Gaby and her group take a rest during the hike.

“Letzamtzem!” This exclamation literally meaning “to narrow” or “to close up a gap” is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my experience on “yam l’yam,” a three-day hike from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee (yam l’yam literally means “sea to sea”). I took part in this exciting and strenuous adventure as a part of the navy program, my choice for the Israel Experience portion of Year Course.

This program is a navy-training simulation. We live and study at an Israeli naval academy in Acre. In addition to learning to sail and participating in other water sports, we had the opportunity to go on excursions with the school throughout our visit. Before Passover, the 20 Year Coursers in the navy program, along with the entire 10th and 11th grades of the school, started the yam l’yam journey.

Yam l’yam is a famous hike along Israel’s National Trail. I had heard it was an incredible experience many times before, and I knew it was something I wanted to do even before I got here. I never expected, though, to have an experience quite like I did. The Year Course chanichim (participants) were split into groups of four and were then paired with classes from the school. All the instructions for the hike, including all icebreakers, were strictly in Hebrew! We were forced to use our best Hebrew as we hiked alongside Israelis, making friends and helping one another throughout the strenuous trek.

The hiking style was also very different from anything I had ever done with an American youth group. Usually, it’s a “go at your own pace” and “slow and steady wins the race” type of thing. Not this time! Being run by a military school, this hike was serious business. We always had to keep up a quick pace and letzamtzem—close the gaps in our hiking formation. And the grueling and draining uphill climbs were no exception.

Conquering the hike itself gave me a sense of accomplishment I’ve never before experienced. But more than that, the entire experience of being part of a group of Israelis, singing together and cheering one another on, no matter how difficult the hike got, was what made my yam l’yam experience unforgettable.

Check out what fellow Year Coursers Alex and Sarah are up to.

Gaby Grossman is a native of Los Angeles, Calif. She recently graduated from the Shalhevet High School and will be attending Boston University next year as a double major in political science and print journalism. Her hobbies include watching and critiquing movies, going to the beach and relaxing, coming up with original catch phrases and incessantly quoting The Office and Arrested Development.