(Courtesy of Bnei Akiva) In a packed theater in Holon, Israel, hundreds of teens and staff attended a concert by Ishay Ribo, the beloved Israeli pop singer. The energy was high—people danced, jumped up and down and sang along with conviction, many carrying Israeli flags—and the mood was poignant.
The uplifting event was part of Mach Hach BaAretz, Bnei Akiva’s summer tour of Israel for teens completing the 10th grade. The concert kicked off Shabbat Mach Hach, the Shabbat that brings all 11 Mach Hach buses together for an unforgettable weekend. Shabbat Mach Hach is special every year as the great unifying moment of the program, but this year it was especially powerful—there were soldiers in the crowd, and many of them were Mach Hach staff or alumni. The concert itself was a sneak peak of what’s yet to come this September, as Bnei Akiva brings Ishay Ribo back for round two of his unifying Elul concert at Madison Square Garden.
Every year, Mach Hach adds new components to the itinerary to keep the program current. This year there was no shortage of unforgettable opportunities for the teens, said Rabbi Dan Katz, director of Mach Hach BaAretz.
“Shabbat Mach Hach is always powerful with 500-plus teens and staff joining together, feeling part of a larger program, a greater movement. This is the time that participants feel the power of this program like no other, but this year was even more special because we heard from staff members who shared their personal experiences from Miluim, reserves, many fighting in Gaza,” he said. “It was an eye-opening experience for campers to hear their stories and truly observe what it means to sacrifice yourself for your nation and land.”
After the horrors of October 7, and with the ongoing war, Mach Hach took on special significance. Touring the Jewish homeland, the connection and devotion that participants felt to Israel was stronger than ever.
One of the highlights of this year’s program was when teens had the opportunity to actively show their support to Israeli soldiers. Each bus went to a different army base where the teens organized barbecues for chayalim. They prepared and served food for the soldiers and in some cases, soldiers’ families, and they also sat and spoke with them, made carnivals for the children, and enjoyed other activities together.
Participants also spent time with families directly impacted by terror, with half hearing from Rav Doron Perez about the loss of his son, Daniel, on October 7, and the other half hearing from Rachel Goldberg-Polin, who shared her family’s story and about her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Like any other year, however, the teens were also there to enjoy the land. The opening ceremony got underway in the Old City at the Kotel. In the weeks that followed, campers forged strong bonds and fast friendships. The buses made stops in Jerusalem, Tiveria and Eilat, taking participants on a summer experience they’ll never forget.
As in other years, campers were able to tailor their experiences to their personal interests by choosing a specialty track to focus on during Adventure Week. They had the opportunity to get a feel for the IDF with the Army track, give back to others with chesed opportunities, hone their sports skills with the sports track, experience Israel’s cultural highlights with Culturefest, and enjoy the great outdoors with Yam l’Yam.
Not just a tour of Israel, Mach Hach BaAretz is an authentic Israel experience committed to Bnei Akiva’s ideals of committing oneself to Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael. In line with that authenticity, this year, “living Israel” meant embracing both heartbreak and hope. Campers were immersed in the fun of exploration and following their passions, while also making Israel theirs through forming meaningful connections and giving back to those who need support more than ever.
