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8th Grade Israel Experience
The Eighth Grade Israel Experience is a true culmination of the Hebrew Academy education. The trip is filled with meaningful experiences, including standing in Independence Hall in Tel Aviv, “hearing” David Ben-Gurion’s voice as he declared the State of Israel; hiking up Masada and through the lush valleys of the Golan in the north; singing songs of pride and loss with the residents of a small town as they commemorate Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day); and praying together at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. The students meet in small groups throughout the trip to process and reflect on their journey. They make connections between their Jewish Studies in school, the powerful experiences in Israel, and their developing Jewish identities. The trip has proved transformative for many students, who come back home talking about continuing their study of Hebrew and planning their next trip to Israel. Many HACD graduates describe the Israel trip as a turning point in their developing adult view of themselves as members of the Jewish people. The eighth grade Israel Experience takes place each spring, right after Pesach.
8th Grade Israel Trip Video 2011
