Muss Blog

Student stories, staff perspectives, and study-abroad tips from the Muss community.

Reuven Arye - Muss Educator | May 8, 2025

Exploring Ancient Roots

The second week of the Mini-Mester has been filled with adventures, learning, and meaningful experiences. Though we are only two weeks into the program, it already feels like we’ve known each other for much longer. Perhaps it’s due to the long days

Cassie Berman - Spring Semester 2025 | May 8, 2025

From Sports to Service

Yesterday, we had our first tiyul (trip) in a while. We began the morning at Kfar Maccabiah, where we visited the World Jewish Sports Museum and learned about the history of Jewish sports over the years. Before coming here, I hadn’t realized how

Justen Bienstock - April Mini-Mester 2025 | May 1, 2025

A Meaningful Start

This week has been deeply meaningful. We’ve had a chance to connect with both the land and its people in a powerful way—from spending a short time working on a local farm (which reminded me a bit of Alaska with all the manual labor) to walking the

Reuven Arye - Muss Educator | May 1, 2025

Getting Started with April Mini-Mester '25

Wishing you a happy Israel Independence Day!

Olivia Schwartz - Spring Semester 2025 | May 1, 2025

Reflections, Remembrance, and Unity

This week in Israel has been incredibly meaningful. It began with Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, when we honor the lives lost during one of the darkest periods in history. Exactly one week later, we observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial

Dr. Steve Kutno - Head of School | April 29, 2025

Israel’s Independence Day: A Celebration Built on Remembrance

The American teenager experiences national celebrations of remembrance and independence as a day off. They are touchstones in the calendar, Memorial Day marking the unofficial end of school, and Independence Day, the official kickoff of summer. Both

Alana Slade - URJ Fall Semester 2023 | April 28, 2025

How a Few Weeks in Israel Turned into a Lifetime of Activism

I first learned about Alexander Muss High School in Israel’s (Muss) Heller High program during my Hebrew immersion summer at URJ’s OSRUI, and I was immediately hooked. When I came home and told my parents about it, my dad was livid. I don’t remember

Naomi Weintraub - Fall Semester 2018 | April 28, 2025

My Muss Story

In the fall semester of 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Muss. The decision to participate in the program was deeply rooted in family tradition—my dad had gone on the program years earlier after being inspired by his older sister, my

Eden Katalan - Spring Semester 2025 | April 24, 2025

Catching Up With Muss

My past few weeks at Muss have been absolutely amazing! Right before Passover, we had the opportunity to make matzah in preparation for the holiday, and it was such a fun experience! I loved getting hands-on, learning about the traditions behind

Rabbi Greg Litcofsky - Fall 1992 | April 10, 2025

One People, One Story

Each year at the Seder, we meet the Four Children: the wise, the rebellious, the simple, and the one who doesn’t know how to ask. My favorite teaching — and one that rings truer each year — is that there aren’t four different people. They’re all of

Lilly Lapidus - Spring Semester 2025 | April 3, 2025

A Taste of Resilience

This Wednesday, we had the opportunity to visit the city of Atlit, where we listened to a remarkable Druze woman speak about her path to becoming the first owner of a kosher Druze restaurant. Her journey is one of strength, resilience, and

Neta Shahar - Spring Semester 2025 | March 27, 2025

Shabbat in Kraków

This week, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Poland with Muss, exploring Jewish history and connecting with my roots in a way I never had before. While much of the trip was emotional and difficult, one of the most meaningful experiences