We also heard stories about the wild boars that typically roam there. We had a lot of fun with friends, taking in the mountainous volcanic scenery.