Ani Zocher:
Pilgrims' Stories
Poland Seminar 2004,
by Josh Avart, Hagesher
Before this past summer, I sang that famous song by Naomi Shemer at USY conventions, and at my
synagogue. I never really felt the same power as i did this summer on USY Poland/Israel Group 5.
I remember the first shabbos in Poland where during Seudat Slishit our Rosh told us to close our eyes
and concentrate because next week we would be in the beautiful city itself, Jerusalem of Gold. As we sang
that song that night in Poland, I looked around and I saw feeling in everyone's face because they knew
just as I did that we were that close to eretz Yisrael.
On the plane from Poland to Israel we were so happy and had lots of energy. I remember right before we
took off, somebody mentioned to put on our headphones that the airline had and put on the music channel.
It was "Yea" by Usher and lil john. Everyone quickly put on their headphones and everyone out of
the two USY groups started singing alone. Even our Rosh was singing and dancing. We had the wave going on
in the airplane and all. As we were about to land a few hours later, we could see land in sight out of the
window. Someone suggested on singing Yerushalayim Shel Zahav. We didn't have any of the words in front of
us but when the chorus came around, everyone sang aloud and it seemed the whole plane was joining in. We
were there, Jerusalem of Gold.
As our second Shabbat came around in Israel, I was looking forward to singing the song. I couldn't wait
to feel that special way singing in Jerusalem itself. Then the time came. Shabbat was just ending and we
were scheduled to go to a club in Israel for a dance with other USY Pilgrimage Groups. We spend Shabbat at
Beit Nativ and when it time for Seudat Slishit Ruach, we went outside to the top balcony where you could
see the sun setting in downtown Jerusalem. The time came to sing the song. I closed my eyes and thought to
myself that this was it. This was what I wanted the most I finally got a chance to share it with 42 of my
closest friends. And I believe that everyone that night had the same feeling that I shared.
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