Today marked by far the earliest wakeup of any day this summer, as seven busses going to three different locations in northern Israel pulled out bright and early for NCSY Kollel 2017’s first full tiyul day.
The extreme hikers found themselves putting on tefillin at shema because their shacharis minyan began too early – at 4:30 AM, to be precise – in preparation for the Black Canyon hike. It was all worth it, though, as NCSY Kollel became the largest single group of people to ever cross the Black Canyon, with 180 NCSYers and staff members mastering the trail. With climbing, repelling, jumping, and a whole lot of walking, the hike took anywhere from six to eight hours, and the participants were understandably wiped. They eventually found themselves in Tzfat for some relaxation and dinner, before heading back to Beit Meir, with plenty of time on the busses in between to rest.
The next shacharis minyan began promptly at 5:15 AM and belonged to the members of the kayaking and chocolate factory trip. Two busses made the trip up to Jordan River Rafting, where NCSYers, staff, and even a few Rabbeim and Assistant Program Directors enjoyed an hour and a half of rafting and, for many, swimming. This certainly built up an appetite, which meant that the guys couldn’t wait for the next leg of the trip, a tour of the De Karina Chocolate Factory. There, they got to see how professional “chocolatiers” make different types of chocolate, including plenty of free samples of course, and they even got to try their hand at making their own chocolate (which they then got to eat). They paid a quick visit to the Eli Cohen Memorial Monument, narrated by Rabbi Lebowitz, and they ended their day together with the Black Canyon trip in Tzfat for dinner.
The final tiyul davened at the late hour of 6:30 AM and was considered the “chill” option for the day. This trip went straight to Tzfat for an in-depth tour of the city and all of its rich history. After spending some free time there, they made their way to the Blind Museum, a mind-blowing, inspirational museum where you spend one hour experiencing what it’s like to be blind. Everyone returned to Beit Meir for Maariv and an early curfew.
All three trips were a blast, and we could think of no more exciting way to transition into a free weekend than with a full day of learning, sports, and mishmar tomorrow!
