Memory and Memorials - Yad Vashem and Har Herzl

Blog Posts from Friday, 4/28

Dear friends at home:

Today was a sad day. We visited Yad Vashem. There we took a tour of the museum... It was powerful. I have yet to cry in Holocaust class, but when I came face to face with a real Auschwitz uniform I broke down in tears. I cried when I saw pictures of people in camps because their eyes were following mine, and I realized that these people were, and are forever going to be a part of me as long as I live. They will be with me at every turn, every high, and every low.

Then, we went to Har Herzel, where the military cemetery is located, and we saw too many graves to count. Some were recognized, and others were barren of stones. We as a whole tried our very best to place even a small pebble on each barren head stone, to make sure that even the least appreciated fallen solider is remembered. It was a touching moment when we in unison sang התקווה. Our voices blended with those of the fallen, we sang for them, and them for us.

Finally, we ended our day back at the כותל. We looked to the past through a virtual reality head set, then saw the real thing. As I silently prayed the עמידה, with my old Kellman and new Ezra friends I felt a sense of peace.

          That's all for now friends,

             Love from Makayla

Today's (Friday) experience was a very emotional and intense experience. We started out by praying Tefillah while overlooking the magnificent city of Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is the heart of Israel and the heart of the Jewish people. Every Jew’s life revolves around Israel no matter how religious you are. Israel is the Jewish people's safe haven and we need to make sure we keep it that way. 

We then made our way to Yad Vashem, the Israel National Holocaust Museum. I still don't understand how people could fall for the mind tricks the Nazis played on them. The Jews were innocent yet still got blamed for every problem that occurred in society. At Yad Vashem we walked through an exhibit that showed a timeline of the events that happened before, during and after the Holocaust. Many people cried and many people just didn't know what to say.

We then went to Har Herzl, the site of Israel’s national cemetery. We visited the graves to pay our respects to many Israeli heroes like Yonatan Netanyahu and Hanah Senesh. The one that personally affected me the most was Micheal Levin because he grew up close to where we live. He was a lone soldier and was killed in combat in 2003.

We then visited the shuk. It was a balagan. In English - there was chaos everywhere. Everyone was doing their last minute shopping for Shabbat. Overall today was the most moving day of the week. Now we enter Shabbat, a day to relax and appreciate what is given to us by Hashem.  –Sam

Western Wall and a Stop at the Mall

My experience at the Kotel was really emotional. Although I didn't cry, I felt my connection to Hashem while I put the note my mom gave me and my own note onto the wall. The notes I put into the wall were only two of millions and I'm really overjoyed that I was able to share this experience with my classmates and my teachers. - Isaac

We started off with Tefillah at Robinson's Arch, an area at the southern end of the Kotel that is reserved for egalitarian Tefillot.  It was difficult when some boys tried to disrupt our service because they saw girls were reading Torah, but our Israeli counselor stopped them.  At the Kotel plaza and the surrounding archaeological park, we looked at what remained of the Second Temple. Then we had free time and got lunches - and I got the best Schwarma. We also went into the water tunnel underneath the Kotel, which was great. We ended the day at the mall where I ate . . . everything.   -AJ

Masada 'n More: Rides, Ramps and Resorts

This morning we woke up in a Bedouin tent (after a night interrupted by stray cats and birds!). After a yummy breakfast, we boarded camels, two people per camel. Although at first I was terrified, soon I was riding 'no hands' and utterly enjoying myself on the newly named Cameron the Camel (Liron chose the name).

After camel riding, we traveled to Masada where we hiked up the Roman ramp, created during the Roman siege of Jewish rebels on Masada. Some scholars believe the Romans used Jewish slaves to build the ramp so the Jews would not fire down upon the builders. At the top, we had Tefillah in a two-thousand-year-old sanctuary, while other tourists watched us with interest and even joined us in singing טוב מה הינה. Afterwards we learned the story of the besieged Jews who, rather than submit to the Roman capture, took their own lives when it was clear that all was lost. Next we hiked down the Snake Path (so named because it winds and twists like a snake) all the way to the bottom where we were rewarded with ice cream and coupons to buy souvenirs.

Another drive later, we arrived at the Dead Sea resort where we ate a quick lunch and where most people continued on to the Dead Sea itself by trolley. The largest grains of salt I have ever seen in my life gave the ground in front of the sea an almost solid crust. After the initial pain of the salt stinging all my previously unnoticed wounds, I realized that I was effortlessly floating! It was amazing. Unfortunately, some people had a lot of cuts and so weren't able to enjoy it. But I at least loved it. I also plastered myself with salty mud which made my skin very soft. The whole experience was a lot of fun. But as much as I loved the Yam Hamelach, I must say that taking a swim in a regular pool right afterwards was pure bliss.

Then, on the way to ירושלים, we were asked to close the curtains of the bus and blindfold ourselves. From there we were led to a beautiful vantage point from which we could get our first gorgeous view of the Holy City of ירושלים (a real נפלא נוף!). The next and final stop was the hotel where we ate dinner and played a game of ‘Speed Dating’ to get to know each other better. Now it's time for bed so I'll just sign off by saying that this trip has been incredible so far and I can't wait for tomorrow and the rest of the trip!  

 - שלום, Gavi/גבריאלה

Views and Vegetables

Today, April 24, we started our second day in the Holy Land with a hike at Ein Avdat in the Negev. To conclude our hike, we had Tefillah on top of a canyon looking out at a beautiful view. It was thrilling to be able to get the opportunity to look out at Israel while praying to God.  

From there, we went to David Ben Gurion's hut and his home where we got the chance to see where the first prime minister and his wife, Paula spent a lot of their free time. From there we drove to “shevil ha-salat”  (the “salad trail”) and learned about the Bio-bee and the fruit and vegetables the people there grow themselves. 

We then visited Rockets to Roses, a project by an artist who turns used rockets and weaponry into pieces of artwork. His projects truly show how fast something horrible can turn into something wonderful. 

Tonight we took a long drive to the Bedouin tents where we met people from the Bedouin community who talked to us about their lifestyle (and served a feast!)

Then we had to sleep for the night - it will be an early morning tomorrow in order to ride camels, before hiking up Masada! 

-Abby

Beach and Beit Guvrin

As we got off the plane on Monday morning, we were exuberant to start off our journey in the Promised Land. One of the first things we did was to commemorate the tragedies of the Holocaust on Yom Hashaoh by standing silent while the siren sounded. Every car, motorcycle, and truck stopped, so the driver could get out to show their respect for the millions lost. For me, this moment taught me a lot about what Israel stands for, how the people view their country and how history is never forgotten.

 Next, we arrived at the beach, where we did Tefillah, dipped our feet into the water, and were able to get to know students from Ezra Academy.

Later we arrived, at Beit Guvrin, an archaeological site where people can help dig.  Some found pieces of our history dating back to the time of the Maccabees from the Hannukah story. History became tangible.

After, we arrived at Sde Boker, where we were enriched deeper in our history, while paying our respects to Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion and his wife, Paula.

After a long day, we finally arrived at kibbutz Mashabe Sade where we played ice breaker games with Ezra Academy. When we came back to our rooms,  we were excited to pack for the next day, to further ourselves into the land of Israel. 

L'hitraot!   - Juliette

Cars and Buses and Planes (oh my!)

Sunday began with an early morning to meet the bus at KBA... 

. . . followed by a busy day of traveling to the airport. . .  

. . . Many hours and one long El-Al flight later, the students arrived safely in Israel on Monday morning!  

Adventures await . . . Stay tuned!