Tuesday – Welcome to Israel
Davidson Center – After landing in Israel, we took a sheirut to the hotel. We went straight to the Kotel and the Davidson Center with Gili. There, we learned about all the excavations done around the Bet Hamikdash and kotel area, as well as all the research they are doing to understand the city during the second temple period. We saw the money changing stations, shops, mikvaot all from that period at the base of har habayit. We then prayed Mincha at the Kotel.
Kever Rachel – Dinner was at Gavna in Gush Etziyon which was a spectacular spot. Then we went to Kever Rachel to pray Arbit.
Wednesday – Yehuda & Shomron
Deer Land ATVing – Sam woke up for Netz, and after the delicious Citadel breakfast we boarded the bus for a full day of touring. We started off the day ATVing in Gush Etziyon. Sam rode with Judah while Rita sat out with Grandma because #babyfrancoiscoming.
Pantry Packers – Back in Jerusalem, we did some Chesed packing food for the needy. We packaged over 140 bags of lentils and rice, assembly line style – filling, sealing, labeling, and packing in boxes.
Eretz Bereishit – We did camel riding, Sam rode with Uncle David, and Rita rode with her mom.
Petil Techelet – We learned about the history of techelet and how it was rediscovered. They showed us how they mix chemicals with snail dye, and depending on the light it either turns to techelet or argaman.
Dinner was at Rosa back in Jerusalem.
Thursday – Bar Mitzvah & Sefer Torah Dedication
This was Judah’s big day, and we all went to the Kotel for prayers. We prayed inside the tunnel because of the heat. Judah read parashat Vaetchanan. Lunch was in a nice garden restaurant called Kapit, inside the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.
Army Base Torah Dedication – As part of the Bar Mitzvah celebration, the family decided to donate a Sefer Torah to the Army in honor of a fallen soldier. We were introduced to the family of Daniel Pomerantz and dedicated with him in mind (The army stopped dedicating for specific soldiers). Our Torah was going to the Bislach base near Beer Sheva (it was a long drive to get there). We did a lot of singing and dancing with the soldiers, and they were so happy that we came to bring them a Torah. Judah read his part again for them, and Judah, dad, and the Army Rabbi all made speeches. It was quite a special day.
Friday – Around Jerusalem
Netz at Maarat Hamachpelah – Since we never sleep, we did a 4:20am wake up to get to Maarat Hamachpelah for Netz prayers. The mood there was very festive, with different groups praying in their own style – one group was dancing in circles with drums.
Har Hertzl – Back in Jerusalem, we visited Har Hertzl to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and political leaders of Israel. There was an interesting memorial there to those Holocaust survivors who fell in Israel’s war of independence.
Yad Vashem – We toured this moving memorial and museum to the victims of the Holocaust, including the exhibits on propaganda, the Children’s memorial, Cattle car memorial, and gardens dedicated to righteous gentiles.
Machane Yehudah – There’s nothing like the market on erev Shabbat. We ate a ton, and picked up some food for Shabbat lunch as well.
Friday night, we all went to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat, and ate back in the hotel.
Saturday – Jerusalem
We prayed in the hotel and spent most of the day by the pool. After Shabbat, we went to Ben Yehuda Street, where there was a Pride Parade. Since there was some violence at the previous parade, security was tight. We had dinner at Waffle Bar.
Sunday – North
Rafting in the Jordan River – The rafting trip was a nice relief from the heat wave that was happening across the region. We had a lot of fun with it, bumping boats and getting wet. We slid down the rockslides too. Lunch was at Katsrin.
Golan Heights – Stopped by the border and met a UN peacekeeper who maintained that the area was disputed territory. We saw some of the fortifications and the view into Syria.
First Station – When we got back, we went by ourselves to the First Station and had some delicious pan-Asian food at Station 9. We also watched some traditional Israeli dancing and participated a bit.
Monday – Eretz Binyamin
Eretz Binyamin Visitor’s Center – Learned about the significance of this area in the Tanach, including where Yaakov had his ladder dream, Jeremiah planted his pot anticipating the redemption, the Maccabi revolt, and Tefillat Hannah. It’s also a winery.
Tel Shiloh – Walked though the possible site of the Mishnah at Shiloh. Saw all the broken pottery strewn across the hillside, which can be explained by temple purity laws.
Bethel – visited the hills of Bethel, where Jacob had his ladder dream – a lookout point over the whole area.
Hutzot Hayotzer – That night, we went on our own to the international craft fair where we saw the different vendors, had some food. There was a concert as well, but we didn’t have tickets.
Tuesday – Tel Aviv
Independence Hall – Visited the place where Israel declared its independence in 1948, and learned about the founding of Israel. We did a scavenger hunt around the area, where we learned about Israel’s founding and the important people of the time. Rita and I won of course!
Nachalat Binyamin – Stopped by here to do some shopping, there was an art fair. After that, Rita and Sam went to the airport to fly to Athens, while the rest of the family spent a few more days in Israel.
