Israel Pilgrimage,
Group #7

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

Sunday, July 30th:
At 4 am this morning Group 7 set out on their long walk up Massada. Last night, they learned about the heroic story of the Jews who once lived there and when they reached the top of the mountain they did Shacharit as the sun was rising over the Judean Hills and then learned about life under Roman rule.  After breakfast, the group drove to Ein Gedi, where they took a small hike to a waterfall and were able to cool off in the strong heat. They floated in the Dead Sea, and experienced the great mud of the Dead Sea. Tonight they slept in Arad.

    

    

    



    

Monday, July 31st:
Group 7 left the south this morning and went to the Nitzanim beach, where they volunteered running different stations for kids who are now living there after fleeing the north of Israel. There is an entire tent city for about 4,000 people set up and the kids loved having new "friends" to play with. The girls of the group decided to braid hair and tons of kids waited in line to have their hair done. From there they drove up to Jerusalem where they will spend the rest of their time in Israel. Tonight they heard from their Israeli madrich's father, a general in the army, who participated in the Raid on Entebbe as a commander. This is a very special opportunity for the group.

    

    

    

    

    

Tuesday, August 1st:
Group 7 began their day at the Archaeological Dig Seminar where they dug to try and find artifacts from the Second Temple period. They climbed through caves and learned a lot about how archaeologists discover things about the past. They then spent the afternoon shopping in the Malha Mall before returning to the Rabin Youth Hostel. Tonight they will play some drama improv games!

    

    

    

    

Wednesday, August 2nd:
Group 7 went to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Museum. They had a formal tour of the museum and visited the Children's' Memorial which is quite powerful. Even though the group was in Poland this summer, it was still important for them to reflect on how Israel remembers the Holocaust. Going to Yad Vashem today helped the group get in the mood for Tisha B'Av, the fast day that starts tonight and goes for 25 hours to mourn the Destruction of both the First and Second Temples, as well as many other tragedies that befell the Jewish people.

Thursday, August 3rd:
Group 7 woke up this morning and had special tefillot for Tisha B'Av. They spent part of the day resting, and part of the day doing educational programs for Tisha B'Av. Tonight they are doing a fun program as a group, to change the tone of the day, from one of mourning to one of joy.

Friday, August 4th:
Group 7 spent their last full week-day in Israel at the beach! They went swimming, sun tanned, and ran around for a day of all-around fun. They then retuned to Jerusalem to prepare for their final Shabbat together. They made decorations, Shabbat o-grams, and dressed in their finest attire to go and daven Kabbalat Shabbat together at Yemin Moshe, and then eat a festive Shabbat meal with singing. Shabbat Shalom!