BRODY JEWISH CENTER - HILLEL AT UVA
  • About Us
    • Community Partners
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Impact Report
    • FAQ
  • Student Life
    • Sign up Student eNewsletter
    • Story Showcase
    • Student Leaders
    • Alternative Spring Break
    • Our Space
    • Passover
    • Jewish Studies Program
    • High Holidays
    • Jewish Resources
    • Incoming Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Blog
    • Calendar
  • Community
    • Community Newsletter
    • Parents >
      • Parent to Parent >
        • Chanukah Basketball Watch Parties
    • Young Alumni
    • Rent our space
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Give through UVA
    • Commonwealth Kiddush Cup
    • Capital Campaign
    • Jefferson Society
    • Eleventh Annual Brody Jewish Center Raffle

UVa shares encounters with Golan Heights, Israeli friends

12/22/2014

 
Picture
To begin our day, the group woke up fairly early to enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Kibbutz. We got on the bus shortly after and made our way to the Mifgash in Kiryat Shmonah to pick up our soldiers! There was a buzz of excitement all morning as we prepared to meet our international friends. Seven soldiers joined us- two women and five men. The soldiers are between the ages 19 and 22 and currently serve in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force). Each soldier sat with a UVa student, and the mingling began as we drove to the Golan Heights for our Jeep tours. The Jeep tour was quite bumpy, but we all made it to the top of a mountain that provided a clear view of the Golan Heights south of the Syrian border. 
Our Jeep tour guides discussed the Six Day War as well as the strategy of conquering the Golan.

Next, we headed to the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, which is located on the largest tributary of the Jordan River. We enjoyed a nature walk and saw the Abraham Gate, the second oldest gateway structure in the world. It was very old, but in very good shape. After the walk, we headed over to an Israeli shopping mall for lunch. In case you were unaware, my luggage (Ali's) is still in Rome. According to my clothing, the saying goes, "When in Rome, stay in Rome." So I enjoyed shopping for Israeli essentials while the rest of the group enjoyed some fine dining in the mall. 


After some speedy shopping and a hearty lunch, we went to the top of Mt. Bental. The mountain overlooks the Syrain town of Kuneitra. On the top of the mountain there is an old bunker that was once used by the Israeli army. Oren, our tour educator, told us the history of the bunker, and we got to explore it ourselves. On top of Mt. Bental, we discussed the Yom Kippur War of 1973, and learned the importance of the Golan Heights during this battle. 

Finally, we went back to the Kibbutz to have dinner and have a group conversation about how we relate to Israel. It was very insightful and eye-opening to discuss various topics with the Israeli soldiers. Their relationship with Israel is very different than ours, but our Jewish culture helps us relate to one another. As the trip continues, we will continue to learn more about Israeli culture and various perspectives from our friends in the IDF who joined us today.

Ali Peltz
2014 Birthright Participant

    The Brody Jewish Center, Hillel at the University of Virginia, is the focal point in a renaissance of Jewish life for the 1,000 Jewish students on Grounds. ​

    Archives

    September 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    AIPAC
    Alternative Break
    Ben Edgar
    Birthright
    BJC
    Brazilian
    Brody Jewish Center
    Bystander Intervention
    Charlottesville
    Engagement Interns
    Environmentalism
    Etai Pinkas
    Fall Fest
    First Year Connection
    Freedom Seder
    Golan Heights
    Green Dot
    High Holidays
    High Holiday Services
    Hillel At UVa
    Holocaust
    Hoos For Israel
    Hug And Wrestle
    Humpback Hike
    Israel
    JEI
    Jewish Conversation
    Jewish Leadership Council
    Jewish Women's Group
    Jiu Jitsu
    JSJC
    J Street UVa
    Krav Maga
    Leadership
    Leadership Retreat
    Mark Strauss
    Mississippi Delta
    Passover
    Peer Network Engagement Intern
    PNEI
    Pro-Israel
    Rosh Chodesh
    Self-defense
    Shabbat300
    Shabbat Around Grounds
    SHAG
    Sleepout For The Homeless
    Social Justice
    Spoken Word
    Sukkot
    Sunrise
    Sustainability
    Taglit-Birthright Israel
    University Of Virginia
    WaJewWa
    Whitney Perlen

    RSS Feed

The Brody Jewish Center
Hillel at the University of Virginia
1824 University Circle
Charlottesville, Va - 22903 

(434) 295-4963     -     info@brodyjewishcenter.org

Connect with us on social media!

Get the most up-to-date news, photos, and information.
The Brody Jewish Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ​ 
 
© 2019 Hillel at the University of Virginia
  • About Us
    • Community Partners
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Impact Report
    • FAQ
  • Student Life
    • Sign up Student eNewsletter
    • Story Showcase
    • Student Leaders
    • Alternative Spring Break
    • Our Space
    • Passover
    • Jewish Studies Program
    • High Holidays
    • Jewish Resources
    • Incoming Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Blog
    • Calendar
  • Community
    • Community Newsletter
    • Parents >
      • Parent to Parent >
        • Chanukah Basketball Watch Parties
    • Young Alumni
    • Rent our space
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Give through UVA
    • Commonwealth Kiddush Cup
    • Capital Campaign
    • Jefferson Society
    • Eleventh Annual Brody Jewish Center Raffle