We've been so busy! Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Negev | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

We've been so busy! Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Negev

Family and friends-

Sorry it has been so long since our last post; we've been extremely busy! Since our last post we've spent time in the great cities of Tel
Aviv and Jersualem and had a unique night in a Bedouin tent comunity. Tel Aviv is a relatively new city compared to others in Israel. We
got the chance to walk along the waterfront in the cool winter weather and experience the nightlife of the city. During the day we visited
the room where the state of Israel was founded in 1948 and learned a ton of history about the founding of both Tel Aviv and Israel.

Then it was on to Jerusalem where we prepared for our visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial, talking in the group
about our personal experiences and familial relationships with the Holocaust. Yad Vashem was a spectacularly moving and emotional
experience for all of us. We learned the history of the Holocaust through first hand accounts, individual stories and lots of artifacts and
historical objects. For me, one of the most interesting exhibits showcased modern Israeli students' artwork capturing the emotional scar of the Holocaust on Jewish and Israeli identity and on the world at large.

Next we journeyed into the desert for our Bedouin experience. We ate a Bedouin style feast and learned from a Bedouin community
member about life in the desert. All 40 of us slept on the ground (with mats) in one large tent. Most people stayed up late by the campfire talking and playing games, but I fell fast asleep right after dinner. In the morning we rode camels which was both exhilarating and relaxing at the same time.

As an added bonus to our trip, our tour guide took us to the area of Israel near Gaza. We also went to Sderot where we walked around
and saw the city that has been and continues to be hit worst by Palestinian rockets launched from Gaza. Every building, public place and bus stop has concrete shelters in case of a "tzeva adom" or "code red." Our tour guide told us about life there how nobody listens to
music in the car so they can hear sirens and how over 80% of citizens have post traumatic stress disorder. We saw the police station
where they have the empty shells of many rockets to recently hit the city, a truly eerie sight. During worse times, the city faced hundreds or thousands of rockets a month, but now they only get a few.

In all, this trip has been an amazing experience and something that I would reccomend to everyone in the United States no matter how religious or secular they are.

I hope everyone in the US is great (shout out to Mom, Dad, Grandma and Sari!) and we will talk to you all in two days when we get back!

Shabbat Shalom!
Sam Margo '14