Israel Pilgrimage,
Group #7

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

Sunday, July 16th:
Group 7 returned to Jerusalem last night after a nice Shabbat with Group 3 in Hanaton.  Due to the current situation in the North of Israel, Group 7's itinerary was changed for today and will then continue on as planned, because they were already scheduled to return to Jerusalem for the week. They went on a hike in the Sataf Spring this morning, right outside Jerusalem. From there they visited the Latrun Museum, where they learned about the tank corps of the Israel Defense Forces. This evening after dinner they heard a lecture by Neil Lazarus about the current Arab/Israeli Conflict.

Monday, July 17th:
Group 7 had Tzedaka Day with Danny Siegel. They began this morning with a presentation about the work that Danny does and about some of the "Mitzvah Heroes" he works with. They then split up into two groups. One group went to paint a house in a Jerusalem neighborhood for a family who was in a terrorist attack, while the other group went to the Seeing Eye Dog Center where they met with someone whose life was greatly improved by one of the dogs trained at this place. After lunch, the group split up again and went to one of three places. One group met the Rabbanit Kapach, a small Yemenite woman who has spent her entire life helping people and currently runs a day camp for children in the summer, as well as providing hundreds of meals for Shabbat and holidays throughout the year. Other USYers went to Shalva, where they played with some of the disabled kids who spend all day at this center. The third group visited Sara Eynor, head of Keren Hanan Eynor, an organization that gives money to Ethiopian young adults to attend college and other institutions of higher education. The group had an inspiring day meeting people who have helped to change the world. Tonight, they had some fun shopping for shoes and jewelry at our very own "happening" here at the Fuchsberg Center!

    

    

    

Tuesday, July 18th:
Group 7 had a fabulous day touring the Old City of Jerusalem! They started at the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter and then toured a Herodian Mansion that has been dug up and made into a sort of museum. After lunch they went to the walls surrounding the Temple Mount itself, starting 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. Tonight after dinner they went for evening at the Israel Museum, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls!

    

    

    

    

    

Wednesday, July 19th:
Group 7 spent the majority of the day in Jerusalem at the Fuchsberg Center participating in "Reshamim," a workshop for a group on their return from Poland. It is a new, innovative educational initiative developed by a team of young, dynamic educators which seeks to deal with the emotional turmoil of this important journey by providing high school students with the means to express their feelings through various art forms. The group used music, drama, and art to deal with their feelings post-Poland and presented their completed projects in the afternoon for everyone. Tonight they are doing an educational group activity.

    

    

    

Thursday, July 20th:
The group was excited to participate in the much-anticipated USY Event of the summer. All eleven groups met up in Ya’ar Ben Shemen and participated in six stations where they had to show teamwork and dedication, and build upon the strong friendships that they have created. Each group showed their pride by uniting behind banners, t-shirts, cheers, and songs. During the event, a group of educators from the Boston Jewish community came to visit our kids and were impressed by their enthusiasm and ruach. Following a delicious barbeque, everyone traveled back to Jerusalem and gathered in Hinom Valley, under the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, for the Jewish Agency's Extravaganza! They joined 4000 youth from all over the world including South America, Russia, South Africa, the UK, and of course, the biggest delegation, from the US. They were greeted by the chairman of the Jewish Agency and watched the performance by leading Israeli bands. The USYers danced the night away and enjoyed being altogether for one night of the summer. Click here to download a slideshow of the event!

    

    

Friday, July 21st:
Friday morning, many USYers went to their host families for Shabbat. The kids who are spending Shabbat together in Jerusalem, spent the day at a water park. Friday night they davened together and Shabbat morning they will have options to go to different local synagogues. After Shabbat, all the USYers in Jerusalem will have a Disco, a movie, and food at the Fuchsberg Center! We wish you all a Shabbat Shalom.