Masa Aliya 2016

Three days of constant walking all the way to Jerusalem, accompanied only by the most basic of materials, no phones, no watches or even fire-lighting materials, depending upon each other for everything.

The Masa Aliya initiation trip is meant to put the new YS fellows, a bunch of 18 year olds fresh out of high school, into intense leadership and decision-making mode. The fellows are split into groups according to the community they will serve, and without information or guidance, must decide together which route to take, how much food should remain for the next meal, where to sleep in the outdoors. Leaders emerge and the group dynamic becomes clear within a matter of days - all in preparation for the fellows' year of service deep within disadvantaged communities.

"It was very difficult physically, but you learn to deal with challenging situations because you have no choice. And you do it in the best way possible." - Yael Berenstein, North Jerusalem.

"There was a feeling within the group that it's ok to say that you're having a hard time - there will always be someone there to give you a hand." - Meital Hillel, Ginot Hair.

"We skipped the first 3 weeks of initial embarrassment, and got over it in only 3 days. Today we are very united!" - Dori Alfandary, North Jerusalem commune.