Israel Pilgrimage,
Group #1

Sunday, June 25th:
Group 1 woke up in Cordoba this morning, and loaded the bus for the drive to Madrid. There, they visited the famous Prado art museum, and spent some free time in the nearby park. In the evening, they ate dinner in the Kosher restaurant in Madrid and checked into their hotel.

Monday, June 26th:
Group 1 left Madrid this morning, and drove to the beautiful city of Toledo. This city had a strong and vibrant Jewish community during the Golden Age and the group was able to visit two synagogues, the second of which is the last active shul in Toledo. They visited the large and exquisite cathedral, and had some free time in the center of the ancient walled city. After lunch, the group drove back to Madrid, and had the opportunity to visit the Reina Sofia art museum, which houses many famous paintings, including Picasso’s Guernica. In the afternoon they had some time to do some shopping, and help out the Spanish economy. At night they returned to their hotel, and packed for their much-anticipated flight to Israel!

Tuesday, June 27th:
Group 1 woke up early, davened for Rosh Chodesh (the New Month), ate breakfast, and loaded the bus. They went to the Madrid airport and boarded their morning flight to Tel Aviv. They landed safely this afternoon and headed to Jerusalem to do a traditional welcome ceremony with bread and wine at the Yemin Moshe neighborhood overlooking the walls of the old city.   Later, they checked into the beautiful Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism, where they will be staying for the rest of the week. The group is ecstatic to finally be in Israel!

Wednesday, June 28th:
Group 1 spent a wonderful first full day in Israel. They woke up refreshed, davened, and ate a delicious breakfast complete with pancakes. After an orientation about the next part of their summer, the group went on walking tours of the neighborhood to get a feel for the city. This afternoon they went to play in the park and tonight during dinner Rabbi Jerome Epstein, the Executive Vice President of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism addressed the group and thanked them for coming to Israel. He also told them that he had just come from meeting with President Moshe Katzav and that he was very proud of USY for sending 500 people (including staff) to Israel this summer. Tonight, the group will do some shopping on the famous pedestrian mall of Ben Yehudah!

Thursday, June 29th:
Group 1 had a fabulous day touring the Old City of Jerusalem! They started at Robinson's Arch, named for the person who discovered it. It was beneath this arch that the marketplace next to the Temple stood where people would be able to buy food and animals during their stay on Pilgrimage festivals. From there they walked across to the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall excavations. It is at the Southern Wall that you can see the gates to the inner part of the Temple. After lunch they had some free time to shop in the Cardo. They then returned to Agron YH for dinner and heard a lecture by Neil Lazarus about the Arab/Israeli Conflict.

Friday, June 30th:
After breakfast, Group 1 drove to the City of David, where they spent the morning learning about the First Temple Period. They had the chance to see the remains of the city left from the First Temple Period. They walked through Hezekaya's Tunnel, a 2700 year old water aqueduct that brought water into the city of Jerusalem in King Hezakaya's time. After lunch, they will begin to prepare for Shabbat at the Fuchsberg Center. Tonight they will daven Kabbalat Shabbat as a group at the beautiful Yemin Moshe neighborhood, overlooking the Old City walls. The group is excited to spend their first Shabbat together in Yerushalayim! Shabbat Shalom!!!