Gleanings
There is no place like Jerusalem. Everything is brighter, richer and more intense here. If you haven't experienced it, it's a little difficult to explain.
On the Jewish calendar, today marked the 10th of the month of Tevet. Historically, we are told that on the 10th of Tevet the walls of Jerusalem were breached, beginning the siege which ultimately led to the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and the expulsion of the Jews. Ritually, it is a day of mourning and a minor fast (meaning we fast from sunup to sundown only). It is a strange contrast, to be able to stand in the footsteps of our ancestors in sight of the remains of an ancient Jerusalem, while simultaneously standing in a rebuilt and thriving Jerusalem. To mourn or not to mourn? We reflected upon our growing love for Jerusalem as part of our Shaharit service today, but we curtailed our singing as an acknowledgment of the somber nature of the day. We added a special prayer which is included on fast days, as well as the special Torah reading designated for such days. A couple of participants, with the endorsement of their parents, chose to mark the day by fasting.
Ironically, some of our day was decidedly about food, though not only ours. Our first stop of the day was at Leket Israel (http://leket.org.il/english/), the National Food Bank. Our participants picked enough clementines to feed more than 300 families. Leket means 'gleaning.' The mishnah defines the gleanings as that which falls to the ground, whether dropped or directly from the tree. From there we were off to our day in Tel Aviv, beginning with a visit to Independence Hall, the place where the State of Israel was declared (http://www.jafi.org.il/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+...). A film describing the founding and establishment of Tel Aviv is followed by a complementary presentation by a guide in the very hall where the State was declared. The experience of hearing a recording of the founding of the State is framed by the former home of the first mayor of Tel Aviv, who later donated it to serve as an art museum (its role during the declaration of the State).
After a boxed lunch, we visited Kikar Rabin, the site of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Participants learned about the peace process and paid their respects at this site of terrible tragedy. They deepened their understanding in small groups, accompanied by staff, in which they asked passersby where they were when Rabin was killed and what the impact on their lives have been. It's always a very moving site, simultaneously incredibly human and difficult to comprehend.
This day of highs and lows also brought us to Mahaneh Yehudah, the outdoor shuk or marketplace which is one of the highlights of Jerusalem. The shuk is a pastiche of colors, sounds, people and fragrances and our participants delighted in sampling and buying exotic and familiar snacks. Particularly as the locals begin to prepare for Shabbat, it is a wonderful way to experience how very alive this city is, filled with a vibrant energy.
Following another stellar Neve Ilan dinner, our Israeli friends gave us a taste of army life, helping us to march in formation, challenging our reflexes, teaching us the differences among uniforms. We love that they are so excited to share their lives with us!
Tomorrow will be yet another short Friday, as our time together draws to a close. We'll try to get another blog post to you, describing our visit to the Har Herzl Military Cemetery and our last hurrah on the Ben Yehudah Pedestrian Mall, but just in case, we wish you a Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Elyse Winick
KOACH Director
