The Israel Challenge

Posted Wed, 09/08/2010 - 11:30 by Sharna Marcus

Any Shorashim Israel experience facilitates participants to excel educationally and physically. However, this summer Shorashim created an exceptional opportunity for participants who chose to be a part of the Israel Challenge.

Inspired by both the Amazing Race and the Biggest Loser, Shorashim provided a competitive and challenge-based trip throughout Israel. In teams with Israeli peers, participants completed both intellectual and physical challenges that helped them to explore the beauty of Israel, its history and even its political and environmental challenges
The Israel Challenge garnered tremendous attention from participants, Taglit-Birthright Israel, and even the press. Shorashim was featured in the Jerusalem Post.
 

The group was divided in teams and competed in challenges where they were awarded points. The winners received a $100 gift card donated graciously by Uncle Dan’s The Great Outdoor Store.
The Israel Challenge was a special allocation from Taglit-Birthright Israel to Shorashim and provided for more Israelis in the group for the entire 10 days. -Hagai Kraus, First Sergeant, in the Israeli Defense Forces wrote on the group blog:  
 
I feel so united with these people and like I just got another family. I felt like I had an incredible opportunity to see Israel from a different angle. From this experience I will return to the army with much more pride and a realization of why what I am doing is so important so I'm going to continue my service with more motivation.
 
Spending the 10 days with the Israelis affected the U.S. and Canadian participants. “My biggest accomplishments in life have been for myself alone,” Michael Amiralani wrote on the group’s blog. “While arguably the biggest accomplishment for these soldiers is the selfless act of protecting their country and the Jewish identity. Truly a humbling experience.”
 
Taglit-Birthright Israel asked Shorashim to run the Israel Challenge trip again in February. Registration begins on September 14 at http://israelwithisraelis.com.