JNF Australia Educators Tour 2025/2026
Day 10 – 8 January, 2026
Day 10
We woke to a Tel Aviv washed in sunshine, the kind of morning that feels both light and heavy when you know it’s your last. Bags were packed, the bus loaded with the quiet efficiency of travellers who have done this together many times before. We said goodbye to Gen – one of those farewells that lingers a second longer than planned – then counted down and set off, ready to walk our final chapter through the city.
Our walking tour led us away from the glossy boulevards and into Tel Aviv’s back streets, where the walls speak. Here, street art isn’t decoration; it’s testimony. Every corner revealed colour layered with meaning—bold murals, intricate details, faces and symbols that stopped us mid-step. The artwork told stories of loss, resilience, and heartbreak in the wake of October 7, transforming concrete walls into open-air galleries of memory and emotion. It was vibrant and devastating all at once, a reminder that in Tel Aviv, art doesn’t just beautify the city—it bears witness to its soul.
After a short drive, we arrived at Hayarkon Park for our final meal together. We soaked up the sunshine while enjoying our sandwiches, lingering a little longer to savour the moment. Once we’d eaten, a gentle walk felt essential. Along the way, we remembered the tragic bridge collapse during the Maccabiah Games. Today, the site of that tragedy has been transformed into a beautiful nature reserve—peaceful, green, and filled with birdsong, offering a quiet sense of calm and reflection.
The ANU museum saw the group walking through treasure troves of Jewish history. Exploring themes of exile and redemption, participants were given a fantastic insight into the experiences of Jews from across the globe. Seeing the development of Jewish communities through innovative videos, incredible dioramas and historical displays brought to life the experiences of our Jews throughout the eras.
A key moment was an in-depth discussion of the Codex Sassoon, a Tanach compiled in the 10th century. Reciting the Shema from this sacred text was a hopeful reminder that, regardless of the challenges faced by our people, L’dor V’dor, our people’s ways persist.
Perhaps it is most fitting, coming from Sydney, that we conclude our journey in a museum centred around the experiences of diaspora communities. Reading and seeing the challenges of the past, becoming ever so frightfully real in the present, is a sobering reminder. As teachers, we must ensure the strength of our Jewish education for a brighter future.
As we look towards Shabbat, returning to our families, we take comfort in the phrase, sung in Shules across the world.
Etz chayim hi lamachazikim bah, v’tom’cheha m’ushar. D’racheha darchei noam v’chol n’tivoteha shalom.
It is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it, and those who uphold it are happy. Its ways are pleasant, and all of its paths peaceful.
🌿✨ Shabbat Shalom ✨🌿
Nicole and Colby
It is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it, and those who uphold it are happy. Its ways are pleasant, and all of its paths peaceful.
🌿✨ Shabbat Shalom ✨🌿
Nicole and Colby