| Check out our Facebook page to get a taste of the Mach Hach BaAretz experience. During the summer, all our photos and videos will be posted here: 
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Contact Information
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E-Mail:
machhach@bneiakiva.org
Michelle Kaplansky:
From America
646-248-7555
From Israel
050-709-8304
Dan Katz:
From America
646-797-5151
From Israel
050-705-0025
New York Office:
212-465-9536
520 8th Avenue, 15th Flr
New York, NY 10018
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From the Director's Desk
Dear Families,
I hope all is well and that you have enjoyed being back together again! No doubt, your children have been busy sleeping and being in touch with their Mach Hach friends since they got home. The staff already misses them all! Thank you to all those parents who have reached out to us via email and/or our Facebook to show their appreciation for the summer. I have shared your messages with our staff and it is very gratifying to hear.
With our final newsletter of the summer, I'd like to thank a number of people for making this summer possible. First, we'll begin with you, the parents! The cost of sending a child to Israel for the summer is not a small one. As I stressed to your children at our banquet, it is not something to be taken for granted and many families have to work very hard to make it happen. So, thank you for your efforts and I hope you now get to appreciate the returns of your investment!
Next, the Mach Hach administrative team takes on a huge responsibility for the summer in caring for so many campers and staff. Michelle Kaplansky in our office and Zvi Zobin, Shosh Grad and Tova Cohen out in the field have done a remarkable job this summer. I'm not sure parents can fully appreciated the time, effort, thought and emotional energy that they all have invested into the program and into your children. But, I can tell you that literally nothing in our program would be possible without them.
Finally, a huge thank you goes to all our Roshim and Madrichim this summer. They were the ones on the front lines all day, every day. While totally sleep-deprived, they formed relationships with your children and delivered a most unbelievable summer. While many others their age were busy getting internships and the like, this group felt that there was nothing more important than to inspire your children this summer. Yashar Koach to them all! We hope you enjoy their goodbyes to you below.
Shabbat Shalom,
Dan Katz
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Message from Rav Shaul Feldman
Director of Bnei Akiva of the U.S. & Canada
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Dear Parents:
It's hard to believe that the trip has come to an end. Your children have grown tremendously and their love for Medinat Yisrael has deepened
 tremendously. How do we make sure this continues? Moshe Rabeynu in this week's parsha gives us a simple way..... it's called appreciation.
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃
And thou shalt eat, and thou shalt return, and thou shalt be satisfied, and thou shalt bring up the LORD thy God, thy God, upon the great land, and upon thee, thou shalt not be satisfied.
The Ramban explains that every time someone eats in Eretz Yisrael and remembers how difficult life was back in Mitzraim, and at the same time enjoys the beautiful land, that is what will keep their love for the land going.
{י} ואמר ואכלת ושבעת וברכת. כי תזכור עבודת מצרים וענוי המדבר וכאשר תאכל ותשבע בארץ הטובה תברך עליה את השם ורבותינו (ברכות מח) קבלו שזו מצות עשה וטעמו ותברך את ה' אלהיך וכן ועשית מעקה לגגך (להלן כב ח) וכן ועשית פסח לה' אלהיך (להלן טז א) ולקחת מראשית כל פרי האדמה (להלן כו ב) ורבים כן וטעם על הארץ הטובה כמו ועל הארץ הטובה יצוה שתברכהו בכל עת שתשבע על השובע ועל הארץ שנתן לך שינחילנה לך לעולמים ותשבע מטובה והנה חיוב המצוה הזאת בכל מקום
{10} And he said, And thou shalt eat, and sow, and bless. That you will remember the work of Egypt and the desert, and when you eat and swear in the good land, bless you with the name and our Rabbis (Brachot 38). Accept that this is a positive commandment and taste, and bless the Lord your God and do a parapet for your roof. And from the beginning of all the fruits of the earth (hereafter, 26:26), and many, yes, and taste for the good land, as well as for the good land, it is commanded that you bless him whenever you swear to the fullness and to the land he has given you.
This is brilliant! We say Birkat HaMazon almost every day..... all it takes is paying attention to what we are thanking Hashem for. I'm confident that after a summer on Mach Hach your kids learned to appreciate our homeland. Looking forward to having your kids on many more Shabbatonim and programs with Bnei Akiva. Thank you for our partnership.
Lehitraot
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New Videos!!
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Mom & Dad, thanks for sending me on Mach Hach!!
The Amazing Race & Final Banquet!!
End of Summer Slide Show!!
A huge thank-you to Melissa Taub, our awesome Social Media Director, for allowing family and friends to join our program virtually all summer long!
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Zmirot at Friday night dinner and Shabbat lunch, and slow-shira at Seudah-shlishit and on Tisha B'Av, are some of the most  special times on Mach Hach. Click here to download our songsheets so you can keep on singing. Campers, teach those songs to your families and chanichim!
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Save the Date..... This year's Simchaton for Shevet Morasha will take place on Simchat Torah weekend -- Wednesday, October 11th through Motzei Shabbat, October 14th. Stay tuned for more details!
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Shalom & Thanks from the Rakazim
Tova Cohen, Shosh Grad, Zvi Zobin
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Dearest Mach Hach Family,
This summer has been amazing and we thank you all for letting us be a part of it! To the administration: Thank you for being an incredible team and working so hard to make this summer possible! We appreciate all that you do for us and the program and we have learned so much from you!
To the parents: Thank you so much for choosing to send your children on Mach Hach Ba'aretz this summer. As Rakazim, we each had the privilege of overseeing several buses and meeting many chanichim. Even though a lot of our job is behind the scenes, some of our favorite days and moments were those spent with various buses and speaking with the chanichim and the tzevet. We are so grateful that we were able to spend this summer with all of them and share with them our love of Israel.
To our tzevet: Thank you for choosing to work on Mach Hach with us and creating great experiences and lasting memories for all of those around you. Your hard work and dedication is amazing and inspiring, as we continue to learn from each and every one of you.
To all of our chanichim: You are all wonderful and amazing! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this unforgettable summer! We have learned a lot from all of you as you continue to inspire us every day!
Thank you all for an incredible summer!!!
Love, the Rakazim
Zvi, Shosh, and Tova
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Some Parting Thoughts
from our Staff.....
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Bus One
Rosh Bus: Elana Greenbaum
Madrichim/ot: Noah Bar Shain, Asher Manning,
Dafna Samuel, Devora Siegel, Shira Zalut
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Dear One and Only Bus Oners,
The past five weeks we witnessed a crowd of individuals from different cities, schools, camps and backgrounds come together and become one family. A family that looks out for each other, cares for each other and loves each other. We have gotten to know you and to hear your thoughts on Judaism, Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael and we heard questions that showed us how much you care, how much you want to learn and grow. We witnessed miracles like finishing Misparei Barzel in 31 seconds or all the boys arriving at davening before the girls. Again and again you proved that when you set your minds to it, you can achieve anything. We arrived as 42 individuals on the
4th of July
and became a family where every person is important and without him or her we just wouldn't be bus one.
You arrived as campers but left as madrichim, this is the turning point. You leave Israel with the responsibility to continue the hadracha cycle. Hadracha is not just a job at camp, it's a mindset of dedication to helping Am Yisrael. To your left and right are the future leaders of Bnei Akiva North America. Every one of you has the ability to change people's lives, it's your responsibility to find your way to contribute to society and the people around you.
You are now heading back home with so many new experiences and things you learned. However one of the biggest presents this summer gave you is 41 new friends. You have all bonded on a very deep level. These are the kinds of friendships that can last a life time. Friends that will help you make life decisions and can help you through hard times. Its friendships that will remind you of Mach Hach and of everything you have achieved over the summer. Whenever you need to remember how amazing you've been this summer give a bus member a call and you'll remember.
Most importantly, we miss you and are all here for you whenever you need. We would love it if we keep in touch or at least update us with important things that happen in your life. We can't wait to see you all back in Israel soon, for a visit, a gap year and be"h someday you'll come and you'll stay.
We love you all, thank you for an amazing summer!
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Rosh: Ronit Hyman
Madrichim/ot: Daniella Eson, Hodaya Fadida,
Dafna Klavan, Josh Lehman, Hillel Sebrow
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As our bright yellow bus pulled into Ben Gurion we couldn't wait to get the summer started! Campers came off the plane while we cheered for Bus 2 waving our orange flag in the air. Day after day we were in absolute awe by the incredible campers we started to get to know. The amazing friendships that formed, the bus atmosphere and the inspiration that came along with it all was more than we could have asked for.
As the time flew by, we accomplished great feats, created real bonds, and were shocked to realize that the summer was nearing it's end. weeks of preparations, sleepless nights, hours of thought, and now it's almost over?
So I guess the answer to that was yes, because here we are, back in our respective homes, trying to figure out what to make of all those crazy experiences...
We, your tzevet, have one request from all of you:
Please don't mourn the ending of this summer experience, because that's not what this is!
See it as a meaningful mile-stone in your life long journey, and figure out how to take everything you've learned - be it about yourself, about being part of a nation, about your love of torah, about your love for Israel, or about creating meaningful relationships - and take those new realizations and figure out how you want them to play a role in your life. Infuse your lifestyle with more meaning, and in doing so, inspire others around you. don't "get over it" and go back to doing everything in the same old way - figure out how to internalize as much of it as you can, and keep it with you forever!
And finally, we really all just want to say thank you!
Each and every one of you added something so unique and special to our bus, this summer was truly amazing, and wouldn't have been the same if it weren't for the "allinity" you each displayed over the course of the summer!
Thank you for teaching us so much, and for making everything fun and meaningful!
We can't wait to hear from you, whenever, about whatever!
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Bus Three
Rosh: Ezra Schwartz
Madrichim/ot: Noa Bergwerk, Michale Goldberger,
Amir Klein, Talia Naimer, Noam Spira
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Wow. Bus 3! What a
Basa
that Mach Hach is over. In 5 crazy weeks we made moves doing
tiyulim
all over the country from the Golan to Eilat and from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea.
Chaval
that cheering on the first day at Caesaria was a let down, but it definitely wasn't a sign of things to come. After our first hike at the strenuous Nachal El Al we earned our bus hats and from that day we united as Bus3Family. The tears and sad goodbyes from the airport are only a testament to how strong, close and amazing our bus was. What made our bus special was that everyone was open and willing to make new friends and have new experiences. We didn't show up on day one as a tight knit group where every individual felt that bus 3 was their family. That came about as a result of every chanich being willing to step out of their comfort zone and experience everything this country has to offer. Our
luz
was jampacked with such a great variety of activities which helped us bond. It seems the most fun times all involve water, going through the water (and some of us the tunnels) at Nachal Kibutzim, our great boat party in Tveria (after a great time swimming in the kinerret), the waterfalls in Ein Gedi, rafting on the Jordan river and the water sports in Eilat. We also connected to our people and history on a deeper level, we saw the tragedy of the Holocaust and the sacrifices made by too many on Har Herzl to build this country. Our connection to the Land of Israel only increased on every hike throughout the beautiful land. At many sites we were able to see our Broadway actors playing scenes from the Bible to bring the stories to life in the places where they took place.
Were we the best bus on Mach Hach?
Kal!
This is because every individual grew and the group had a warm and welcoming environment which allowed us to share our opinions in sometimes heated Shabbat discussions and debates. Every member of bus 3 with their own opinions and outlooks felt welcome to share and grow together. Thank you to the parents and families for trusting us and raising wonderful children who just want to learn and build a world of kindness and helping others. Always remember that although Mach Hach must end, the experiences and friendships from the summer can last forever.
See you all back in Israel!
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Bus Four
Rosh: Yael Goldstein
Madrichim/ot: Yonit Ollech, Daniel Schwarz,
Aniel Shapiro, Shmuel Somer
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We have had the privilege of spending the past five weeks with an incredible group of kids. Together we traveled all over the country, while learning about the different places and people. As the summer progressed B
us 4 grew together in their love for Israel and each other. It was amazing to see how each person on the bus grew individually as well as collectively. Bus 4 shared many memories, laughs, and experiences that we will always keep with us. We want to thank each and everyone of you for what you brought to the bus, and it would not have been the same without you. Please keep in touch and come visit! We will miss you!
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Bus Five
Rosh: Noam Elituv
Madrichim/ot: Lotem Glasser, Sammy Raskas,
Yael Saban, Elisheva Schwartz, Jese Seidman
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Wow, that was fast. It's incredibly hard to believe that these five weeks of constant movement and excitement have passed us by. We experienced every part of Israel together, breathing in the beautiful scenery up North, immersing ourselves in the culture of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and cooling off in the sweltering heat down South.
However, the "what" we accomplished is far less interesting than the "how" with which we accomplished it. What will endure in our minds are the interactions and memories we experienced with each other at each individual event on Mach Hach. That, we believe is the unique quality of Bus 5. We, as a bus, had our own particular brand of fun that transformed even the most mundane moment into an unforgettable experience. The memories that stick with us will be the ones that captured this feeling, this unspeakable shared experience that we can now call nostalgia.
For this reason, we would like to thank all of you, the campers of Bus 5. Thank you for turning our simple Lu"z into a storybook, injecting it with that special quality of Bus 5. Thank you for providing us with more laughs and entertainment than we could have ever possibly imagined. Thank you for showing us how much closer an already tight knit group of friends could get. And most of all, thank you for letting us be a part of your summer.
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Bus Six
Rosh: Gabe Michael
Madrichim/ot: Tyler Peller, Jeremy Shechter,
Liz Snyder, Michal Weiss, Rachel Zucker
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Hey bus 6 shpitzim!
"Wake up is at
7 AM, shacharit at
7:30 AM. Be on time! Bring your luggage to davening. Loading crew- get working! Yaakov is ready to pull out. Misparei barzel lehitpaked!"
For 5 weeks and 12 different hostels we all created a unique Bus 6 atmosphere that made it so hard to say goodbye
on Monday night. We ended the summer agreeing that it was definitely the best summer of our lives. Each and every one of you contributed to making the summer what it was. It's crazy to think back to our first Shabbat where we barely knew each other, compared to havdallah as we ended our last Shabbat together. In only 5 weeks we created a new family for ourselves.
Bus 6- we miss you all so much. Looking back we remember our first ice breaker: If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? As a tzevet we've all agreed that it would be to relive the summer with you guys, time and time again. Thank you all for being so amazing and we can't wait to stay in touch and watch as you guys accomplish great things over the next few years.
Love you all!
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Bus Seven
Rosh Bus: Azariah Hacohen
Madrichim/ot: Noa Felsenstein, Yoni Gelfand,
Yechiel Meckler, Tamar Rappaport, Abby Spilky
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SEVENS UP - SEVENS UP!
To think that
in 5 weeks you could build a family, a home - most would laugh in disbelief. But to us -- we all smile with pride. From the beginning, we knew we were in the presence of greatness. From day one, you guys were smiling, happy, inclusive and all around kind people. We explored the land of Israel together through long bus rides, challenging hikes (shoutout to Arbel!), and inspiring museums (..and that Herzl one, phone freeze not in effect). We learned Torat Yisrael together through daily shiurim, lookout points from the tanach where we were standing, and thought provoking hadrachot. But mostly we came together and furthered our connection to Am Yisrael by meeting new people in Israel and building a home for each other on our bus. Bus 7, we have become a loving family which will remain for much longer than just the summer of 2017.
To the Imas and Abbas of Bus Seven, on behalf of the tzevet of Bus Seven, thank you for entrusting us with your kids and giving each of us the opportunity to experience Israel together. Over Shabbat I hope you have the chance to share in some of the Bus Seven Best Times, and witness just how much our bus has accomplished.
בברכות שבת שלום מעומק הלב וברוב תודה
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Bus Eight
Rosh: Rena Levine
Madrichim/ot: Ezra Cohen, Michal Laub,
Yoni Nouriel,
Shani Saffer, Ami Tobin
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Dear Parents and Chanichim,
Wow! What an incredible summer it has been. You have accomplished so much, and moreover, you did it together. Sunrise hikes, long nights, sweat and sunscreen have all left their marks on our summer (and our clothing!).
To the parents - Thank you for entrusting your children to us this summer. We know sending a child 6,000 miles across the world can be tough, even knowing that they are having a great time. Your encouragement and belief in us were essential ingredients in this summer's success. You all have amazing children with incredible potential.
To the campers - We are so proud of you! Watching our bus come together on tough hikes, long days, and other challanges (sic) gave us incredible nachas. Please remember that Mach Hach does not have to "end" when the program ends - you should all continue to develop and enrich your relationships, learn about the importance of Israel and the Jewish people, and share your experiences with friends and family back in the States. And please be in touch- we miss everyone already and would love to hear from you!
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Bus Nine - Hesder
Rosh: Yehuda Rothner
Madrichim/ot: Adi Ciner, Adina Cohen,
Ezra Sanders, Kelila Slonim
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Five weeks have come and gone and we're all back to the same life we left before Mach Hach began. Yet something has changed. Over the course of the past month and change our bus not only toured the country, but we attempted to understand what it means to be a Ben or Bat Torah v'Avodah. We delved into the inner workings of the land, getting a taste of the rich and meaningful, albeit not always easy, life in Israel.
As a bus, one of our strong points was our ruach. For a bus as small as ours, the impact you, the chanichim, had on the ruach everywhere we went was astounding. From dancing with the kids from Mishpacha Echad at the first Shabbat in Chispin, to the teens from Keren Koby in Ma'alot who were drawn in by the ruach they saw from their room next door, you each gave it your all and created a spiritually uplifting environment for everyone around you.
To the parents: your children are amazing. They are future leaders of Am Yisrael and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for entrusting your children to us for five weeks.
To the chanichim-the Hesder mishpacha: if the number of reunions less than a week out of Mach Hach is not proof enough, we love and miss you all! You made our summer meaningful and we learned from you each and every day. Take the momentum from this summer- the passion, knowledge and the fun-and use it to propel you forward to make an impact as you become leaders in your communities. We are always here for you and can't wait to see all the amazing things that we are confident you will accomplish!
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