Jerusalem pt 2 - and the desert - the dead sea, a beduoin tent, camel rides and masada - new air force pilots by Lennon, Alexa, Jake, Daniel & Josh

We just returned from our only two day trip. Our kids experienced all kinds of things they have never encountered before. We said goodbye to Mike - and slept in a beduoin tent (which is why there was no blog yesterday - as there was no internet in the beduoin tents), swam in the Dead Sea, climbed Masada, rode camels and say an amazing graduation of Air Force Pilots and amazing fly over's of every kind of plane and helicopter in the Israeli Air Force - including F-15I's, Cobra's and Black Hawk Helicopters of Israel's Air Force, on Israel's only air force base. . We just got back, and this is Rabbi Raff. Your kids are doing great - and i particularly want to have you join me in saying thanks to Mike (when you see him) - for doing an amazing job. He was fantastic and all of your kids said it to him already - it was sad to see him leave.

Jerusalem - by Lennon
Wednesday Jerusalem trip - We arrived at school very early to depart for our second trip to Jerusalem. This time though, it was to the old city. On the bus most people slept, but for the one's who were awake, we got to see the Supreme Court which sits above the Kinneret - which we also saw. Once we arrived in the Old City, we travelled into an underground tunnel (built into the wall) for breakfast. Then, we finally entered the Old City through the Zion Gate. The streets were very narrow and dark. For how old the city is, the buildings were in great shape (many of the buildings are new, and were built post 1967 - yes, new buildings in the old city). We visited the tomb of King David, which has been turned into a small synagogue. After that, we went to the Cardo - the main street built in the days of the Romans which runs under the city - and we also went on the tops of some roofs and got a good look into both th eChristian and Muslim quarters, including the Dome of the rock. Finally we went to pray at the Western Wall. We wrote small prayers and placed them into cracks in the wall. It was very emotional for some of us. Then, sadly, we all said our goodbyes to Mike Mason and we departed for the Dead Sea.

Dead Sea - by Alexa
After Jerusalem we left for the Dead Sea. Most of us fell asleep on the ride. Although it was cold and windy at the Sea, about half of us went in. I'm so glad I did. The water was so beautifully blue and the sand was soft. When we first got in, it was freezing and there were chunks of salt at the bottom. It was so amazing to float in the sea that I had heard so much about. As soon as we got out we rushed to the showers to wash the salty water off. Even though i felt sticky and gross the rest of the day, it was an experience I certainly don't regret.

The Beduoin Experience - by Jake
When we arrived at the beduoin tent. I was excited to take a step out of my comfort zone. We put our stuff down and went to learn about beduoin customs and laws, and were served tea and pita both made on a fire off to the side - but inside the tent. We hung around for a while and then ate dinner in our tent. We had meat kabobs salads, rice and pita. We sat around a campfire later on and roasted a marshmellow or two. After a night of laughter and absolutely no sleep, we "woke up at 6am to pack and eat breakfast.

After breakfast, we met our camels. Two people shared a camel and it was so much fun. When they began to stand up, we were literally lunged forward. We rode for about half and hour, got over how sore we were and then left for Masada.

Masada - by Daniel
Though the bus ride was relatively short, the climb up the mountain to Masada was exhausting and involved an excessive numbers of stairs. However, Masada was well worth it. We spent a few hours exploring and learning about the palaces and the fortress. We also admired the view for a while. When our time at Masada was up, we climbed back down the mountain (I really hate stairs) and went back to the bus.

The Making of Pilots - by Josh
After the hike up Masada, most of us were very tired, so the long bus ride was a very good upportunity to sleep. When we arrived at the air force base, we were greeted by a small amount of rain, which wasn't very nice considering it was already cold. The Ceremony began with a flag corp - the raising of the flag, the entrance of the head of the Air Force adn the Secretary of Defence, former Prime Minister (and current candidate) Ehud Barak and a few very loud place flying overhead. We saw lots of different fly overs, by the newest planes and copters in the Israeli Air Force. It was very exciting seeing 40 young men and women recieve the wings, and become eligible to fly as pilots (the most elite job in the Israeli military), and Israel's top guns. I wish it could have been longer because seeing the plances fly through the air was awesome.

Jerusalem pt. 2

We began the day by loading the bus with our cold weather clothes as we embarked on a trip to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, an overnight in a Bedouin tent, a climb up Masada, and camel rides. Rabbi Raff will continue to update the blog with words and pictures when the group returns from this amazing adventure. Expect an update on Friday afternoon.

Until then we want to share an amazing experience that happened today. We went to Jerusalem, the old city, specifically the Kotel or Western Wall. All day it had been rainy, cold, and cloudy. As we approached the wall, boys on one side and girls on another, the sun broke through the clouds. We were warmed by the sun and our experience at the Western Wall together.

It was a scene from a movie only it really happened to us. Only in Jerusalem of Gold.

Neveh Tzedek, Independence Hall, and Fiddler on the Roof

We began our day by hearing the story of Helena Birnbaum, a holocaust survivor. It was extremely moving to hear her story and the multiple times that she seemed to have an angel on her shoulder as she survived.

Following that we went on a walking tour of Neveh Tzedek, the first neighborhood in Tel Aviv. We walked the streets and felt the history of a city that is only 100 years old.

Our tour ended at Indendence Hall where David Ben Gurion announced that there was a Jewish state on May 14, 1948.

This evening we saw a performance of Fiddler on the Roof. The entire production was in Hebrew! It was a very good performance, and it was even more poignant to think about the residents of Anatevka who were displaced and may have ended up here, in the Jewish homeland, Israel.

Pictures




Jason, Alexa, Ilan, and Beth with Helena Birnbaum










Our group posing in Neveh Tzedek


















Morey finds cafe Morey











Independence Hall








The room where the state of Israel was born

Jerusalem

The beginning of our day

By: Michael Aspinwall

Our day groggily began at 7am with the group's first trip to the country's holy city. The Theordore Herzl museum and Har Herzl was the first stop on our busy schedule. The group made their way through a video guided tour featuring the father of the Zionist movement. Despite the early wakeup, the museum was one of the most interesting on the trip.

At Har Herzl we visited the graves of Israel's prime minesters and distinguished government leaders. We had a short memorial servic e in memory of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Next the group took an emotional tour of Israel's Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem. our guide taught us about the national socialist regime and the terrible history of the holocaust as well as sharing some of his families personal experiences. Everyone learned something new and it was a very moving experience.

The Second Part of Our Day

By: Jason Kass

After all those museums and activities we stopped to get lunch. The shnitzel was amazing!!! Since we did the only thing guys wanted to do, eat, we did the thing the girls wanted to do: go shopping. Everyone went shopping on Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. From side to side the street was covered in shops.

During the shopping experience I had a very embarassing moment. I went into a jewelry store to get a present for my mom, and I found the perfect one. I told the employee that I wanted this one and she told me to fill out the tax return slip. After I filled it out she told me that it cost 2200 Shekels. I was astonished, I didn't think a little piece of jewelry could cost $500. I pulled out my wallet and counted my moeny, and that's when I remembered i don't have that kind of money. I told the employee this and she gave me the angriest look I have ever seen! I felt really bad, but before anything else would happen I ran out of there.

Next we went to the Time Elevator. This was a lot of fun. It showed us a family's adventure throughout time and the changes that also occured in Jerusalem. It used chairs that shook and moved up and down to make it more exciting.

To finish the day, we went to see Channukiahs being lit in a neighborhood called Nachalot. We sang prayers with a religious family that was lighting Channukah candles with a large crowd. We walked through the neighborhood and saw all of the homes that had their Channukiahs outside giving us candle light to walk by.

Here are some pictures from today

The Herzl Museum










Har Herzl - Theodore Herzl's gravesite









Yitzhak Rabin gravesite










Memorial ceremony









The entrance to Yad Vashem









Shopping on Ben yehuda













Waiting to go into the Time Elevator









On the Time Elevator

12/21/08

Happy Hannukah!

By: Isabel Barry

We got to start the day bright and early at 7:30am with a trip to the Children's museum in Holon for "A Dialogue in the Darkness." The Israelis had to go to their morning classes, so we Americans were alone for the first time during the trip. We split into two smaller groups and were taken into a place with no light, so that we had to rely only on our other senses.

It was frightening in the beginning, but by the end we were used to the darkness and were fine. At the end of the tour we met our guide - who was blind. We were amazed with the way that he could lead us through the maze.

After the Dialogue in the Darkness we headed back to the school to reunite with the Israelis. We made glass Hannukiot, and they all turned out very beautiful. We also decorated dreidels. Dreidels here are different from American dreidels because they say a miracle happened here (po) instead of the there (sham)

After lunch we went to the Palmach museum to learn about the war of independence. We went through the lives of 10 fighters in the Palmach. This was very interesting because we have never been taught about this before. It was cool to see how the Palmach or Strike Force eventually became the Israeli Defense Force of today.

After a quick dinner we returned to school and had a Hannukah celebration. We enjoyed a performance by an Israeli cover band. We didn't know most of the songs, but we still had a great time. Then we all enjoyed some Sufganiyot. Jelly doughnuts which are a Hannukah tradition. We haven't had latkes yet, but it is very neat to experience Hannukah here with our Israeli friends.

Here are some pictures of today's activities:

Our art projects - Hannukiot and Dreidels








The finished products









Our Hannukah Concert




























Rabbi Raff and a friend light the Hannukiah on the first night of Hannukah

Shabbat Shalom

Hi Everyone, we just got back from a phenomenal show. It is called Mayumena. Everyone got a lot of rest today and we are ready for a great week.

Tomorrow is a very early day that starts with a Diagogue in the Darkness. We then go to the Palmach museum, and wrap up the day with a Channukah party.

Unfortunately there are no photos for the blog today because everyone was with their host family. However, here is a link to the show mayumena: http://www.mayumana.com/

Some of our students were even able to get a photo with the star of the show. He is one of the most famous Israeli musicians of all time. His name is David Broza. You can learn more about him at his website: http://www.davidbroza.net/hp/

Good night from Tel Aviv. We'll speak to you tomorrow!

Caesarea, En Shemer, and a Druze Village

Caesarea, Kibbutz En Shemer, and a Druze Village

By: Morey Spellman

The day started out early with a trip to Caesarea. All of us were tired from the previous nights adventures. While in this beautiful and awe inspiring location just off the meditaranean sea and with ever one in good spirits, our group leaned many things about Caesarea's history. We learned that it was both grusome and very interesting.

Next we went to Kibbutz En Shemer, which is a small unified village. The Kibbutz tour included a movie, tractor ride, a brief history of the site, and a visit to see the cows.

Finally, we made a stop at a Druze village on Mt. Carmel. After learning about the religion we at an interesting assortment of food. We were then treated to some Mizrachi music with one person playing a drum and another playing a guitar of sorts. After a long tiring day we all went our separate ways with new memories and new experiences.

Pictures from Caesarea









Pictures from Kibbutz En Shemer













Pictures from the Druze village