Shabbat Shalom/Shavua Tov
The past two days have been amazing, but no one on the trip can come to terms with the fact that the trip is already a little more than half over! While we have technically been in Israel, together for just a few days, the entire group feels like we are all family.
We spent the last 48 hours really getting to know one another more, sharing of ourselves in deep and intellectual conversations both during facilitated activites run by the staff and late night discussions amongst ourselves. Friday morning we drove to Jerusalem and spent the morning and afternoon learning about the history and significance of this holy city to the Jewish people. We explored the old city and finally got to go to the Kotel (the Western Wall). It was an overwhelmingly complex experience and each person on the trip has different thoughts and feelings about the time we spent in the old city. It amazes me how all of us are coming from such different backgrounds with varying levels of Jewish knowledge/education, yet in Jerusalem, we all felt connected in some part,or way to each other and to Israel.
After spending the first part of the day in the old city, our bus got to prepare for and welcome Shabbat - a much needed period of "down-time" after such an intense first few days in Israel.
I got to go to a traditional service at an Orthodox synagogue, while some of my new friends enjoyed other Shabbat prayer/study options back at the hotel. It was a unique experience for me to be a part of.
Today was a mix of rest and relaxation as well as group discussions revolving around the central theme of Jewish Identity. We got into a thought provoking, healthy debate during one of the activities that was super interesting. Moreover, it is so fascinating to hear the thoughts and perspectives of our Israeli participants on these difficult issues and topics.
After concluding Shabbat with a Havdallah service we got to go out for dinner. Upon returning to the hotel we began a sobering preperatory conversation about tomorrow's morning activity - Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum).
I can not wait for the next three days, we will be making our way down to the Negev, sleeping in a Bedouin tent, hiking, riding camels, climbing Masada, swimming in the dead sea...and so much more! If I thought the trip was going too quickly before, I can't even imagine how fast the last few days will pass by. I am exhausted already thinking about all we are about to do....And with that, Lilah Tov or goodnight!
Shavua Tov~!
