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.