That was my first Shabbat in Israel last summer. A few days prior, we had been in Poland. There, we saw the concentration camps, prayed in the old synagogues, cleaned up Jewish cemeteries, and stood on the memorial in Maydanik. We went to learn about and celebrate Judaism in a country almost void of Jews.

After a week of exploring Jerusalem, we went south, dug in caves, rode camels, floated in the Dead Sea, swam in the waterfalls on Ein Gedi and prayed Shachrit at Masada. The north had a different beauty. We hiked through streams in the mountains, walked thorough the streets of Tzfat and swam in the Kinneret. I loved the north, but I couldn't wait to return to Jerusalem. Before I knew it, I was crying at The Wall, saying goodbye to Israel for the year. There isn't anything that I wouldn't give to travel back in time just for a minute to be back with my group. Israel is not just our country - it is the past, present and future of Judaism and the Jewish people. It is our physical connection with our ancient history that we read out of the Torah each week. It contains the eternal city of Jerusalem that has kept Judaism together and toward which we have prayed three times-a-day for the past 3,000 years. It is our home. We have the right and the duty to visit and explore.

Every Saturday night as Shabbat is coming to an end I can still hear my group singing "Jerusalem of Gold". I hope that you all have the opportunity to go to Israel in the near future.

18-year old Shira Grossman is currently a senior at  Walton High School in East Cobb. JFGA allocated $57,790 in FY04 to support Israel Experiences for young adults residing in metro Atlanta who are between the ages of 15 and 26.