(I promise I didn’t write a book this time.)
At the beginning of the trip, I made a promise to a staff (who isn’t even on bus 2,) that I would enhance my Judaic observance throughout my time in Israel, notably davening at least once a day and keeping Shabbat for all four weekends of the trip. Somehow, contrary to what I would have thought a day before the trip began, I completed thee seemingly impossible tasks rather easily, and have grown and learned from them. Now flash forward to day 27, this same staff and I reunited for a final reflection about the trip. He asked me to differentiate between the words “unbelievable” and “unforgettable.” I told him that it’s quite easy to have an unbelievable experience, while an unforgettable experience can be a defining moment in your life that changes you as a person. He told me that TJJ doesn’t strive to make your summer unbelievable, the program strives towards the goal of all attendees to have an unforgettable summer. So I pondered that night, and early this morning; Was my summer unforgettable? It’s sure that I’ve had some unbelievable moments; rappelling, a birthday tube ride in Eilat, and eating the best shawarma in the world were all amazing events, but they were experiences that I could, and have had in the past. This was the first year I had actually gone up and individually prayed at the Kotel and if you have not yet done so it is something I highly suggest trying. What made this trip unforgettable are the key moments when we as a bus came together as a real family. Our first trip to the old city was the key defining moment for myself, and if I can speak on behalf of the entire bus, a defining moment for all of us. Seeing the last people you would expect to cry burst into tears was shocking but it was the way in which we comforted each other that proved how close we have become. Everyone embraced each other in the nurturing way a sibling or parent would, making all members of the bus feel like a family.

So when someone asks me, “How was your summer?” I won’t tell them it was unbelievable; having family members is no phenomenon. I’ll tell them of how my family grew from 6 at home, to 51. You don’t forget family. You don’t forget self growth. You don’t become more observant one day, and secular the next. These moments aren’t easily forgotten. Leasing Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv. Bonding with the few others who are keeping Shabbat. Comforting a crying friend in need of a hug. These moments will define me, and help me grow as a person back home. When your children return home, don’t ask them how their summer was. Ask them if it was unforgettable, and if so, why. I guarantee you each and every kid will say yes, but everyone will have their own respective answer. If you have not yet inferred where I’m going with this, allow me to state my thesis;
TJJ was an unforgettable experience that will have an effect on me for the rest of my life, and I have grown as a person as a direct result from these past four weeks.
P.S. Shoutout to Jeremy, David, and Adam for awesome Chavura sessions and to Rikki for discussing everyday philosophical questions that don’t come up in everyday conversation.

Sincerely,
A changed 16 year-old,
Tommy Podolsky