Tel Aviv and Shabbat in Jerusalem
Hi everybody!
On Thursday morning we went to an incredible historic site: Independence Hall, where Israel declared its independence in 1948. We learned a ton about Israeli independence from a great informational video and a tour guide. We learned what a miracle it was that the state was even created and how much the Jews had to go through to make this happen. We learned a lot of new information and even supplemented some of the information we learned in classes at Brandeis.
After we headed to another place od modern historical significance, Rabin Square where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. We interviewed some local Israelis and asked about their memories of Yitzhak Rabin and what they thought of his death. This really helped us understand the significance of Rabin, who he was and the importance of his work in the peace process. This shed a lot of light on the history of the peace process, and how we got to where we are now.
We had lunch in the middle of Tel Aviv near Shenkin Street and the Shuk Ha Carmel. THis what great because it isn;t something you normally see in America with vendors lining the streets and plenty of haggling going on. It was almost overwhelming with all the different sights and smells, but we made it out ok and even got some cool souvenirs!
We got our first real look at Jerusalem from Haas Promenade, where you can literally see the whole city. For many of us this was a moment we had been waiting for the entire trip. The view was incredible, and it was great to see the mix of old and new communities in Jerusalem. We could literally see the whole city: the old city and Dome of the Rock, across to the Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus, and even into Eas Jerusalem. It was amazing to see things we have spent our whole lives hearing about.
Friday morning we woke up to head to the old city. We saw David's Tomb, a scenic view from the roofs of the Jewish Quarter, and the Western Wall. On the roofs we could see landmarks in all four quarters of the city. The city was different than we expected, but it met all of our expectations for being awe inspiring. We got to see the places where cultures mix together, and it was interesting to see the actual land that so many people have fought and died for. After we went to the Western Wall, and truly no words can describe the feeling of being there and being able to put our prayers in the wall. We know that not everyone gets this special experience, and we are honored to be a part of the community counting themselves as seeing this holiest of sites.
After we headed back to the hotel to get ready for Shabbat. It was our first Shabbat in Israel and it met all of our expectations. SOme of us went to a local synagogue on Friday night, and this was a great cultural and religious experience. We were surprised at the incredible hospitality of the members of the synagogue, and we have spent the rest of the day resting in our hotel and getting ready for the rest of our trip! Can't wait!
