Abbey rappelling at Tsuk Manara in northern Israel.

When I told my neighbors, friends and family that I would be traveling to Israel for the summer, the first question asked was never “Where are you going?” or “What will you be doing?” It was “Why?”

The impression that Americans have of Israel almost always revolves around safety and security. Traveling to a country that has been a constant center of conflict seemed absurd to them. Yet with all the preemptive actions taken by Alexander Muss High School in Israel and the Israeli government, from airport security and guards on every field trip to cell phones and armed teachers, I have never felt safer while traveling internationally. But my physical security is only part of the security I have felt in this Holy Land. When comparing the person I was before the trip to the one I have become, the security that I have in my relationships, religion and beliefs is clearly measurable.

As a Christian, I set foot on campus for the first time with excitement and a twinge of apprehension. To be a minority for the first time in my life was an intimidating reality. But once I met my leader and the people in my dorm, I felt reassured that I would be able to study and succeed in this warm and welcoming environment. I now have a newfound sense of security about meeting new people, even when we have completely different backgrounds. 

The measure of my beefed-up security in meeting new people is the increased laughter, smiles, sharing of emotions and opinions and close dorm community that I experience every day. One of the most touching experiences of the trip was a class discussion near Lake Kinneret during week four of our seven-week course. After discussing the difficulties of the settlers of the Second Aliyah, we talked about what makes some people in history more heroic than others.

The truly moving part that showed how far our class had come as a group was when everyone shared difficult experiences in their lives, and how characteristics of heroes came through in each of us to overcome the situation. I know that it was living with and developing a trust in these people that enabled me to share things that I usually tell only my best friends. 

I know that for Jewish-American students, the experience can renew, refresh or spark an interest in their Judaism. Watching my friends reflect on their beliefs has invoked in me many thoughts about the culture, ideals and condition of my own religion in modern society. I now feel secure in expressing my beliefs and opinions in front of a group. 

For me, visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was the most religious experience of the trip—I felt secure being in a place that felt like home. I couldn’t describe the feelings of being in such a holy place, except that it was breathtaking! For a moment afterward, going back to the Western Wall to meet my friends made me feel insecure—it was Shabbat and I didn’t know the traditions and worried about offending someone.

Each of the girls in my dorm helped me and were very supportive, so even when I stretched my boundaries, they were never overstepped and I felt secure enough to sing, laugh, pray and cry alongside my Jewish friends. For my friends, having Shabbat services at the Western Wall was just as awe-inspiring as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was to me. I know they were touched to hear about how I saw their faces light up when they spoke about their Judaism. Besides the major religious sites, it was the everyday conversations about faith that really influenced me and encouraged me to be strong, not only in my religious beliefs but in my political ideas as well. 

During my first few weeks in Israel, I have learned more about Israeli and Jewish history than I feel I learned about European history after an entire year of classroom study. The uniqueness of the program has helped me not only learn the information, but feel that down the road I will retain the knowledge.

I feel as though I have my own special connection to Israel, and though I may not go home a “better” Christian or a more “religious” person, I know that at least I’ll be a more informed human being. To me, this appreciation of knowledge will impact my decisions and my worldview. I believe the support of Israel that I want to promote far surpasses the boundaries of religion.

I will return to my family secure physically, emotionally, socially and religiously. I have Alexander Muss High School in Israel to thank for that, and I will forever be grateful for this experience and for my newfound security.

For another unique Israel experience, read about Wenzel's non-Jewish German perspective of his trip.

Abbey Nekola is from Plymouth, Minn. She’s 18 years old and is attending Iowa State University this fall. She loves to travel and has been to five continents in the past four years; check out her website and travel journals at www.abbeynekola.com.