Thursday gifted us with maybe the longest day of the trip (if you can believe it)! We left the Kibbutz and headed into the Galilee area where we met our (Lehigh Vally) Rabbi’s sister-in –law who lives there and gave us a tour of the city. It was very cool-we saw very very old temples and buildings and walked A LOT.
After that we went to a high school where they had a program a lot like Hollywood Arts (if you don’t know what that is, go to www.hollywood-arts.org). They helped high risk teens by enrolling them in a special program that gives them business skills. It was amazing. The kids presented their business plan to us and talked about their lives and how the program helped them. I loved it.
From there we made our way to Jerusalem where we will be staying for the next few days. Jerusalem is kind of like any big city-tons of people bustling. We had dinner and listened to some kids play instruments (they were GOOD) and went to take a tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall.
When you get to the Western Wall, honestly the thing you see first is a bunch of men in black suits and hats. Orthodox. The wall itself is split in “half” (80/20) with a barrier between-one part being for the men, one for the women. Can you guess which gender gets the 80 percent? We went at night and the wall was lit like a movie premier. There is a huge courtyard outside the wall where people just be and take tons of pictures. We didn’t actually go to the wall last night, just underneath. The tour of the tunnels WOULD have been cool if it wasn’t 10pm after a ridiculous day and IF my contacts didn’t feel like the Western Wall itself in my eyes. We learned about the architecture (again-don’t care at 10pm) and walked the tunnel. There was a part where they found the original street of Jerusalem. As Simon said “Jesus walked there”.
We went back to the hotel and CRASHED.
Today.
This morning we went to a soup kitchen that is connected with the same company that we picked beets for on the first day. I cut potatoes, peeled carrots and served food. It was amazing actually-I loved every minute of it. EXCEPT-as soon as I started peeling potatoes, an older woman from our group came up to me and said “Well, that’s good practice for you, huh?” EXCUSE ME?!?!?! Just because I’m married DOES NOT mean that all I do is peel potatoes. A) I am a person. B) Potatoes make you fat.
After the soup kitchen we went into the old town of Jerusalem. Think about what you think Jerusalem looks like-that is what the old town looks like. Cobble streets, little shops, etc. Really beautiful. You think you’re on a movie set the whole time. We got to do some shopping and then went to the Western Wall again. This time I did go up and prayed for a bit. You can also write notes on small pieces of paper and stick them in the wall-so I did that too. It was actually very moving and I’m really glad I did it. Did I mention that I had to wear a long skirt to up to the wall? I did. They do NOT like sluts at the Western Wall.
We then took a tour of another section of the wall and learned more about the history of it. My brain is so full of information-I honestly don’t think I can learn anymore! Ahh!
Shabbat was amazing tonight-we did a service on the roof of the hotel looking over the city. It was so pretty and peaceful.
Some things I’ve noticed about Israel.
1) Tons of cats everywhere! You can’t turn around without seeing a stray cat! But here’s the weird thing….they’re all clean
2) So many people move here from the states. There is a girl about my age in our group who is living here for a year to teach. She joined her mom and brother on the tour. I talked to her a bit about it today and she doesn’t want to come back to the states! She loves it here! Also, a girl spoke at dinner tonight and she just became a citizen here after leaving PA. They love it here and are willing to give up their whole lives and families, friends, etc. to move here. It is NOT what the news tells us. I would have never thought in a million years that anyone would ever want to live here. But, people not only choose to, they sacrifice tons to do it. Wild, right?
We have another big big day tomorrow, so I must sleep. Sweet dreams!
Mom, I’m safe,
Elaine
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