Israel Pilgrimage,
Group #4

*The pictures below are links; clicking on them will take you to a larger version of that picture.

Sunday, July 2nd:
Group 4 spent a long and moving day at the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. They were given a formal tour of Auschwitz II (Birkenau), followed by Auschwitz I, with opportunities to go into various barracks and other structures that have remained intact for over 60 years. The group was given time to reflect individually as well as participate in a memorial service. After the tour they will take a ride to the border between Poland and Slovakia to a town called Zakopane where they will sleep in a hotel overnight.

   

    

Monday, July 3rd:
Group 4 drove across the border into Hungary this afternoon. They met a local guide and began to tour the city of Budapest.  They saw the Palace and will continue their tour of the Jewish sites tomorrow. Tonight, they had some free time in the downtown area before going back to their hotel to sleep.

Tuesday, July 4th:
Today, Group 4 took a tour of Jewish Budapest. They visited an exquisite synagogue that still stands since before World War II, called the Doheny Synagogue. At the memorial in his honor, the group learned about Raoul Wallenberg who used his diplomatic status to save many Hungarian Jews in the later parts of World War II. They toured the former Jewish town ghetto and spent the afternoon in a general tour of the city. At night they packed and left for the airport as they ended their Eastern Europe part of the trip and headed to Israel!

   

Wednesday, July 5th:
Group 4 arrived safely in Israel at 3:45 this morning. Although obviously tired, their enthusiasm never ceased. After loading the bus, they drove to Jerusalem and stopped first at Yemin Moshe Jerusalem for a welcoming ceremony. The ceremony included grape juice and bread, in accordance with a custom dating back to the time of Abraham. Afterwards, they headed to the beautiful Guest House of the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism in Jerusalem. The Group is extremely excited to be in Israel. They slept until lunchtime and then had an orientation about the rest of the summer, followed by some free time. Tonight they had a relaxing movie night and a good night's rest.

   

Thursday, July 6th:
Group 4 began their day early at the Archaeological Dig Seminar where they dug to try and find artifacts from the Second Temple period. They then drove to Kibbutz Beit Guvrin where they ate lunch and swam in the pool. This afternoon they returned to Beit Agron for some free time before dinner at the "Happening" tonight with Israeli food and vendors!

Friday, July 7th:
Group 4 spent the first half of the day learning about the First Temple Period. They went to the City of David, and hiked through the water in Hezekiah’s Tunnel. After lunch in Liberty Bell Park, they went back to the Agron Youth Hostel to prepare for Shabbat. The group welcomed Shabbat by davening Kabbalat Shabbat overlooking the Old City walls. Tomorrow, they will split up and go to different synagogues in the area. After Shabbat, they will go to a disco with Ramah Seminar!