She decided to open up to us in this way because of the tight bond between each person in the group and the immense trust and acceptance that it holds. Sara's story led to the trip's theme of day: perseverance.
She decided to open up to us in this way because of the tight bond between each person in the group and the immense trust and acceptance that it holds. Sara's story led to the trip's theme of day: perseverance.
I came to realize in that moment that prayer transcends the religious boundaries and that whatever my definition of my Judaism was, that was okay.
It was entrancing and intoxicating, the most hope I had ever witnessed, and in that moment I felt totally connected to all Jews across the world and across time.
We began our day Sunday at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, one of the most prominent Holocaust museums in the world.
There, our guide led us on the tour that looked at the Holocaust through the victims' perspectives. It was incredibly powerful.
Afterwards, we made our way over to Tel Aviv, which felt totally different than Jerusalem.
First, we went to Independence Hall, where we learned about Israel's founding.
Next, we explored Yitzhak Rabin Square, asking locals what they remember about the former Prime Minister's assassination and his impact on their lives.
We talked about what it's like to actually live in this country that we've all grown to love and face the issues that they do. Many of these issues have to do with serving in the army, which is a part of most Israelis' lives in ways that we can't really imagine, even though we've gotten a pretty good idea of the experience through our new Israeli friends' perspectives.
What was your favorite part of the day and why?
Speaking with Raecheli, an Ethiopian Jewish immigrant who lived in the Youth Village, and hearing her story. Speaking with her helped us appreciate how important Israel is to so many different people.
We went to the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Playground in Sderot. What made this playground unique was it was all indoors and individuals can get to a safety room in under 15 seconds, if need be. This playground had a wide variety of equipment for all ages and we had fun playing on the big kid equipment.
At Mount Scopus, we learned about the Old City, while admiring its beauty.
But, what kind of inspiration should I draw from such an important place as the Western Wall? For me, I was inspired because it is our most powerful connection to the biblical past of Judaism and the original Jewish state. It is a place where everyone can find their own meaning and purpose.
On the bus ride, many of us wrote letters to put into the wall, as well as the ones our family members gave us. We were lucky enough to witness many IDF soldiers gather by the western wall to prepare to be sworn into the IDF.