H.I.P is Happening?: A Junior's Perspective

My first trip to Israel was in the lower division of a Denver Jewish Day School; there's a tradition of the kindergarten H.I.P. trip. No, we didn't actually go on a 15-hour plane ride to the holy land. But I did get the middle seat for about 5 long minutes in room 103B. When we finally landed we went to the Negev which was really just a sandbox. We had Shabbat in Jerusalem which really meant us eating challah on a Friday afternoon. And we put notes into the bookshelf that was dressed up as the western wall.

Ever since kindergarten I've attended every H.I.P trip sendoff and every year was one closer to me being a sophomore up in front of the whole school with my best friends being sent off just like hundreds of kids before me to the land of Israel. 

Now I'm a junior at Denver Jewish Day School and I have yet to go to Israel with my class, due to the attacks on October 7th. It was a hard pill to swallow, to say the least. I was looking forward to something so special, a trip of a lifetime, spent with my best friends, but it was taken away from me and it was out of my control. I was being selfish. I was mad I couldn't go on a fun trip to Israel but I wasn't thinking about the families who were missing their children and the people who weren't going to have full families for their seder dinner that year. 

Even though me and my class didn't go to Israel, we are all closer to Israel than we ever have been.  Hearing from speakers, keeping up with the ever-changing news, and hearing unique stories from the attacks, all brought me closer and more connected to Israel. Something that I never had before.  

It's been a year since the attacks of October 7 and a lot of things have changed, not only here in America, but also abroad in Israel. My relationship with Israel has changed and so has the famous Denver Jewish Day School H.I.P. trip. Right now the H.I.P. trip is on schedule to be happening later this year but it won't be the H.I.P. trip of the past. This upcoming HIP trip will be featuring the current sophomores and juniors, who weren't able to go last year. This isn't the first time there have been multiple grades in the holy land. DJDS also sent multiple grades due to COVID-19 a few years back. 

This trip's activities will also be different from years past due to the ongoing changing situation in Israel and the Middle East. Even with everything that has changed The H.I.P. trip is still going to hold the same traditions as years past, like going to Masada Shabbat and of course, going to the old city. 

As everything stands right now the sophomores and juniors will be going to Israel later in the year. Not being able to go to Israel as a sophomore will make it that much more special as a junior.