Jerusalem

So after we left the hotel in Tel Aviv, we went to Rabin Square, where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. It was a pretty powerful place. To visualize the magnitude of such an event taking place where were we were standing, only 10 or 11 years ago was deep. Then, on a lighter note, we drove out to Mini-Israel where we got to tour the entire country scaled down to a miniature size. It was really corny but fun nonetheless. We then drove the rest of the way into Jerusalem and went to Har Hertzel, the Arlington cemetery of Israel. Unlike Arlington, it is designed like a botanical garden park and feels nothing like a cemetery. It's a really beautiful place, but still very moving. We went out to the German Colony at night and walked around going in and out of coffee shops and book stores, practicing our Hebrew and enjoying the great Middle Eastern weather. We spent the later part of the night out on the balcony of our hotel overlooking Jerusalem while smoking a very relaxing hookah that one of the Israeli soldiers brought with him.

This morning we visited Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial. I had been there before, but the museum part opened since we were here. It was moving, but more in an educational way than the Holocaust museum in Washington DC, which is one of the most deeply emotional places I've visited. I don't think I'll need to go back again. That took up most of our day, and we were all exhausted by the time we got back, so we took a good 3 hour nap before heading to Mevatzeret Tzion for Shabbat services. I was there also last time (this Birthright trip is very much the same as when I came with Sage and everyone two years ago), but they built a new synagogue on a hill with a dramatic view of Jerusalem, which made it one of the most spiritual services I've been to. We'll all be partying out by the pool tonight and then relaxing and walking around Jerusalem tomorrow for Shabbat.

My schedule for the next week or so ---

Sunday - We all go to the airport and pick up our return tickets. Then Sage, Jen, and I, and maybe a few more kids we met on the trip, will be heading up to Acco in the north for the afternoon. We'll spend the night in Haifa with my friend Merav, who's planning on taking us to a pub outside the city. We'll most likely stay in a hostel in the city.

Monday - Traveling around Haifa.. beach.. Bahai'i gardens.. whatever else there is to do there. Sleeping in a hostel again.

Tuesday - We're taking the train down to Ra'anananananana to meet up with Gal and Nadav who are taking us to Tel Aviv for the day and then out for the night. We're staying with them.

Wednesday - More Tel Aviv, or maybe just a beach day in Herzliya, Netanya, or one of those beautiful Mediterranean beach places near Tel Aviv.

Thursday - We'll take a bus down to Eilat and meet up with Inbal and her boyfriend to hang out on the beach and in the city. Another hostel.

Friday - Eilat

Saturday - Eilat

Sunday - We're going up to Jerusalem (maybe stopping at Inbal's army base for a while or the night)

Monday - Jerusalem

Tuesday - Beaching in Tel Aviv again before heading to the airport for Greece!