Day 6: Full of Inspirational Moments

Hi, I’m Ayelet Aharon from Woodmere, NY and I’m so excited to be on NCSY GIVE this summer! A typical day on GIVE, today was jam-packed from start to finish with fun, chesed, and spiritual growth. We started out the day bright and early, boarding the buses at 5:30 am to Ben Gurion airport. The GIVErs were all dressed in blue and white as we prepared to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were given the opportunity to greet a Nefesh B’Nefesh flight. We watched as people of all different backgrounds stepped into the land of Israel, their first steps of making Aliyah. We sang and danced to welcome our sisters and brothers to their homeland. It was so inspiring to see all these people changing their lives in order to be where the Jewish people belong, and to see so many others rejoicing along with them. Our next stop was Melabev, a home for the elderly. We watched their faces light up as we sang, danced, and played with the members. Each girl connected with different individuals, learning about the past and building a bridge to the next generation. The chesed continued with a trip to Shalva, an organization dedicated to providing support for children with disabilities. We learned about Shalva’s goal and heard the personal story of a mother whose son has special needs, and whose life was changed through Shalva. Then, we sang and danced with the children, allowing them to feel included and have a good time. Finally the day ended with a trip to the Old City for dinner, followed by a meaningful visit at the kotel. Before walking down to the wall we heard an inspiring speech from Erin, making the moment even more special and thought provoking. For many it was the first time being at the kotel, creating an extremely emotional experience. For every girl, a visit to the kotel always brings feelings of spirituality, holiness, and closeness to Hashem, and watching Jews unite from all over the world creates a sense of belonging to the Jewish people. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how much can be accomplished and how many different emotions can be felt throughout a single day, and as the day ends, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for tomorrow!