Ari Guttman

Everyday I try a little harder to turn that step into a stride,

But when I reached the land of Israel, that step turned into pride.

My feet were always aching because the long hikes that we would take,

But it always reminded me of the sacrifices Jews before me would have to make.

The historical points we saw were always an inspiration,

Not only did it enhance my knowledge, but it furthered my Jewish education.

The 35 strangers I went with turned into a family very fast,

The challenges, the lessons, and not to mention just having a blast.

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Haifa, and more,

Our feet moved anxiously to explore everything on this tour.

Shabbat was always meaningful, it brought shivers every time,

My feet steeped one step further as I began to climb.

I climbed Masada, I hiked in the Golan, and even rappelled down some rocks,

And this whole time my feet were moving, I had some intense talks.

Meeting Israelis was so amazing, they are so different from me,

But as we spoke and learned so much, similarities I began to see.

As the last night rolled around quickly, a peace rally stood outside,

So we decided to join in and as we began singing, tears filled my eyes.

I was leaving the land of my people and was so sad to go,

And as I looked down at my feet one last time, I saw peace begin to show.

As I traveled to Israel as a Jewish teenager, I didn't know what to expect,

But now I realize all the experiences and lessons Israel needs to protect.

Every Jew should get a chance to experience Israel as a teen,

And only then will you understand exactly what I mean.