Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
MASADA AND MUD by Lisa Silver
We are now sitting in the Philadelphia airport, having just arrived back in the US from Tel Aviv, drinking coffee and waiting for the last leg of our trip back to Nashville. We have a little while before boarding, so I'll try and catch you up on our last day in Israel.
Yesterday morning we drove south of Jerusalem to Masada, where we ascended by cable car to the top of the mountain where King Herod built an elaborate palace, and where a group of 967 Jews held off a Roman siege for 3 years. The architectural remains of the the palace were fascinating and the views from the top were spectacular.
On to the Dead Sea! After numerous discussions about who's getting in the water, most of us were adventurous (or crazy) enough to change into our bathing suits and slather ourselves with sticky black mud, known for its healing properties, and take silly pictures before we rinsed off and braved getting into the Dead Sea. You really do totally float! And then the salty mineral water starts to itch and burn, so one can't stay in the water too long. But It was a great way to spend our last day in Israel.
We had a farewell dinner in the German Colony-a beautiful neighborhood in Jerusalem- before packing up our many souvenirs and heading for the airport. As I watched the twinkling lights of the Israeli skyline disappear from view out the airplane window, I was sad that this wonderful trip was coming to an end.
Ask your fellow congregants to show you more pictures and share their experience with you. I'm sure they will be glad tell you all about it!
Pictures are in random order.
Yesterday morning we drove south of Jerusalem to Masada, where we ascended by cable car to the top of the mountain where King Herod built an elaborate palace, and where a group of 967 Jews held off a Roman siege for 3 years. The architectural remains of the the palace were fascinating and the views from the top were spectacular.
On to the Dead Sea! After numerous discussions about who's getting in the water, most of us were adventurous (or crazy) enough to change into our bathing suits and slather ourselves with sticky black mud, known for its healing properties, and take silly pictures before we rinsed off and braved getting into the Dead Sea. You really do totally float! And then the salty mineral water starts to itch and burn, so one can't stay in the water too long. But It was a great way to spend our last day in Israel.
We had a farewell dinner in the German Colony-a beautiful neighborhood in Jerusalem- before packing up our many souvenirs and heading for the airport. As I watched the twinkling lights of the Israeli skyline disappear from view out the airplane window, I was sad that this wonderful trip was coming to an end.
Ask your fellow congregants to show you more pictures and share their experience with you. I'm sure they will be glad tell you all about it!
Pictures are in random order.
Monday, November 12, 2012
LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER by Lisa Silver
Today we visited the newly renovated Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The museum is overwhelming and moving, and raises as many questions as it answers. After visiting the museum we had a private memorial service outside as it started to drizzle. The weather here changes from hour to hour!
We then went to the new Herzl Center, a very engaging multimedia museum dedicated to the life and achievements of Theodore Herzl, who laid the groundwork for the establishment for the State of Israel.
Mike Hollander and our dependable bus driver Moti, (who can drive our bus through the eye of a needle!) took us on a bus ride through and around the city of Jerusalem, allowing us to explore some of the political and diplomatic complexities of recent years.
This evening several of us walked to Ben Yehuda street, a vibrant outdoor pedestrian shopping area. It's great to see people of all ages strolling, bicycling, shopping and eating outdoors on a mid-November evening.
Tomorrow Masada and the Dead Sea, and then we are headed home!
Pictures are in random order...
We then went to the new Herzl Center, a very engaging multimedia museum dedicated to the life and achievements of Theodore Herzl, who laid the groundwork for the establishment for the State of Israel.
Mike Hollander and our dependable bus driver Moti, (who can drive our bus through the eye of a needle!) took us on a bus ride through and around the city of Jerusalem, allowing us to explore some of the political and diplomatic complexities of recent years.
This evening several of us walked to Ben Yehuda street, a vibrant outdoor pedestrian shopping area. It's great to see people of all ages strolling, bicycling, shopping and eating outdoors on a mid-November evening.
Tomorrow Masada and the Dead Sea, and then we are headed home!
Pictures are in random order...
THE MANY LAYERS OF JERUSALEM by Lisa Silver
We have had such action packed days that it's hard to remember what we've done each day! We spent most of the day yesterday in the Old City, on a walking tour with our wonderful guide, Mike Hollander.
We were amazed toward how much has been excavated in the past 30 years. We went back in time about 2000 years to an ancient street, walked through the Cardo, the world's oldest shopping arcade, and on through the central square of the Jewish quarter; we rounded a corner just in time to see a beautiful rainbow over the golden dome. Lots of oohs and ahs from the group! We ate lunch in the Jewish quarter (if I haven't mentioned this already - I have decided that I am on a quest to eat at every falafel stand in Jerusalem) before an incredible tour of the Western Wall Tunnel, which runs under the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount. Our Tunnel guide was part teacher, part actress and a total hoot!
We walked through the Christian quarter, including the Via Dolorosa.
After returning to our hotel we had a most interesting dialog with scholar Paul Liptz of the Tel Aviv University and Hebrew Union College about the current state and complexities of politics and economics in Israel. Our brains and senses are full!
Pictures are in random order
We were amazed toward how much has been excavated in the past 30 years. We went back in time about 2000 years to an ancient street, walked through the Cardo, the world's oldest shopping arcade, and on through the central square of the Jewish quarter; we rounded a corner just in time to see a beautiful rainbow over the golden dome. Lots of oohs and ahs from the group! We ate lunch in the Jewish quarter (if I haven't mentioned this already - I have decided that I am on a quest to eat at every falafel stand in Jerusalem) before an incredible tour of the Western Wall Tunnel, which runs under the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount. Our Tunnel guide was part teacher, part actress and a total hoot!
We walked through the Christian quarter, including the Via Dolorosa.
After returning to our hotel we had a most interesting dialog with scholar Paul Liptz of the Tel Aviv University and Hebrew Union College about the current state and complexities of politics and economics in Israel. Our brains and senses are full!
Pictures are in random order
Saturday, November 10, 2012
JERUSALEM! By Lisa Silver
We arrived in Jerusalem yesterday after driving through Tiberias on the banks of the Kinneret (The Sea of Galilee). We paid honor to the founders of Zionism at the beautiful Kinneret Cemetery. We drove south through the West Bank, where Sue Snyder took advantage of a rest stop to run across the road to ride a camel while we got coffee and snacks!
We stopped at Mt. Scopus for our first panoramic view of Jerusalem to say a Shehecheyanu and kiddush. We arrived in Jerusalem in time to watch the hustle and bustle at the Machane Yehuda Market as everyone was preparing for Shabbat. Then a brisk walk through the old city to the Western Wall in time to join thousands of people from all around the world. We ended the day back at our beautiful Hotel Mamila for our own Shabbat dinner and some singing.
Today we had many options--some chose to get a little extra rest, some attended Shabbat services, some went to the fascinating Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, some went to the wild and crazy Shuk (the outdoor market), some went on a walking tour of the Old City.
The Old City of Jerusalem attracts tourists from all around the world and pilgrims from every religion who are visiting their Holy Land. It's crowded and busy and you can feel the energy.
We ended the day with a rooftop Havdallah service, followed by a fantastic dinner prepared by Michael Ochs' good friend Chef Johnny. Another full day tomorrow, walking through the old city. We will all be in need of foot massages next week!
Photos are in random order
We stopped at Mt. Scopus for our first panoramic view of Jerusalem to say a Shehecheyanu and kiddush. We arrived in Jerusalem in time to watch the hustle and bustle at the Machane Yehuda Market as everyone was preparing for Shabbat. Then a brisk walk through the old city to the Western Wall in time to join thousands of people from all around the world. We ended the day back at our beautiful Hotel Mamila for our own Shabbat dinner and some singing.
Today we had many options--some chose to get a little extra rest, some attended Shabbat services, some went to the fascinating Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, some went to the wild and crazy Shuk (the outdoor market), some went on a walking tour of the Old City.
The Old City of Jerusalem attracts tourists from all around the world and pilgrims from every religion who are visiting their Holy Land. It's crowded and busy and you can feel the energy.
We ended the day with a rooftop Havdallah service, followed by a fantastic dinner prepared by Michael Ochs' good friend Chef Johnny. Another full day tomorrow, walking through the old city. We will all be in need of foot massages next week!
Photos are in random order
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