The Eighth Grade Israel Trip—the Travelers Report Back to the Brandeis Community

Since returning from their Israel trip, the eighth graders have been engaged in reflecting on and writing about the experience. Their writing will be published in a beautiful photo journal that each graduate receives, and will be on display during Middle School Showcase Night on Monday, May 22.

Yesterday it was time to report to the younger grades on the assignments the eighth graders had been given by each grade prior to the trip. Israel trip chaperone groups went into the classrooms to share their mesimot (completed tasks) with the younger grades. Mesimot covered a gamut of assigned tasks: bring back mud from the Dead Sea; bring back a menu from a restaurant; take a picture of something related to Hellenism; take a selfie with your camel; take a photo of all of the spices in the shuk; go in a temple and see the Torah; and—not least—bring back Israeli candies.

"Completing these mesimot and sharing them with the full student body is a very tangible way for the eighth graders to share about this milestone journey," says Debby Arzt-Mor, director of Jewish learning and Israel trip leader. "It was wonderful to see how thorough and thoughtful our eighth graders were, and how eager they were to share with the younger students about their experiences and to answer their questions." MORE PHOTOS