Final day of our trip began with volunteering picking lettuce for a farmer in Bet Shemesh. From there it was back to Jerusalem. We had a fascinating tour of the Kotel tunnels, discovering the road surface from the Second Temple era, stones still sitting where the Romans had knocked them down when they destroyed the Temple, and so much more. Then it was time for closing sessions and a goodbye dinner at a restaurant. Now it's off on the long flight back to LA, as the other bus heads to the airport shortly for their flight through Paris. So much still to unpack from 9 days of inspiration and adventure. But the biggest takeaway, as lways, is how quickly 75 people - most of them strangers - uncovered our shared identity and commonalities, and quickly felt a part of a very special Jewish family. Until the next visit to our collective home in Israel, these bonds forged and memories shared will continue to inspire each of us to ever greater growth. (fb)

This week's Torah portion is Bamidbar - in the desert. And that's exactly where we spent the day yesterday, in the desert, moving from the Zin Desert to the Judean Desert. We visited Ein Ovdat/ Sde Boker, climbed Masada, and swam in the Dead Sea. We discussed the need for water in the desert, as the need for purpose in life. We discussed the story of Masada, thinking of those people who chose to allow nothing to be able to take them away from their Jewish identity. And we talked about how much more important than dying as a Jew is figuring out how to live as one. Hard to believe we've now come to the last day of our trip! (fb)