Hi, Gratz students, blog readers, family, and friends – my name is Danielle Selber and I am the co-President of the Gratz Student Governing Board as well as an undergraduate student majoring in Contemporary Jewish Studies. I am spending the summer in Israel – June in a seminary-like program called Jewel (through Aish HaTorah) in Jerusalem; a week traveling; July at Haifa University doing an ulpan (intensive Hebrew language study) and the beginning of August in Tel Aviv with a few friends.

The Jewel portion of my trip is almost over (I can’t believe it went so fast), but to try to sum it up into a few lines would be like trying to fit a copy of War and Peace into an ice cream cone. Suffice to say every moment has been incredible. The trip is very learning-based, with many incredible Rabbis, Rebbetzins, and teachers giving us insights into everything from women in the Tanach to Pirkei Avot to the spirituality of Shabbat, and on and on and on… Other than classes we also have trips; yesterday was spent in Tiveria in the North, sunbathing at a single-sex beach and taking a boat ride on the Kinneret, after a Shabbat spent in the center of Jewish mysticism, Tzfat. The weekend before a few friends and I did Shabbat in Tel Aviv, where we slept on a hostel rooftop and had lunch by French Chabad-affiliated expats. The people I have met on this program are incredible, so much fun and incredibly passionate and intelligent.

I am so sad for it to be over in a few days, but I am excited to spend some time traveling and then settle down in Haifa, where my entire mother’s side of the family lives. I will truly miss Jerusalem though; I love every inch of this city more than I can say. Can’t wait to hear about everyone else’s adventures!