After an extremely rigorous junior-year of
high school, the last item on my summer vacation
agenda was more school. My mother however,
had a different plan for me. In the summer
of 1978, my mother went to Alexander Muss
High School in Israel. Having had a wonderful
experience, my mother promised herself that if
she ever had children they would all attend Muss.
Next thing I knew, my two overly stuffed duffle
bags were packed and I was waving good-bye
from the gateway.
As the 47 other kids from around the nation and
I rattled with the bus through the streets of Israel
from the airport to campus, nobody expected
the stranger sitting next to them to become their
best friend, but we were all about to gain more
than frequent-flyer miles from our summer in
Israel….
Muss’ summer course taught us the Introduction
to Jewish Civilization and the History of Modern
Israel, but not through textbooks alone. Classes
end before lunch, allowing students to spend afternoons fully soaking in and
immersing themselves in Israeli life.
Most days, fortunately, are not spent inside a classroom, but on a mountain, in
a cave, or along a river. I learned my personal Jewish heritage as it happened,
where it happened—hiking through the footsteps of history. Learning this way
allowed me to connect and relate to the history and stories, not because they
were a part of me, but because now I was a part of them.
I hiked the arid mountains of the Negev, swam the clear waters of the Galilee,
and boogied on a disco cruise in Eilat. All activities led to a gained sense of
self; I felt a certain unparalleled spirituality in Israel: singing Hatikvah at the
Western Wall during Tisha Ba'av and chanting “Am Yisrael Chai” at the edge
of Massada and hearing its echo.
Weekends were left free for students to travel the country and visit friends.
I explored something new each weekend. The first was with Yemenite
immigrants, where I learned how Jewish traditions vary with different
ethnicities. Other weekends I spent with relatives and friends on kibbutzim. I
cheered on the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox at the first-ever Israeli Baseball League
game, belly danced at a Druze village, and kayaked in the Mediterranean.
Completing Muss left me more than passionate about Israel. I understand
Judaism is more than a religion – it is a people. We have the task of writing
history; Muss taught me the importance and responsibility of
being the author.
During my semester with Muss, my life was redirected. Attending Muss
changed each and every one of its 48 participants that summer. We returned
home knowledgeable, proudly defending and representing Israel and Jews.
Muss taught us to take action for what we believe in today. Today I intern
at the University of Central Florida Global Perspective’s office researching
Israeli/Palestinian relations and meet with Ambassadors and political figures
to discuss current political issues. Staying aware of the current situation in
Israel, I continue my quest for knowledge and understanding of my homeland
that Muss initiated.
I guess all daughters do become their mothers, because I, like my mother, will
definitely have my children attend Muss.
The Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education (AMIIE), proudly
partnered with the Jewish National Fund (JNF), is one of the most
inclusive and forward thinking organizations devoted to Israel education,
focusing on a hands-on approach to instilling a formative and lifechanging
Israel experience to American and international high school
students. Join in the footsteps of over 19,000 alumni over the past 36 years
and experience Israel the Muss way!
For more information, visit www.amiie.org