Parshat Beshalach describes the Jewish people's escape from Egypt, their crossing of the Red Sea, and their challenges in the desert. After they were set free, they quickly began to complain about their hunger, and God provided them with manna, a food that appears each morning. This teaches them to trust in God and to rely on each other and the community, gathering only what they need each day.

At IC, we go through a similar experience. Teens worldwide come together, facing new challenges and opportunities, and sometimes stepping into the unknown. Like the Israelites in the desert, we must trust the process, lean on each other, and rely on our community. IC provides us with the tools and connections we need for our journey—much like the manna provided what the Israelites needed to move forward.

Just as the Jewish people learned to trust, grow, and build a stronger community in the desert, we at IC learned to do the same, strengthening our leadership and relationships with others.

Shabbat Shalom
Mia Freedman, Manhattan Region