Independence Hall, Rami Meiri
Today, we embraced our inner children. But we’ll get to that later.
Our morning began with a fanciful stroll in Tel Aviv, taking in the modern city culture, bustling streets, beautiful waterfront property and the even more beautiful Mediterranean Sea. After snapping a few pictures we took a long (and very hot!) walk to Independence Hall, water bottles in hand. We couldn’t help but feel relieved when we walked through those doors into air conditioning--but little did we know, we would be walking into something much more substantial.
As the days have unfolded during our trip in Israel, we have participated in a variety of activities. But none have impressed me, personally, as much as our approximately two hours at Independence Hall. Knowing little about the history of Israel (let alone Tel Aviv), the combination of several things was enough to make my chest swell with a little-known pride: a brief historical video, excerpts from liberating speeches, an eccentric and electrified tour guide, and two of the nation’s flags hanging proudly in the place where independence was declared.
Later in the day we were welcomed into the home of famed Tel Aviv street artist Rami Meiri. We viewed an example of his work up close, and then traveled to his studio near the beach. Here, we viewed pictures of his work from the nineties to present day, each piece more vibrant and interesting than the next. The final part of the tour was interactive; the outside of Meiri’s house is a testament to numerous Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, a multicolored wonderland of artwork from participants on past trips. We all picked up a brush and started painting, each adding a piece of ourselves to the walls.
It all comes back to Israel. By embracing our creative sides and leaving something in Tel Aviv, as well as improving our knowledge of the nation’s history, we are adding so much more to a nation that still deserves so much of our attention. Hopefully, for most of us, this is only the beginning.
We had a great day, and tomorrow we will participate in more desert-appropriate activities…riding a camel, for instance!
Marnie
