Last Day in Jerusalem

Our last day in Israel was bittersweet. Most of us are missing our family and friends, but also don't want this amazing feeling to end. In the morning we went to the JCCA Israel office and meet with Sara and the editor of the Jerusalem Report. After an enlightening discussion, we headed to the hilltop in Gilo that overlooked Bethlahem. We saw the seperation walls, and learned about snipers shooting into Jewish areas in 2006. We got our final view of Jerusalem from La Haas Promenade it was breathtaking. We headed to the first Jewish Settlement and broke off into three groups and toured and searched for clues in a life size game. Into the marketplace we saw falafel, dried fruit, gifts and kosher butchers. With a message that one of our friends father had died and was being buried in Israel, Mark, Heidi and Terri went to the funeral. This old man, a holocaust survivor we learned, had exactly the kind of story that makes us so happy we have Israel. In the cemetary, we saw the graves of 5 of the Israeli Olympic athletes killed in Munich. It was very humbling. Just weeks ago we heard from one of their daughters at the Maccabi Games. We all walked back to the hilltop overlooking The Jaffe Gate, where just days ago an arab ran his car into the street trying to harm Israeli soldiers. We paused and reflected on our trip. Tears of joy, sorrow and an overwelming sence of what Israel means to each of us was felt by all. We all hugged eachother. It was indeed here, the end of our trip. We had dinner at Joy restaurant, which was incredible and laughed and teased and thought what an incredible year we have spent preparing for what was now the last leg of our seminar. Our guide and "professor" Ophir, was unbelievable, he made us think and even challange our original convictions about Israel, but mostly we learned. Ophir taught us things no one else has ever touched on. We are forever greatful and will continue to learn and challange all that has to be said about Israel. Our driver Ofir, kept us safe and comfortable, he even stopped a pickpocketing jumping off the bus to help a stranger. We will miss you both. All of us are so thankful to Douglas and Barbara Bloom for this incredible learning and spiritual adventure. We may never truly be able to put into words what this has done to us as employees of the JCC, as Jews, and as Christians, but mostly as a team. Todah Rabah. Lahla Tov to everyone. Monday it's back to the real world, a world now changed by our recent vist to Eretz Yisrael.

Yad Vashem

This morning we headed to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We split up and walked through in groups and on our own. It was an emotional experience for all of us. Many of us know or knew survivors, for many of us it was out first time visiting, some of us even had close relatives who died at the hands of the Nazis. We then headed to Har Hazikaron (mountain of memory) We had lunch at Imas Restaurant. We ate the mixed grille, well some of us did some of don't like strange insides of animals. We then went to Mount Herzl the cemetary for national leaders and fallen soldiers. After dinner we went through the Rabbinic Tunnels underground. Tomorrow is our last day in Israel, we can't believe its almost over.

Masada, En Gedi and The Dead Sea

This morning after singing Happy Birthday to Amy, we headed to Masada. We took the cable car up so we would have time to fit activites in. We learned about King Herod, and walked through his palace. 100 years later a group of Jews lived up there to escape the Romans. Some of brave in the group walked the snakepath down! Next we walked through En Gedi a place where natural springs and waterfalls....in the middle of the desert. It was to some of us another spirtual place! Last but not least we went for a swim in the Dead Sea. Guess what even though Paul insisted he wouldn't float, he did!! We all did!! Then Forest got mud for the group and instant spot treatments! What a day!!
For dinner we ate at an old bookstore. We meet Diana, who is the Director of Because I Care, a group that helps the rights of restaurant employees and also insures its excessible to patrons with disabilites. Lahla Tov!!

The Wailing Wall and Maresha

Today we set out into the old city. This time we entered the gates at Damascus. From here we saw the other side of the wall. A platform was built on this side for the less religious Jews who wanted to go together as families and pray. We headed next to the wall. We entered the area, and split men to the left, women on the right. This is where we gave the charity some of our co-workers asked us to bring to Israel. We then headed to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre also called the Church of the Reserection, the place where Christians believe Christ laid dead for 3 days. It was nice that everyone on the trip got to do something that was special to them. Poor Randy on his crutches, charged on. Most of us were tired with all the walking, Randy literally fell to the ground and rested!! He has been such a trouper!!
We had an amazing lunch in an Israeli winery, then headed to Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park for an archaeological dig. At first we all thought it was a bit fake, but after meeting Dr. Ian Stern that sure changed! Everyone had the opportunity to find something. Some of the finds were actually impressive. We were all allowed to take a piece of old finds that really were of no use Dr. Stern said to put it next to our menorah at Chanukah because it truly was over 2000 years old. Off to Ben Yahuda Street for dinner!

Shabbat in Jerusalem

Last night we went to Shabbat Services together and then back to the hotel. We had an amazing dinner lots of chicken, brisket, fish and of course lots of Israeli salads. Shabbat morning we did what all Israelis do, sleep in!!! We split up for the morning. Some of us went to Bethlehem, some of us went to the old city, the dead sea and the zoo. We regrouped after lunch and went for a walk to see the first settlements outside of the old city. It was such a beautiful walk. We came upon a very high stairway, and fireman Paul lifted Randy onto his shoulders and carried him up all the stairs! We have definately bonded!! We are on our bus headed to see David Broza!! Shavoa Tov!

The Golan Heights

Today we departed our Kibbutz and headed North to see where the battle of Kiryat Shamona took place in 1920. The Jewish settlement tried to fight off but lost the battle to the Arabs. We drove on the trail of the wounded, and saw the cemetary where the dead were buried While in the parking lot of that same site, just 3 short years ago 12 Israeli army reservist soldiers were killed when they were called to duty in the war with Lebanon. Heading up the Golan Heights we see fences with little red triangles. A red triangle is the international sign of land minds. We get a deep sense of what living in Israel really feels like. Its very humbling. We then headed into the Golan Heights and walked through the trenches. We learned about Eli Cohen an Egyptian Jew who infiltrated the Syrians as a spy and learned many secrets, including where the trenches were actually places on the hilltop. Eli was eventually discovered as a spy and was killed and buried in Damascus. Next we stopped for a snack of goat cheese and a lavash type of bread from a store owned by Drus. We then climbed up a hill and saw the view of Syria. It was breathtaking yet erie to stand and look into the land of the enemies of Israel. Now we head to Jerusalem for Shabbat.

Matnas and Shimshit

It was fun to discuss our jobs and brainstorm with the matnas staff. They were so eager to learn how we do things. It was amazing to see we had the same issues, lack of attendance, how to market programs, WEBSITES!!! We all enjoyed this part of our trip a lot. After group breakout sessions where we discussed challenges and similarities we proceeded to an area mall where we had an incredible variety of kosher lunch dishes. It seems that kosher restaurants in Nazareth Illit are as few and far between like back home. We boarded the bus and headed to Shimshit. Shimshit is a community village where jews of Israel were concerned that Israelis were not really Jewish. They came together to this community in hopes of creating a place Jews could be Jews in there own way. They refuse to use the wording alternative to orthodox. It was a beautiful community where 550 families live in harmony not judging eachother. Maybe this is the next phenomenom.....user friendly Judaism.

Partnership 2000

The kibbutz we are staying at is fabulous! It is really a true Jewish experience. It is a popular Kibbutz with all secs of Judaism. There are places to do prayer, and even special pool times for men and women. Only from 5-7 can men and women swim together.
Last night we split into small groups and headed to our host families to see how a typical Israeli family lives. Many of us were nervous to go. Turns out we had such amazing experiences. We learned about what issues their family deals with, and they were so curious about ours. We did our best Hebrew, and helped their little ones with English! It was definately a wonderful night. Today we are heading to the matnas (a type of Israeli jcc) and meeting a counterpart in our different fields. We will write more later.

Nazareth

Today in Nazareth we split up for lunch some of us went to Diane's (where the ice is free) and some went to Pizza Roma. On the way back we stopped along markets and shops where Mark stumbled upon the most incredible roasted and heated cashews. Grigory purchased dry apricots and shared as we continued to holyland gift stores in the marketplace. Paul was slightly upset to find a Christian novelty store that shelved retail rosaries next to military bullet necklaces, it seemed very imappropriate. So. We left and shopped across the street where the prices were better anyway. Although still in Israel it was a bit surreal being in Israel's largest arab city. As we approched the Church of Annunciation, you could hear the call to prayer in a nearby Islamic mosque. This served as further evidence of the complex unison of cultures in modern Israel. At the church we saw what is believed to be the biblical sight where the angel approached Mary about her expected child. There is much controversy on if this is the actual sight. We further ventured uphill to a greek orthodox church which celebrates the same annunciation. They believe a seperate site, the original spring that services Nazareth. It was at the sight some of us were chased from the church for taking pictures!! With tours completed we headed back down the hill with Ophir, our guide. In order to do that, no less then 5 people had to restrain Randy's wheelchair from tumbling down the hill as the street was narrow and steep. By steep we mean steap!! Alas all was fine, and onto the Kibbutz! Stay tuned for more........

Zippori

Bokar Tov!! This morning at 8am (so don't you think we are sleeping in) we headed North after checking out of our hotel. We drove past the seperation fence on our way to Zippori or Tsippori or...well you get the point!! We learned that it's post second Temple early settlements of jews and non-jews. Its where the Rabbis finally decided to write the laws and history down to preserve it. Off in the distance we saw the place where Jesus' grandparents (Mark said his bubie and zayde) lived. There was Roman influence and beautiful mosaics. A presence of Muslums, who abonded the area in the 1940's. Off to Nasareth for lunch and the site of the annunciation. More later......