he most meaningful moment of the day was being able to touch and write a note at the Western Wall, and it was touching to see others showing their emotions and allowing themselves to be vulnerable together.
he most meaningful moment of the day was being able to touch and write a note at the Western Wall, and it was touching to see others showing their emotions and allowing themselves to be vulnerable together.
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.
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.
When we visited the Western Wall, one of our group members put her mother, who is a Rabbi, on speakerphone to discuss the significance of the Western Wall to the Jews. Each member of our group then took time to experience the Western Wall in their own unique way. We said a prayer and left a note in the wall and then took step back to take in the overall significance of the moment.
Walking around the most ancient part of Jerusalem comes with so many feelings.
Looking at that famous and meaningful Jerusalem stone, noticing the variety of people walking the alley ways, and our special group experiencing it all together paints a picture that is so spiritualy meaningful.
As we got closer to the western wall, everyone's heart started beating faster, awaiting. For some of us that moment when we first saw the Western Wall was really unique, for some even life changing.
Overall, my experience at the Western Wall was much more powerful than I had anticipated and I wouldn't change a second of it.
Waking up in Tel Aviv, it felt like almost any other day in a major city in the United States.
Finally, we got to go to the Western Wall. Since this is my first time in Israel, I have been looking forward to coming to the Western Wall for the entire trip. While writing my prayer, I became emotional while thinking about the things that meant the most to me in my life. I realized how lucky I am to be able to come to Israel and pray at the Western Wall, and I hope that my children and their children have that same opportunity.
We touched the same wall our ancestors had practiced their faith and where the Jewish people will still continue to exercise their religious freedom. Some felt a connection and some did not, but either way it will be one of the memorable experiences collected on the Birthright trip.
After touring the independence museum we left to go to a market in Tel Aviv. There was some impressive original art and interesting scents filled the air. I was able to buy a beautiful menorah for my parents (hi mom!) and had my first semi-successful experience trying to bargain for a fair price.From the market we left for a walking tour of the very historical Jaffa by our amazingly informed tour guide, Omer. Jaffa was a beautiful coastal port and had significance to many cultures and societies throughout history. To any one reading this blog planning on traveling to Jaffa, do yourself a favor and go to Dr. Shakshuka for lunch.