Day 7: We Enter Jerusalem

What a day we have had together!!

We woke up in the north and after a quick breakfast headed to Neot Kedumim. Neot Kedumim is a living museum of biblical times. We got a chance to shepherd sheep (our students learned quickly that you have to be calm around them), grind spices, and draw water from the well. It was interactive and fun and we think our students learned a lot. The weather was beautiful and the almond trees were in bloom!

After lunch together we traveled up to Jerusalem. We started the visit on a lookout where we pointed the key features of the old city and said a few prayers together. Then we entered the city itself. We started off speaking about the history of the place and spending time at the southern wall. We learned about King Herod (the builder of the city).

Then we engaged in two spiritual experiences and compared the two. We first went to the egalitarian section of the wall, tucked away in the corner. Students got a chance to pray together as a group. Then we wrote notes to stick in the wall and we walked over to the gender segregated area. Students placed their notes in the wall and prayed again. Interestingly, our students were split in what they liked. Some liked praying together but many felt the hustle and bustle of the orthodox side made it feel more exciting.

We then toured more of the city, stopping at other sites in the old city including a 2700 wall and a replica of the menorah used during the second temple period.

For dinner we had a free night on Ben Yehudah street. Some of our students met up with family while others did shopping and tried the restaurants on the street. They are a little tired of hummus and pita so many chose waffles and burgers. It was interesting to hear them compare these foods to what they taste like at home!

Now they are in the hotel safe and sound. We have a busy day tomorrow including Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum).

Note: I'm having a little trouble uploading pictures on my computer. Hopefully we will be able to upload them sometime tomorrow AM our time