Final day touring the North

Before I start the update of today's events I want to go over a minor incident that took place on Tuesday. As some of you may or may not have heard, three participants of MBI were caught drinking alcohol on Tuesday night and were sent home today. They were caught in the act and as being both against the law and our rules, they needed to leave the program. MBI is meant to be an amazing experience and a safe place for all participants. We take our policies on drugs and alcohol quite seriously and as such was our reaction to the situation. The MBIers were briefed on what happened and were advised to not repeat the previous mistake and to speak with their madrichim(counselors) if they had any concerns or issues with what happened. We certainly want to help any participants who might feel driven to this kind of action, but we cannot tolerate participants taking part in this type of action, and any further incidents will be subject to the same consequences.

Today the MBIers set off from the lovely lodgings of Ohalo to explore the Golan Heights. The buses stopped at a couple vantage points including the Mizpe Shalom observation point. From there they could see much of the Golan off in the distance and was a great place as such to discuss history and politics. There they discussed the controversial nature of the Golan Heights in regards to its annexation, Syria's claims on it, and as such its place in negotiations and the peace process.

Then the MBIers went hiking around Mt. Ben-Tal which gave the MBIers the chance to see Syria off the distance and really begin to grasp the proximity of Israel's neighbors. They learned about the nearby military base and '67 and '73 wars and their impact on Israel and its neighbors. Part of all these discussions were to consider the Golan Heights and its place in Israel and the complex history behind its annexation. They got to look and see the Valley of Tears where one of the bloodiest battles took place during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Seeing all these places first hand really puts into perspective the wars they have heard about or studied but now the MBIers have seen first hand where things actually took place.

Having had their fill of history and hiking mountains, the MBIers set off to walk around Nachal Snir(Snir Stream). It is part of the Hatzbani river which comes from Mt Hermon and eventually is a feeder into the Jordan River. The MBiers had a lot of fun walking along the river as the hike includes a part where the water is more of a pond and they got swim and splash around a bit. Some of the MBIers even helped one of the madrichot(female counselor) catch a fish with her bare hands!

The MBIers continued on north where they went to Mizpe Bnaya which is a lookout near Lebanon. The lookout itself is named after a soldier who had fallen during the 2nd Lebanon war. It again was incredible to travel not very far and see these two important neighbors of Israel and grasp their impact on Israel. Being there also was a chance to take stock of where Israel has come and the challenges it has and continues to face for its own safety and security in the long run.

After a fun and educational day, the MBIers returned to Ohalo for a hearty meal in the chadar ochel(dining hall) and prepared for the evening fun. The MBIers took part in a night of "Air Band Shows". Many of the MBIers got together in groups and picked favorite songs and went on stage to perform the songs as if they themselves were the guitarists, drummers, and singers. It was a hilarious evening with some amazing performances by the MBIers.

Tomorrow the MBIers set off for Macheneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp) where they will get spend a few days with Israelis their age from Ha-noar Ha-oved. They are our sister youth movement and the Israelis will be from all over Israeli and provide a different first-hand account of life in Israel for people there age. There will be lots of bonding activities and learning about the two groups. The machaneh(camp) will take place at the Yaar Levi forest and campsite.