Shabbat: A Day of Much Needed Rest

Echad, two, sholosh, four, hamesh, six, seven… all the way to forty seven and last. On the bus and off, hats here, and hydrate hydrate hydrate. Bobbing heads and mouths catching flies is nothing out of the ordinary as we make our Taglit through Israel. Exhaustion sweeps over the group and heavy eyelids cast a hazy lens and a day of rest is nothing short of a necessity. Shabbat has never felt as meaningful as this one .Not only because of how fortunate and blessed I feel to be celebrating in Israel but because physically and emotionally my body has never craved it so much before. Living in New York City, it is very rare that I actually sit down to revel in the beautiful simplicity of rest, reflection, silence and clean air...

I’m sitting on the lawn outside our hotel surrounded by lush grass and a cool breeze, a warm sun and a breathtaking view of majestic Jerusalem’s small houses far in the horizon. A conversation ensues among us about what is most important to us as Jews and we discuss: remembering the past and preserving our traditions, recognizing our identity and continuing the legacy. I look up towards the blue sky, the seeds of my Taglit have begun to sprout.