Our incredible week at NCSY Euro Israel was an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, exploration, and meaningful experiences. From the enchanting streets of Morocco to the ancient cities of Spain, and finally arriving in our homeland of Israel, we discovered the beauty of our Jewish heritage and deepened our connection to our people.

We started our adventure in Fes, Morocco, where we explored the ceramics area, tannery, old city, and the Jewish cemetery. The blue city of Chefcheouan took our breath away with its stunning architecture. In Tangier, we enjoyed the beach, swam in the sea, and went horseback riding on the sand. We ended the day with a fun ice breaker game that helped us get to know each other better.

Our journey continued to Gibraltar, a small territory with a fascinating history. We learned about its past, visited the old Jewish cemetery, explored the caves, and had a memorable encounter with its famous monkeys.

In Córdoba, Spain, we immersed ourselves in the city’s rich Jewish history. We learned about notable figures like the Rambam, the author of the Kuzari, and Rabbi Moshe Cordovero. At night we had a blast participating in a TikTok challenge, creating video skits that brought laughter and joy to all.

Finally, we arrived in Israel, the place we’ve been waiting for most. We started our day with a beautiful visit to the Kotel. We then enjoyed a delicious bagel breakfast overlooking Har Habayit and the kotel plaza. With free time in the old city, we had an opportunity o explore and buy lunch before heading north, eagerly anticipating a beautiful first Shabbat in Israel.

This week on Euro, it was beautiful to see the relationships between the teens deepen more and more every day. We are excited to head into our first Shabbat in israel as one family, and look forward to the experiences we will share in the coming weeks. Shabbat Shalom!

All the best,

Jeremy

Salaam Alaikum from Morocco! In our first week on NCSY Euro Israel, we had an exhilarating few days filled with unforgettable experiences. We met Monday at JFK and began bonding right away and had delicious pizza prior to our flight to Morocco. After our arrival on Tuesday morning, we started with ATV rides and camel riding in the desert, followed by an authentic Moroccan music experience. That night we had orientation and then caught up on some sleep. On Wednesday we had a blast hiking through the stunning Atlas Mountains to a refreshing stream, followed by a visit to a really “cool” water park. After returning to our beautiful hotel, we bonded further over ice breakers, some Torah learning, and a henna party, complete with unique henna tattoos. On Thursday we explored the bustling souk and visited the old synagogue of Marrakech, where we davened mincha and learned about the importance of the fast day. We then enjoyed a delicious dinner and break fast in Casablanca. Our adventure continued Friday in Rabat, where we toured the old Jewish quarter and marveled at breathtaking ocean views atop the old city walls. We are now looking forward to a beautiful first Shabbat together in Fes. It was a week of adventure, cultural immersion, breathtaking sights, and new friendships that left us with lasting memories and added excitement for what the rest of the summer holds! On a personal note, it has been a fantastic week of getting to know each and every one of your teens, and seeing some friendships grow and more friendships created. I am so excited for what the next three weeks will bring. 
Shabbat Shalom!

Jeremy