Perspective | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

It's hard to go to sleep at a reasonable time when you're having great conversations with great people.

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.

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. 

Our Shabbat service this evening was very pretty. It was nice to sing prayers I hadn't sang in years and to find that I still remembered them. After the service and the lovely kibbutz dinner, we split into groups and learned about each other's backgrounds, then played a game based on remembering people's names that had me paralyzed with laughter.