Day 10-Shabbat in Jerusalem

---

Our final day of the tour started with an overnight thunderstorm bringing much needed rain to Israel. However, that and the fact that just about everything is shut down on Shabbat slowed down our activities. Some of us went to Shabbat services at the campus of Hebrew Union College. This is where rabbis and cantors are trained for American Reform synagogues, so the service was very similar to what we experience at home. It was a "super-charged" service since the majority of attendees were rabbis there for a conference and the audience participation was very strong.

The walk back to the hotel was in a rain that turned into a halestorm. We wondered if locusts and frogs were in our future. Our last official meal was lunch in the hotel fitted in around some packing. Some of us braved the Arab Market in the old city for our last shot of sourveniors. We bargained for t-shirts, scarves and trinkets, some more successful than others. With more rain coming down, we took taxis back to the hotel, with each of us charged different rates by the drivers trying to make money on a rainy Saturday.

We gathered in the lobby for Havdala and to say our goodbyes. We went around to each person to say what our favorite thing about the trip was. The top replies included the cave crawl, Indepedence Hall, the Western Wall, the teen late-night G-rated sessions and flirting with the ITC rep each morning (well the last one was just Seth). We all mentioned the tighter bonds we all made and promised to keep these deeper friendships when we get home.

So with tears and smiles our amazing trip ended. We have all been moved in different ways during this trip and it was a special experience that we were able to share with our friends and families. All of us promised that this wouldn't be our last trip to Israel.

Rica - when are you planning the follow-up trip?

- Caroline and Jeff

---

Comments

[laura rodgers]

Can't Believe it's Over...
What an unbelievable trip! We had such fun and formed bonds with the group members that will never be severed. I can't stop thinking about all the moments that made the whole so tremendous. It's been hard getting back to real life though going to Israel was so uplifting I'm still flying high from it. Missing everybody lots and lots!!

[Cantor Rica]

Todah Rabbah!
It has been an adventure of a life time for me and my family. Thank you all for sharing it with us! A very special thanks to Jeff for creating this wonderful blog and to Shari, Avner and the ITC team for guiding us thru these amazing 10 days of laughter, tears, and memories to fill many blogs. I hearby name us the Beth El Israel Chavurah! New members are welcome and new Israel adventures are only a couple of shekels away. Start saving :-) B'ahava - With Love! Rica

[Alissa Latner]

trip is really over
Somehow I waited a week to read this final entry, as if postponing it meant the trip didn't really come to an end...even though I know that it did, trying to hold on to some of the magic helped me get through this past week. Just seeing any of the wonderful people we went on this trip seems to rekindle how special it was. I am also very glad that we didn't fly home today, as this Monday we had a snowstorm. I want to thank Jeff and Carolyn for taking the time to write up this blog. Looking forward to all of the photos everyone is sending around and seeing everyone at temple soon. Love, Alissa

[Shari Satran]

At the shloshim of Yizhak Rabin, the poet Yehuda Amichai said that it was written of each king of Israel, at the end of his days: "for are not all his words and deeds written in the book of Chronicles?" and to this he added: We are, all of us, the Book of Chronicles. The chronicles are ours…We are all of us leaves in the book of living history… And just as our guide Tali said at Independence Hall – Israel is your (or rather our) home. We have strengthened the link connecting us to our wonderful heritage and we can strive to make a difference enhancing what is good and right in our tradition and our homeland. It has been a joy and an honor meeting Cantor Rica and the wonderful Beth El families (including Murray [Moses] and Gail of course) B'ahava Shari

[Murray Birnbaum]

My Nephew Benjamin
Dear Ben, Praying with you at the Western Wall was a highlight for me too. But hearing you say it this last night, meant the world to me as you know. Bless you and love you. Uncle Murray