Last Shabbat and Day of MBI!

Later on the MBIers had Shabbat Chugim(special-interest groups) led by their madrichim in a number of topics, From more creative and relaxing groups there also was an Israel Update, and enjoying the outdoors and nature group. The MBIers also had some time to pack and had a enchanting musical with many participants putting out their favorite and best performances of the summer.

After dinner the MBIers took part a final, but very special havdallah out in the Israeli forest of Nes Harim, under the wondrous Israeli sky. It always is a great time to relax and quiet time to reflect on the incredible week and experience the MBIers have been having with all their new friends, sights, and smells they have been a part of on MBI. A final Medura was had that went quite late with singing and many comedic acts performed.

Finally the evening was capped off with Final Mesibah(party) to have a final celebration of glorious experience that was MBI. While there had been some tears at various parts of the day, Saturday was a great party with music, dancing, games and food. The party went into the wee hours of the night as the MBIers tried to soak up as much time as they could enjoying the company of their new and old friends.

Today the MBIers woke up and worked on the sad process of finishing packing up as the departure to the airport was to be later in the day. They had a final peula(activity) and then had some time with their various groups. They had final meetings with their smaller group and with their bus.

There was a final tekes(ceremony) to close out the wonderful experience of MBI that was a sad and joyous reminder of the where MBI had gone since the opening tekes five weeks ago. The MBIers also received their MBI sweatshirts and t-shirts that they had designed themselves as unifying reminder of the great summer experience they shared together.

They packed up the buses, headed to the aiport and checked in for their flights. The first set of goodbyes took place as the MBIers had to say goodbye both to their madrichim(counselors) in addition to the three flights separating the Canadians and then the Americans into their two flights. They made it through to their flights and took off with Newark delayed, JFK set to arrive 20 minutes late and the Canadian flight on time.

I will post again tomorrow once everyone has landed and we have sent everyone off to their connecting flights. It's almost over...and the MBIers are almost home!