Hi chanichim! I'm writing to you from THE HOLY LAND. Maagniv, lo? Zach and I have spent the last four days running through programs, sitting in maagalim, learning new words in Hebrew (glidah, anyone?) and becoming one big cohesive tzatz -- staff-- with the Israeli junior staff. After a super duper fantastic fourteen-hour flight, we arrived at Givat Haviva and rejoiced with the rest of the North American Junior Counselor Cohort. We celebrated being back together with ice breakers and then we began programming for the North American Kennes. On Friday we resumed preparation until the Israelim arrived and we began the daunting task of creating the best possible Congress for the Diller chanichim of 2013. We introduced ourselves to the staff of our tribes (Go Yehudah and Zebulon!) and celebrated our first Shabbat together. On Saturday (only our second full day in Israel) we reviewed the luz of Congress, explored Givat Haviva's pool and built team skills with Outdoor training. This afternoon we left the conference center for Tel Aviv and explored the city in an intense scavenger hunt, just like the one you will do when we're all in this amazing city together in a little more than a week! Then we ate at the port for pizur dinner and now we're at Hakfar Ha'Yarok, a kibbutz just outside of the city, far enough to enjoy peace and quiet and close enough to enjoy the view. We will continue building on our connections and working with this extended family the next few days, until you all arrive! Can't wait to share more stories with you soon! 

B'ahava, Spage