The Magic of the Golan
Each day our travelers feel a little closer to one another. It's part of the magic of this trip, helping them to build community on their terms. It helps that they are a truly sweet group and given the opportunity, are open to all sorts of new things.
Our soldiers have been caught up in this magic. Yonatan called his commander and asked permission to bring the group to his army base -- and the commander said yes! They spent the morning touring the base, learning about the soldiers' lives on site and climbing in and on top of tanks. They were fascinated by everything they saw and grateful to Yonatan for making it possible. You won't find this on the printed itinerary -- it's about one person being inspired by our group and making the impossible possible.
From the base they went to Tel Dan for a chance to appreciate Israel's natural beauty. http://www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/SITES/teldan.htm They loved walking along the river, one of the three major sources of the Jordan. Though the nature preserve is not Israel's largest, it has a fairly comprehensive representation of species, just right to give our travelers a good feel for the ecosystem of Israel's north. They completed their visit with tea and coffee, enjoying sunny skies.
The title of today's blog entry comes from a wonderful multimedia experience in the north called Kesem HaGolan, or, The Magic of the Golan. On an IMAX sized screen, visitors see the length and breadth of the Golan and all its beauty, learning about its topography and commerce and all it has to offer. Following the film, there is a remarkable map which shows the various features of the geographic area, lighting up to highlight various sites and giving the visitor a better understanding of the region in which they've just spent the past two days.
It will be an early night tonight, with a round of Human Bingo and card games. Our travelers will pack and prepare to bid the north farewell, making their way back to Jerusalem tomorrow.
They are all learning so much, participants and staff alike, and they are all having a wonderful time.
We know that more magic and adventures await them.
Rabbi Elyse Winick
