Israel Pilgrimage,
Group #4

Wednesday, June 21st:
Group 4 landed safely in Prague after a layover in Budapest. They met their two Israeli madrichim (counselors) at the airport, and Shlomo, their tour guide for next two weeks in Eastern Europe. The smiling group drove straight to the hotel, were given time to eat lunch and rest, and in the evening took a short tour of center city Prague, gearing up for a full day of activity and touring tomorrow.

    

    

Thursday, June 22nd:
This morning, Group 4 met Gafna, a young Jewish woman from Prague who spent the past year learning at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. She explained to the USYers about Jewish life in modern Prague, and will join the group for Shabbat along with five of her friends. This will provide the USYers with a tremendous opportunity to get a better understanding of young Jewish life in Prague. Group 4 then spent a full day touring the beautiful city of Prague. They began at the Prague Castle where they observed and walked around. From there they took the Mala Strana to the famous Charles Bridge. They then continued on to the John Lennon Wall, the Old Town, and the Wenceslaw Square, concluding their day at the hotel with sub-group meetings and sleep.

    

    

    

Friday, June 23rd:
Group 4 woke up in Prague and began a tour of the Jewish Quarter. They saw synagogues and cemeteries, one of which is so small and old that it contains 16 layers of graves, many of which are hundreds of years old. In the afternoon, the group went to their hotel to prepare for Shabbat. They are davening Kabbalat Shabbat together in the hotel tonight, and going to the Masorti (Conservative) minyan in Prague tomorrow morning. Shabbat Shalom!!!