Philly Student Experiences Life-changing Semester Abroad in Israel

Lucy Sternthal has always cared about her Jewish heritage. A Philly native entering her Junior year at Upper Dublin High School, Sternthal grew up having family Shabbat meals, going to synagogue, and even attending Camp Ramah in the summer.

It was at that camp where she first learned about Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss), Jewish National Fund-USA’s college-prep, study abroad in Israel experience for teens, from one of her counselors.

“She went on the program when she was a sophomore and absolutely loved it,” said Sternthal. “She would not stop talking about it.”

So after doing some research of her own and convincing her parents, Sternthal managed to attend Muss for a two-month mini-mester. And she hasn’t looked back since. “It was amazing, a once in a lifetime experience,” she said. “The people and field trips were amazing!”

Muss blends traditional classroom learning with an experiential Israel studies program that uses the land of Israel as a living classroom. For Sternthal, the tiyulim (trips) had a significant influence on her experience.

“The trips were my favorite part,” she said. “I really liked experiencing the different parts of Israel, the culture, food, and people that were there.”

While there were many incredible tiyulim for Sternthal to choose from, Jerusalem will always stand out as her favorite.

“We went to Jerusalem three times,” she said. “Each time we went to the Kotel, and that was probably my favorite part of the entire trip, especially when we went on Shabbat Friday night. It was really amazing, seeing so many people there dancing at the Kotel, having fun with my friends. I had never experienced anything like that before.”

Sternthal also reflected on her mini-mester classmates, with whom she formed a tight-knit crew almost immediately. “It was really interesting to see how quickly everybody bonded together,” she said. “It was just so much fun being with those people.”

Upon her return home, Sternthal noticed a difference almost immediately. “I feel a lot more connected than I was to my Judaism having gone to Israel,” she said, crediting her classmates in part for the change.

“I’ve always had a strong relationship with the Jewish community where I’ve lived and gone,” Sternthal said. “But now I feel it’s expanded so much more because I spent two months with people from all over the country, and to see how their relationship to Judaism compares to mine has expanded my perspective on the community and how we’re all so similar, yet so far away and different.”

Already planning to be more involved, Sternthal plans on attending the High School Summit at Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel come November, and she knows she wants to both attend a college with a vibrant Jewish community and visit Israel again.

She also has advice for people who are considering Muss. “I say go for it,” she said. “It might be a little scary at first, but it’s amazing, and I guarantee that everybody will love it if they go. I’m so glad I did and would not change my decision for anything else.”

To learn more about Alexander Muss High School in Israel, visit amhsi.org.