NFTY and other organizations send 10's of thousands of teenagers to Israel every year. Of the thousands I have met who went not one has ever regretted the trip. I wish I had started going as a teen and not waited until my early 30's. Israel is a surreal place to visit, especially after we have all been so ingrained with what it looks like and is like from the 6 pm news. My very first realization on my first trip was "this is definitely not Dan Rather's Israel". On TV they show us bombed buses and buildings. It looks like a war zone. IT IS ANYTHING BUT. Tel Aviv is one of the prettiest most modern cities in the world and its placement on the Mediteranian (sp) makes it a jewel. You stand in Jaffa (the ancient city connected to TA) and you swear you are looking at Seattle or Portland. And while teh country has its fair share of deserts most of it is so green and lush it is amazing.

The people will also leave you speechless. My first trip was in July 2002 and I will NEVER forget the million times I was thanked by Israeli's just for coming. When we asked what we could do for them (this was during a rough stage of attacks and when tourism had all but stopped) we were told over and over again "just tell people we are here". They genuinely thought the world has forgotten them!!! Wont go into the long story here but will NEVER as long as I live forget one shop owner I met and the gratitude he expressed to us just for coming to his shop so he had a little money to go out and celebrate his birthday that night (and his wife in tears for the same reason).

A trip to Israel will change anyone's life for the better, particularly teens!!!!

Dang Dov, I have GOT to figure out a way to afford that trip in November... I'M HOMESICK for somewhere I dont even live!!!!!!!!!!