Day 5: Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

We began our day waking up in Jerusalem for the first time. After a delicious Mediterranean breakfast we left to explore the old city. Along the way we observed the dichotomy between today’s modern Jerusalem and the historical beauty of the old city. We walked throughout the old city, hearing stories and observing thousands of years of Jewish history. We then arrived at the holiest place in the world for the Jewish people: The Western Wall. The feeling was immediately overwhelming and indescribable. To walk the steps of so many of our ancestors and feel the spirit and power of that place was unforgettable. We prayed at the wall and delivered our personal messages to God. It was particularly meaningful to share this experience with our Israeli peers who have served in the IDF. Without their sacrifice and protection we would not be able to travel to Israel and visit this holy site.

After exploring Jerusalem we boarded our bus and left for Tel Aviv. We wanted to explore the local cuisine and our Israeli peers suggested we try Cube (pronounced Koobay), an Iraqi dish that has become very popular in Tel Aviv. Cube is a soup made with beets and then topped off wheat balls filled with diced meat. All of this is eaten over a plate of rice and tasted spectacular. We loved it so much that one of our Israeli friends is giving us her mother’s recipe!

Once we finished lunch we gathered in Rabin square to learn the history of Izthak Rabin. We did an activity in the square and talked to the locals about their memories of his assassination. Learning about Rabin made us aware of some of the complexities of modern Israeli society.