"That's one of those things that, when you go to Israel, you just can't miss it," Molotsky said. "You have to go and float in the Dead Sea."

The silver medal that Molotsky helped the U.S. gymnastics team win this summer at the Maccabiah Games was far from the most profound experience the Mount Laurel native had in Israel.

And when she thinks about what helped her make such a seamless transition to high school gymnastics this year - where she placed first all-around at her first four meets - Molotsky does not point to the actual competition at the Maccabiah Games.

"It was the whole experience," she said. "It definitely gave me a more open mind. Just a couple of years ago, I was afraid to go to sleepaway camp, and now I'm traveling across the world on a plane with people I've only known for an hour. It kind of gave me the confidence that I can do anything I want."

From a competition standpoint, just being selected for the games was enough of a thrill for Molotsky.

She traveled to the University of Oklahoma with her dad, Drew, and her coach, Kris Moulder, where she competed in a tryout with gymnasts from all over the country. Only the top six gymnasts at the trials made the U.S. team. Molotsky finished second.

"When she made the U.S. team, I told everybody that I wish everyone a parental moment like that at least once in their lives, and I didn't think anything could top it," Drew Molotsky said. "But then we got out there for the games and, watching her come out for the opening ceremonies and represent the U.S. team, it was a completely overwhelming experience."

The opening ceremonies were just as moving for Elana. Walking in the ceremony that rivaled the Olympics opened Molotsky's eyes to the fact that she not only shared a heritage with all of the people around her, she shared the profound experience of being an athlete.

"We were all there for the same reason. We all had something in common," Molotsky said. "And then you're walking and you see all of these people cheering and you know it's for you. You're representing the United States of America. It was an overwhelming feeling."

While Drew Molotsky described the experience of watching Elana compete in the Maccabiah Games as nerve-racking for a parent, Elana and her teammates stayed relaxed and focused on enjoying the experience as much as possible.

"We really weren't worried about medals," Elana Molotsky said. "My mind-set was that even if I didn't do well, it didn't matter because I was there for the experience. We were just trying to do our best."

Of course, she was ecstatic when the team won a silver medal. But, at the end of the day, winning the medal isn't what Molotsky thinks about when she looks back on her experience at the Maccabiah Games.

She thinks of the Western Wall, the Water Tunnels, the culture, and the countless friends she made along the way.

"I got to meet so many new people. I got to try so many new things, and I got to see what I learned in all my years of Hebrew school come to life," Molotsky said. "It's such a great experience that I don't know what else can top it. I want to go back. I didn't want to leave."