Meet Halel & Tamar from Gush Etzion in the West Bank

Halel and Tamar met at Midrasha Migdal Oz (an Open Orthodox institution of higher Torah study for women located in Gush Etzion in the West Bank) when they spent a year studying the Torah. While they were there, they met and made friends with a young woman from New York. After the year ended, their American friend returned to New York and Halel and Tamar served in the Israeli Defense Forces. After their two years of mandatory military service, these young ladies women decided to vacation abroad at separate destinations. Halel chose Peru and Tamar chose New York to visit their American friend that they made while studying at Midrasha Migdal Oz. Upon arriving in Peru, Halel became violently ill with food poisoning and wound up in a Peruvian hospital. Halel found Peruvian hospitals to be scary. She found that the hospital she was in lacked many of the basic resources that we often take for granted. Once she had recovered from her bout with food poisoning, she was on her way to visit Machu Picchu. En route, she was stung by a bee- which she is highly allergic to. At that point, she decided that Peru was simply not for her. She immediately contacted Tamar and booked a ticket to New York leaving Peru behind. Betsy asked Halel if she will ever return to Peru to see Machu Picchu. She quickly responded with, “No never! I saw enough while I was there!” (We think so too! ) These two lovely young women made a stop at Howe on their way to see Niagara Falls. Tamar told Betsy, “Our parents told us not to tell anyone that we were from Israel. They feared that perhaps we would not be welcomed. We have found that not to be the case at all. Everyone here has been so very kind to us.” Betsy asked them If you could tell the world one thing what would it be?

Halel: “Do what’s best for you. You know best. Appreciate others who offer you help along the way. Don’t be afraid.”

Tamar: “We are all human beings. We should all love each other. We should all want to make this world a better place.”

Thank you, Halel and Tamar for visiting, sharing your story with us, and for making us a part of your adventure.

Travel with Love. Peace be with you.