Saying goodbye :(
What an incredible trip it's been. The final few days have been filled with plenty of highs and lows--challenges to us physically and mentally. On Tuesday we woke up super early--3:30! We had to make it to Massada so that we could climb it in time to see the sunrise. It was incredibly tough but we all did it together and the sunrise was something we won't soon forget. We spent the next few hours on top of the mountain learning about the incredible history of the fortress and the heroic Jews who lived there. We talked about their decisions and if we would do the same, and we got an incredible amount of Jewish history. We made it down in time for breakfast, and headed to our next destination.
The Dead Sea was a brand new experience for everybody. We got to hang out, get some time in the sea, and play some games. We all love the beach so much! Most of us had mud we smeared all over ourselves to make our skin silky smooth. After awhile playing at the sea we got on the bus for our ride back to Jerusalem (and a much needed bus time nap).
When we got to Jerusalem we headed to the shuk for the lunch. The Jerusalem shuk, called Machane Yehuda, is the largest in the country. It has all sorts of beautiful shops and vendors. People selling fruit, nuts, clothes, falafel, anything you could want. Lunch was amazing and we had some time to shop as well. Finally, after one of the longest mornings/afternoons ever, we checked into the hotel. We had some time to rest and relax before dinner and some programming, an excellent and breathtaking day.
This morning we woke up for what was sadly our last morning here. We made a brief stop at the Israeli 9/11 Memorial, the only Memorial outside America to list the names of all of the victims. After we headed to the Hass Promenade, a beautiful overlook of east Jerusalem. We got to see the old city and all the rest of the Eastern part of Jerusalem stretching to the West Bank. We took a lot of pictures together and one of our participants had a very special naming ceremony, where she talked about reaffirming her Hebrew name and what she had learned about it during the trip. After we headed to Ben Yehuda street for lunch and some final souvenir shopping.
Our final stop of the day was Har Herzl. It was incredibly emotional, as we heard the stories of Jews who have passed away defending Israel. It put a real human touch to the experience and brought to life the sacrifice people have made on behalf of this county. We also visited some of the great leaders and founders of the country including Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir, Vladmir Jabotisnky, and Theodor Herzl himself. It was great to see so much history in one place.
Now we are back in the hotel ready for some final programming and to say goodbye. It has been a truly unforgettable 10 days. Thanks for staying with us, and we can't wait to talk to you all soon and tell you all about it.
