Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Day 8
Before I begin, just wanted to say "Hi Mom & Dad! Miss you tons!
Today started once again with a hardy breakfast at the hotel, followed by a lecture from Professor Paul Liptz on the positives and negatives of Israel's current situation. After rushing to the bus to get back on schedule, we were off the Neot Kedumim, a nature reserve dedicated to Biblical plants. On the way, we had a short mifgash conclusion program where each of our soldiers took the microphone at the front of the bus and spoke about the past few days with us. Unfortunately rain prevented us from touring the actual gardens of Neot Kedumim but several activities were still planned for us. First we ground up Hyssop or Zatar (as it's known here), a spice with special healing properties against leprosy from lashon harah found in the Torah. Combined with two other spices, salt and red sumac, this spice acts as a key ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine. We were then able to taste the Zatar combined with olive oil on pita bread, as well as with date honey (which was incredibly delicious). At the second station we talked to a sofer (a scribe) about the many facets of creating a Torah, including he different looks of parchment from various kosher animals and the natural ingredients which combine to make the thick long lasting ink of the Torah. Finally, gave a go at doing our own scribing by writing our Hebrew Names on paper using the same technique as used for the Torah (let's just say that we should leave scribing to the professionals...)
-Emily Isaacs '11
Today started once again with a hardy breakfast at the hotel, followed by a lecture from Professor Paul Liptz on the positives and negatives of Israel's current situation. After rushing to the bus to get back on schedule, we were off the Neot Kedumim, a nature reserve dedicated to Biblical plants. On the way, we had a short mifgash conclusion program where each of our soldiers took the microphone at the front of the bus and spoke about the past few days with us. Unfortunately rain prevented us from touring the actual gardens of Neot Kedumim but several activities were still planned for us. First we ground up Hyssop or Zatar (as it's known here), a spice with special healing properties against leprosy from lashon harah found in the Torah. Combined with two other spices, salt and red sumac, this spice acts as a key ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine. We were then able to taste the Zatar combined with olive oil on pita bread, as well as with date honey (which was incredibly delicious). At the second station we talked to a sofer (a scribe) about the many facets of creating a Torah, including he different looks of parchment from various kosher animals and the natural ingredients which combine to make the thick long lasting ink of the Torah. Finally, gave a go at doing our own scribing by writing our Hebrew Names on paper using the same technique as used for the Torah (let's just say that we should leave scribing to the professionals...)
After the nature reserve, we finally headed to Tel Aviv, a city which in the words of Ari is "gross and smells but I love it anyway." We had an hour and a half of free time at the Carmel Market where we grabbed lunch and tried our luck at haggling (with pretty successful results!) Following this was a short walking tour of Tel Aviv through the Neve Shalom neighborhood where we were introduced to the Bauhaus style of architecture, the prevailing style in the Tel Aviv of the 1920's and 30's incorporating both old and new elements in a clean, practical format. Right before the bus picked us up, we said goodbye to our Israeli soldiers, quite a bittersweet experience because of the great time we had with them. Returning to Jerusalem, we got a first hand look at Tel Aviv traffic.
After a little rest time and dinner at the hotel, we set off for a night tour of the City of David. Although it was pouring rain, we trudged down to the platform and made our way to the underground city. The excavations of the original Jerusalem were incredible and the view was amazing. After climbing what seemed to be another Masada, we reached the bus and returned to the hotel -- everyone needs to get tons of sleep to be ready to conquer Ben Yehuda Street Tomorrow.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Day 7, Bus 693
Today was a very emotional, yet fascinating and exciting day in Israel as we spent our first full day in Jerusalem. We started out going to the Old City, then we went to the Western Wall, to the Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall and then Mt Herzl.
In the Old City, we began by looking at King David's Tomb, which was intimate in its small and simple setting. Learning the history of the Old City along the way, we entered the Jewish Quarter through the Zion Gate. There are four quarters in the Old City: The Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian Quarters. Once in the Jewish Quarter, we saw the rebuilding of the largest synagogue in the City,called the Hurvah Synagogue which was destroyed by the Jordanians in the years following the War of Independence when Jordan controlled the Old City.
We continued to the Southern Wall Excavations and saw Robinson's Arch, which in its day was the largest arch in the world. Through our views from the Jewish Quarter, we could see the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque. We proceeded to the Western Wall, and on the way we could hear the Muslim's call to prayer.
We then finally reached the Western Wall. The Kotel, as it is called in Hebrew, was actually not part of the Temple at all, but rather it was part of the retaining wall which was built around the Temple Mount to make it bigger during the period of the Second Temple. The western part is the most holy because it is the only area that has always been exposed. The Wall was very emotional and moving. The women's and men's portions of the wall were separate. It was surprising how much larger the men's side was than the women's. Never the less, women or men, religious or non-religious, we were all moved by the Western Wall. Many of us put prayers and wishes on slips of paper and placed them between the cracks in the wall. We were surrounded by people, including a Bat Mitzvah family. The women watched their loved ones have a bar mitzvah over the portion which divided the men from the women, threw candy and chanted.
After our trip to the Western Wall, we were able to explore the Jewish Quarter on our own, shopping an eating schwarma and felafel for lunch. After we went through the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, we visited the famous grave sites on Mt Herzl.
It was extremely moving, especially coming off of our visit to the Western Wall where I think everyone felt some type of emotional connection. Our guide, Koren, our tour guide, pointed out how his high school was just across the way. It made us realize how intertwined life and death is here in israel. We visited the grave of a soldier who died in the arms of one of our Mifgash Soldiers, Kobi. It was moving and difficult for him to talk about.
Then Rabbi Ed took us to visit the grave of Alex Singer, a Cornell student who felt so strongly about the State of Israel that he made Aliyah to Israel after he graduated and joined the Tzahal (the IDF). When the Rabbi pointed out how Alex trckked up Libe Slope in the snow (like all of us) and took Psych 101 (like all of us), it really hit home and drew a major distinction in the difference in our lives. After Alex made Aliyah and became an officer in the Paratroopers, he was killed in battle in the first Lebanon War in 1987. We also saw the graves of Yitzchak Rabin and Golda Meir and other famous Israeli political figures.
The end of our tour was with a visit to the grave of Theodore Hertzl, the founder of modern Zionism. The mountain was named for Hertzl and his grave is beautiful and moving. It had a hemic circular structure behind it which to me looked like the rising sun on the State of Israel -very appropriate for a man such as Hertzl.
Mt Hertzl was a beautiful experience. It was especially interesting to see how all the graves were uniform and how each were commemorated, and how through the tears it has become more personal. In the end we got to see a beautiful sunset, which seemed to be a perfect way to our first full day in JERUSALEM!
-Robin Warren '08, Jessie Schaevitz '08, and Jacie Stramberg '08
Day 7, Bus 696
Shalom from Jerusalem! After our second consecutive meal without hummos, we hit the bus (good thing it didn't hit back). En route to the Old City we passed the Gei Ben Hinom or the Valley of Hell just to the south of the Old City. It was here that the ancient pagans offered child sacrifices to their gods and it was this practice which Abraham rejected. Because of what they did to their children though, the area has been associated with Hell on earth for all these years.
Our first stop was the tomb of King David on Mt Zion.
From there we entered the Old City, making an abrupt (90 degree) turn into the Zion Gate as we made our way to the South Wall excavations around the Temple Mount. The Second Temple was built by King Herod (who also built the palace on Masada). At the excavations we walked up the steps which actually led up to the Holy Temple. The steps are stagged to remind travelers and pilgrims to reflect on the Temple's sanctity and to prevent them from just running up to the Temple in their excitement.
Only upon arriving at the Western Wall could we fully appreciate the magnitude of being able to approach the holiest site in Judaism, one that could only be viewed from afar for almost 2,000 years. There, we were struck by perceivable contrasts. This included the separation of men and women as well as the Dome of the Rock, which peaks over the Wall. At the Wall, we inserted notes and had tie for personal reflexion and prayer.
From there we entered the Old City, making an abrupt (90 degree) turn into the Zion Gate as we made our way to the South Wall excavations around the Temple Mount. The Second Temple was built by King Herod (who also built the palace on Masada). At the excavations we walked up the steps which actually led up to the Holy Temple. The steps are stagged to remind travelers and pilgrims to reflect on the Temple's sanctity and to prevent them from just running up to the Temple in their excitement.
Only upon arriving at the Western Wall could we fully appreciate the magnitude of being able to approach the holiest site in Judaism, one that could only be viewed from afar for almost 2,000 years. There, we were struck by perceivable contrasts. This included the separation of men and women as well as the Dome of the Rock, which peaks over the Wall. At the Wall, we inserted notes and had tie for personal reflexion and prayer.
We then had free time for lunch and shopping in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. This was followed by an afternoon at Mt Hertzl, the National Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. There lies the graves of Theodore Hertzl, Israeli Prime Ministers, Kenneset leaders and military soldiers. We visited the grave of Cornell alumnus, Alex Singer who died as a 25 year old officer in the Paratroopers in the Lebanon War in 1987. His legacy of commitment to Israel lives on through his memory. Now, were off to the Birthright Mega-Event. We will have a lot to tell you about it tomorrow.
Author information not available at time of email. Will be updated tomorrow.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Day 6
Shalom, Parents, Family and Friends!
Today, we woke up bright and early in Arad and headed out to an archaeological dig at the site of the ancient city of Maresha at the Beit Guvrin National Park. We were led through a very intricate network of (some extremely narrow) caves, using candlelight as our only way to see. We took some great pictures along the way -- you'll see them when we get back.
These caves contain the remains of the ancient Edomite civilization. Then, we actually began to help excavate the site. We uncovered bones (from food, not people!), pieces of pottery, plates, bowls, oil lamps and many other interesting artifacts. After the dig, we were able to take a few souvenirs home with us. We departed BeithGuvrin for the Holy City of Jerusalem, stopping at the Mivaseret Mall for lunch along the way.
Our first stop in Jerusalem was at the Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus, which overlooks the entire City. After taking a few group photos, we recited the Shehechiyanau and received the same greeting that Abraham did when entered Jerusalem almost 4,000 years ago: bread and wine.
Next came one of the most spiritual and meaningful experiences of my life: We sang "Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu" and "Am Yisrael Chai" and danced and had the most amazing experience. The bus then took us to the Israel Museum where we saw an incredible model of the Old City of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple, and the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls that were discovered in the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea.
After we practically closed the Museum, we checked into our hotel, the Kedem Towers. After dinner, we had a reception with members of the Israel Cornell Club. They shared their stories and really showed us that there is a life in Israel for any Cornell graduate. Their stories of aliyah and life in Israel were inspiring and educational.
These caves contain the remains of the ancient Edomite civilization. Then, we actually began to help excavate the site. We uncovered bones (from food, not people!), pieces of pottery, plates, bowls, oil lamps and many other interesting artifacts. After the dig, we were able to take a few souvenirs home with us. We departed BeithGuvrin for the Holy City of Jerusalem, stopping at the Mivaseret Mall for lunch along the way.
Our first stop in Jerusalem was at the Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus, which overlooks the entire City. After taking a few group photos, we recited the Shehechiyanau and received the same greeting that Abraham did when entered Jerusalem almost 4,000 years ago: bread and wine.
Next came one of the most spiritual and meaningful experiences of my life: We sang "Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu" and "Am Yisrael Chai" and danced and had the most amazing experience. The bus then took us to the Israel Museum where we saw an incredible model of the Old City of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple, and the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls that were discovered in the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea.
After we practically closed the Museum, we checked into our hotel, the Kedem Towers. After dinner, we had a reception with members of the Israel Cornell Club. They shared their stories and really showed us that there is a life in Israel for any Cornell graduate. Their stories of aliyah and life in Israel were inspiring and educational.
Tomorrow, to the Old City........
Laila Tov from the Holy City of Jerusalem.
Adam Schneider '09
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Day 5
We had a restful Shabbat in Arad. The students enjoyed a nice walking tour and now they are socializing with pizza, games, and dancing. A more detailed notes from the road will be sent tomorrow.
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