The last full day of touring took the USA team to Atlit, a city north of Netanya, site of the Ma’aplilim (“Illegal Immigrants”) Camp.  In 1938, British-controlled Palestine established the illegal immigrants detention camp where Jewish Holocaust survivors during and after WWII were held.  It is a somber site with guard towers, heavy iron gates and barbed-wire fences.  In the camp’s field stands a replica of a boat used to smuggle in refugees under the noses of the British.  Many boats were captured, and between 1939 and 1948, 40,000 illegal immigrants were held in Atlit after their captured ships had been towed to a nearby port in Haifa.  The squad was treated to a stirring first-hand account of an American Jew with naval experience who was recruited to smuggle Jews into Israel.  The team then visited a small town of Ousefaya, a Druize village located on the side of Mount Carmel.  The squad was treated to a fantastic middle-eastern lunch followed by a discussion of the Druize culture and religion.  The true tenets of the Druize religion are held in close secret, and the team met with Druize people for informative discussions.  The day ended with a trip to the beach at Neurim where water sports were severely limited by the unfortunate proliferation of jellyfish.  Undeterred, the ruggers started a pickup game of touch rugby on the beach, and scouted future rugby talent from the juniors soccer team.  A barbeque dinner was followed by beach campfire where the squad engaged in discussions about Judaism, Israel, Zionism, and the importance of the Maccabiah Games.  Events such as these throughout the week played an important role in further bringing the team together.

Written by Rob Perle