I had already made it nearly eight months without seeing my parents, siblings or dogs and had yet to feel much homesickness. That feeling changed when Passover 2009 came around. My maternal aunt, uncle and three cousins from San Diego own an apartment in Jerusalem, not too far from the Young Judaea Youth Hostel that I lived in at the time. I was a participant in Young Judaea’s Year Course in Israel program. I was fortunate enough to enjoy part of my Passover break, as well as the seder, with them. Spending so much time with my mother’s sister quickly made me realize how much I missed my family at home.

I needed a pick me up! I needed to be surrounded by love, music and happiness. And then I found it. Boombamela, a music festival during Chol HaMoed Pesach (the intermediate days of Passover), is where I was able to recharge my soul. The founders of the festival, which takes place on the Hof Nitzanim beach on the Mediterranean coast, describe Boombamela as "a place for meeting, experiencing, crossing borders and transcending social limitations through music, creation and connection with nature.” And it certainly was. The sun was shining strong, and good vibes filled the air. It was like a miniature Israeli version of Woodstock.

In retrospect, one part of the festival that stands out to me most occurred on Saturday night, after the Sabbath was over. For the Havdalah ceremony located in the Ohel Ahava V'Teffila (literally “Tent of Love and Prayer”), a neo-hippie Chassidic Religious sect put on a show like nothing I’ve ever seen before. As a fan of live music, I was blown away. These were religious Jews banging their drums and dancing with such vigor to Jewish prayers. They felt the bond between themselves and a greater power, and it manifested itself through dance and music.

Given the fact that the festival takes place during the middle days of Passover, nearly all of the food available for purchase on the festival grounds was kosher for Passover. I spent my days dancing on the beach to live international DJs and bands, and then I was able to grab some kosher-for-Passover pizza! Only in Israel could I spend a weekend on the beach, listening to live music and dancing with my best friends and total strangers alike and still be able to observe Passover.

A recurring theme during my year in Israel was the overwhelming sense of comfort and joy I felt in meeting tons of other international Jewish students. This was just as apparent at Boombamela and was what helped me get over my momentary homesickness. At every new performance was a new friendly face, whether it be from Australia, Uruguay, South Africa or England. It was these connections that made me realize that even if I was far away from my family, I was most certainly not alone. I was there in Israel with countless other Jews just like me. I can’t wait to be back!

Alanna Davis is currently a freshman at UNC—Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of both Marva Kuf Vav and Young Judaea's Year Course in Israel. She is involved with Chapel Hill Advocates for Israel as well as with AIPAC. Alanna loves music and life above everything else. Her dog, Wilson, was named after a beloved Phish song and is her best friend. In her free time, Alanna likes to talk about herself in third person and attempt to be funny.