Anshai Goes to Israel!

Boker tov, Anshai!

Our morning began at 2:30am. Jet lag is real, peeps. So is volleyball at 2:30am- only in Israel.

Fast forward a few hours- breakfast was AMAZING! Fam favorites were pasta and pickles- true story. We met our bus guide, Pjosh (the P is silent) and headed to Leket- a National Food Bank focused on rescuing healthy, surplus food and delivering it to those in need. An hour later, approximately 1,000 pounds of sweet potatoes were en-route to families across Israel. We are team Anshai - hear us roar!

What do sweet potatoes and bullets have in common? Giraffes. If you know, you know! The Ayalon Bullet Factory was insanely cool. What a spectacular part of our homeland’s story! Our tour guide had the driest sense of humor. #Cool Chick. This is a must see for all future explorers. In the meantime, look it up. You’ll be happy you did.

Most of us opted for Roladin- the most lavish sufganiyot EVER! I’m sure we ate other things for lunch, but the sugar-induced coma is settling in. It’s a thing.

After lunch we took a drive back in time to where Judah Maccabee and his friends used to hang, Modi’in. Two highlights: 1. Learning that olive oil goes through three stages of “ush”, “smush,” and finally “gush.” 2. We all planted a tree in Israel! Pure magic. Bless this land so it may flow with milk and honey.

Another bathroom stop- close to 100 percent participation EVERY time. We’re meant to travel together.

After a long day (traffic was a beast as there was an accident on the main highway into Jerusalem) we arrived in Jerusalem with a special stop to say “Shehecheyanu” on Har HaTzofim! The nighttime view was beautiful.

We couldn’t not see our forefather Abraham while visiting Israel so we did just that. Abraham invited us into his tent for a delish dinner. So stuffed! Again. Yet, I’m already thinking about tomorrow’s breakfast. I’m not embarrassed. You’re embarrassed. Psst…I might be a little embarrassed. But, alas I’ll be dreaming about pasta and pickles tonight.

Laila tov!