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The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots
Last week we visited the Israel Museum to learn about the Roman Period and the different groups of Jews who lived under Roman rule - the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots.
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Masada: More Than Just a 3AM Hike
URJ Heller High (formerly NFTY-EIE) climbed Masada bright and early using the Snake Path which contains over 700 steps. This path is 1,312 feet or 400 meters from the Dead Sea.
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Rabbi Loren Sykes’s Weekly Reflection: First and Second Temple In Jerusalem
This past week Heller High students focused on the Biblical Era, specifically on the period of the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem. They learned about the construction of Solomon's Temple and its destruction at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
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Gadna: An Eye Opening Experience
Gadna was 5-day long thrilling and tiring experience where students get an idea of what it is like to be a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.
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Exploring Sataf: Agricultural Methods, History of Israelites & More!
We hiked all the way to Sataf. In the beginning of the tiyul it was really foggy, but kind of gave off a majestic look. As we got there, Evan started explaining about the different types of trees that are found at Sataf.
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62 Teens Arrive In Israel for Spring 2017 URJ Heller High Semester
The Spring semester of URJ Heller High: Isaac and Helaine Heller EIE High School in Israel (formerly NFTY-EIE High School) in Israel has officially commenced this week.
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Rabbi Loren Sykes’s Reflection on EIE Fall 2016 Semester
In many ways, the EIE semester is all about dreams: dreams of the individual, of the group, of the Jewish People, and of Israel. Over the course of four months, students get to think about their own life goals and Jewish aspirations.
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Separation Wall, Supreme Court, and Kids4Peace
Last week we took a tiyul to learn about the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank. We learned that the First Intifada was a “war of stones,” and while it accounted for many tragedies, it was not viewed as a serious threat because it was a war of the people. It did, however, put the Palestinian issue on the map.
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Machane Yehuda Market aka Your Favorite Shuk
Jillian Sturim, a Fall 2016 student is a junior from Burke, Virginia. She is a member of Temple B'nai Shalom, a participant of NFTY-MAR and has been a camper at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech.
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Pushing Limits during Week of Gadna
On Sunday my group was dropped off at an IDF (Israeli Defense Force) base in the middle of the Negev desert. Upon arrival at the base a commander in full uniform with an M16 ordered us off the bus. We were instructed to run and make a “het” (the shape of the hebrew letter which looks like a 3 sided square).
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