Never have I ever... been to Tel-Aviv
Rise and shine! I woke up at 7:11 for our meeting at 7:15...a 'great' start to what would turn out to be an exhilerating and exhausting day. Breakfast was good but, not as delicious as it was for those of us that got up early yesterday. It lacked the shakshuka and pickled fishes that the prior morning had, but was still delicious and nutritious with loads of fresh veggies and shmear. Fueled up and ready to go, we packed onto our bus to visit T'svat. Fortunately, we did not have to actually put out bags onto the bus ourselves as two of our Israeli friends had to do it for us as a 'reward' for showing up late to discussion yesterday.
The day started out rough. It was hot. Not Israel hot, but pretty damn hot for those of us that are used to the East Coast. T'svat is a maginficant old town, boasting both history and artisan crafts that enthralled all participants. The reality of the city's role in the war against the Arabs was evidenced by the old mortar and shell that remained on display and the bullet holes that pock-marked buildings throught the city; as out native guide Amit explained.
The historical part of the city was further highlighted by the two synagouges we visited. The first one is extremely important to Jewish tradition. The founder understood that Judaism is a complicated religion and therefore simplified the rules and laws into a way that would be understood by most practioners. The really cool part was that these books, over 500 years old, were still on display in the temple. Furthermore, we were able to see an ancient Torah that was in amazing condition and is considered a treasure of the city. The second temple had a very interesting story attached to it. Ancient and imporant in its own right, it is this story that really impressed most of the participants. What happened was that as the men were praying, they bent down in reverance as is typical in prayer. At that exact moment, the attacking forces launched a rocket into the synagouge. Because the worshipers were bent in prayer, the rocket passed over them and hit the bima, leaving a hole that is still visible today.
The artisans were also a major attraction of the city. We walked around and adimired that jewlery, mezuzzah covers, talises, and paintings that local stalls were sporting. Some of us purchased these goods for ourselves, our parents, and loved ones. I wanted to buy a ring for my girlfriend but decided to wait til we get to the Old City.
After learning about this ancient city, we journeyed to Haifa--the hometown of our Israeli companions. Driving in we saw the buildings that housed the massive technolgical advancements that the city boasts. We arrived at the local fire department where we learned about the fire that devastated the area the year before. Unfortunately, thanks to jetlag and the four hours of sleep I recieved the night before, I kept nodding off during the presentation a fire fighter gave us. Well, I thought I just nodded off, according to some of my friends I actually started snoring! It goes without saying that I was more than embarrased. Fortunately, we went to Mount Carmel where the fire fighter re-hashed a lot of his prior presentation. It was evident how catastrphoic the fire was...leaving much of what used to be a lush and green forrest brown and charred. Despite this, the sentiment of hope that the citizens have for the future of their mountain rang true throughout our group.
We then visted the Bahai Gardens. I have seen Paris from the Eifel Tower, New York from the Empire State Building, and Berlin from a helicopter. Despite all that, this view may be the most impressive and breath taking sight I have ever seen. We then made our way to Tel Aviv.
We have only been here for a few hours and already love the city! We got off tto a rocky start--even though it was free time, we all preferred to eat together so it took us half and hour to find a restaurant that would seat a group of our size. Eventually, we found somewhere that fit us all. On top of this the drinks were great and the locals were extremely friendly. To cap off the night we kicked our shoes off and walked home via the Tel-Aviv beach. The warm water and soft sand brought a jubilant end to our night; leaving everyone in high spirits. I am so excited to explore the city further tomorrow.
