Even with a tiring four and a half hour plane ride to Tel Aviv, our group was more than happy to be in the warm sunshine of Israel. At 6 A.M., we started the day off great with a packed lunch from the popular, Panera-like restaurant Aroma. This was a pleasant change from the bread and carbs that were continuously served to us in Poland.
Our first stop in Israel was a look out view of Jerusalem. The beautiful sight brought tears to some of our eyes, especially the people on the trip who are experiencing Israel for the first time. Next, we spent some time playing games and relaxing outside. We all enjoyed the warm sun so much, the fact that we had received little sleep didn't matter.
Seeing Yad Vashem after we had visited the concentration camps in Poland gave us all a different perspective. As we walked through the museum, we could relate the facts and pictures to the camps we had just seen first hand. We all felt more knowledgable and the museum was less of the typical boring thing that we want to skip, since we had a better understanding of the difficult topic.
Next, we had free time and lunch in the market Machane Yahuda of Jerusalem. The market was filled with locals preparing for Shabbat and tourists joining in on the fun. Most of us enjoyed falafel or shwarma and even munched on delicious pastries, like rugalech. No one is complaining of the differences between Poland and Israel.
We celebrated Shabbat at the Western Wall! Mayme Acklen had the ultimate experience. She walked up to the wall, stuck her note in, kissed the wall, and as she kissed the wall, a bird pooped on her! Rather than reacting negatively, Mayme embraced the situation and took the act of falling poop as a sign of good luck. What a day!
-Dana Coleman
May 2, 2014
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