SH-26-222's blog

Hello readers! Welcome to the Shorashim BUS 222 blog! Natalie here, blogging about our past three days on our wonderful journey around our holy land. Friday night, we had a phenomenal Shabbat dinner and service. Katie Pearlman sang a beautiful song for all of us by Adele, called Hometown Glory. After Shabbat dinner we talked about our feelings. It was very fun and we all got to know each other very well. The next morning, we woke up late (finally) and went to the park to play some soccer and relax. Shabat was very relaxing because we have not stopped moving the entire trip.

We are just leaving the kotel, look at this amazing picture that Cara took in the old city today!

Shabbat Shalom everyone!!!!!!!

We went to the beach, which had incredeibly soft sand and warm water. The ocean was beautiful and our group thought it was the best part of the trip so far.
We went to Independence Hall and learned about the the birth of Israel. Our group got to sit in the actual room the Israeli Declaration of Independence was signed in, which was an incredible experience.
After our visit to Independence Hall we checked into our hotel and had quick dinner before getting ready for a cultural evening activity in the city of Tel Aviv which included group bonding and dancing in our bus.

Wednesday was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We started off the morning with an absolutely breathtaking hike called the Gilabon hike, The hike was near what used to be Syria, and covered in trees that were planted by Eli Cohen who was an Israeli spy. The hike was amazing and we saw the waterfall that is fed by the melted snow on Mt. Hermon. The hike was really long (about 7 miles) but totally worth it. It was also very hot. Afterwards we got to see the worlds carziest flafel maker, and they played music for us in the mall, and we danced before we went to see the olive press.

Today was our first full day here in Israel afer our flight that had over 300 other Birthright Participants. We got to Israel and met our tour guide Asaf and our Israeli soldiers and went to a small ceremony. Since we were all tired when we got to the hotel afterwards we went right to sleep. We woke up on Tuesday morning and had an AMAZING breakfast (fruit, chocolate spread, fruit loops eggs) and then got on the bus to have our opening ceremony on the promenade in Jerusalem. We also learned that Dora the Explorer in Israel speaks in Hebrew and teaches English (thanks Vinnie).