Days 4-5: Shabbat!
Day 4
We started the day with the drive to Jerusalem. Our first stop was a lookout point. From the spot, we could see the whole city. It was a beautiful site and looked very different from the cities we had previously visited. Next, we entered the Jewish quarter of the old city. It looked like a scene out of a movie. All the buildings were made of stone and it had an old feel. It is amazing the city is as preserved as it is. We grabbed a quick lunch and were able to look around a little bit. This is when the real tour began. We went to a building top and were able to see the four quarters of the city. There were explanations of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Arabian quarters. From this location we could also see the Dome of the Rock. We then went to a point where we could see the Western Wall. We looked at it from a far and then went to the wall itself. Many spent a few minutes before hand writing messages to put in the wall and then approached the Western Wall. People had different experiences and spent the time there praying or having their own personal experiences. We took a quick group picture in front of the wall and then left the old city to prepare for Shabbat. We returned to the hotel to shower and rest a little. We went to services at a conservative synagogue in Jerusalem. The service involved prayer led by men and women as well as a sermen in English. It was very nice of them for allowing us to join them and gave us a taste of what a service is like in Israel. On our walk back to the hotel we stopped at the Gilad Shalit tent. It was a good opportunity for us to learn more about Gilad Shalit. His parents were at the tent that sits in front of the Prime Ministers home and it was interesting to hear him speak. We continued our walk and had dinner at the hotel. We said the kiddish and hamotzi before dinner and then enjoyed a good meal. To end our day, we had a short program that involved a rock, paper, scissors tournament and some reflection on the day.
Day 5
After our constant running for the past few days, Shabbat was a much needed rest. We were able to sleep in and wake up in time for lunch. People then had free time. Some people were found playing an Israeli card game named Taki, hanging out, or getting ready for the day. We had a group discussion about Yad Vashem and the holocaust in general. There was an optional walk to a park in Jerusalem afterward. We had some more free time and then it was time for Havdallah. The group gathered around in a circle and said the prayers together. We then left for Ben Yehuda street. We got there and the street quickly filled with people as Shabbat came to end. It was the perfect place for everyone to get dinner, buy gifts, or enjoy life in Jerusalem.
