So this is going to be the last blog entry of the trip. And officially, this is our last night in Jerusalem. I have to say that I have mixed feelings about going home. On one hand, it will be great to see family and friends, but on the other hand, how can i leave such an incredible country?

I have surprisingly little to say, and I think that’s because there is so much to say. We spent our last Shabbos in the Old City of Jerusalem, and it was magnificent. We prayed Friday night at the Kotel, singing and dancing with thousands of other Jews getting ready to greet Shabbat. After maariv, we joined a huge group of Israeli soldiers jumping and singing Am Yisroel Chai and others songs of freedom and solidarity.

On Saturday we went to host houses around Jerusalem for lunch. After a nice Shabbos nap, we rejoined as a group to enjoy the third meal, followed by a killer concert and havdallah services.

All in all, a spectacular finish to a great trip. Thanks for tuning in!

It’s been a great couple of days since Shabbat. On Sunday we went to see Rabbi Eli Yashuv at a bris. He’s 100 years old and considered to be the greatest rabbi currently living. Though appearing frail, he strongly wished our group good luck in our learning and finding the appropriate course through life.
After a day in the Old City, we headed to an archeological sight to help sift through earth pulled out from beneath the temple mount. After the dig we had a free night in Jerusalem, but most chose to take it easy given that the next two days were jam packed.
We started off Monday driving dune buggees through the dessert. After that, we ate a quick lunch, then jetted off to a gorgeous hike in Ein Ghedi which climaxed at a breathtakingly beautiful spring. On Tuesday (today), we went on another hike, this time finishing it off by repelling down a 50 foot rock wall. A few people got flipped upside down, there were some bruises and bumps, but by and large everyone came out OK (pictures to come). After the hike we went to the Dead Sea! It was my second time there, but I still rank it as one of the coolest things to do in this world.
Tonight a group of us are going to the Western Wall to see it lit up at night. A warm shower and a great dinner with the group lies before me. I’ll check back soon!

6/17
Yesterday we had a particularly interesting class about the Jewish view of anger, arrogance, and humility. We spent a particularly impactful afternoon visiting kids saved by the Save a Child’s Heart Foundation—a foundation dedicated to providing free cardiac surgery to kids aged 0 to 18 years from countries around the world. So far the foundation has saved over 2,100 kids from 35 countries. Again, there was no language barrier; rather we communicated in the language of coloring books and balloons.
Today was a fun day as well—excellent classes in the morning, one of which was an open forum to ask literally any question we had in Judaism. In the afternoon, we went go-karting in Holon.
We have a free Shabbos this weekend. Many of us are visiting family, a big group will be in Tel-Aviv; I personally will be joining a friend on the trip. Speak to you soon!

6/15
While in Tzvat on Monday, I took my first dip in a mikvah (ritual bath) at the Arizal Mikvah (along with most of the other guys on the trip). That’s like saying ‘I drove a car for the first time on Monday and it was a Ferarri.’ The Arizal Mikvah is named after Rabbi Isaac Luria, a brilliant Kabbalist who lived in the 16th century. The water in the mikva is freezing cold natural spring water, flowing down the mountainside as it has for the past hundreds of years into the stone basin. Immersing myself in the same Mikvah as some of the greatest rabbis who ever lived was one of the most profound experiences of my life.
After our dip, the guys rejoined with the girls to continue to tour around Tzvat. We met with an artist in his shop, learning about his craft and why the poster he painted with hundreds of different colored lines represents some of the deepest meanings of Rosh Hashanna. We ate a quick lunch and then boarded the bus to go kayaking on the Jordan river. Needless to say, there was a tremendous amount of splashing and boat tipping; but perhaps the coolest part of the day was the bus ride back from the end of our river section to the base camp—we shared the bus with local Israeli students and soon found ourselves engaged in a contest to see which group could sing the loudest. There was no language barrier, just a bus of Jewish souls connecting through cheers.
On Tuesday we started our learning schedule for the rest of the trip: one on one learning in the morning, followed by group lectures before lunch. This gives us the ability to discuss and debate vital Jewish issues in an individual setting, and also hear from world-renown lectures as a group. Amongst them are Rabbi Gerald Schrodinger who, in his spare time, is a physicist at MIT (I suppose everyone needs a day job). In all of our learning, we aim to get to the root of the notion that the meaning of life and Judaism is getting as much pleasure as possible—this is a complete paradigm shift from the typical idea that religion is all about sacrifice and pain.
Tuesday afternoon we went to Holon to explore the blind museum. Guided by a guide who himself was blind, we wound our way through a series of completely pitch black rooms in order to get just a glimpse of what it was like to actually be blind. We were taken through rooms designed to be parks, boats, restaurants, etc, each putting us oddly in touch with a sense we take for granted. It is surely an experience I’ll take with me.
At night we hit the town, and I got one of the best hamburgers of my life on Bed Yehuda Street. Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe what was going on. Heaven is close, but not quite.

June 14th

First off, I should mention that it gives me great pains to write this entry without the aid of my pictures. However I’m not on my computer, thus the the written word alone will have to suffice until tomorrow night (when I make a blessed reunion with my MacBook).

We spent Shabbos on Ramah Beit Shemesh, a religious community about thirty minutes outside of Jerusalem. It was for many on the trip one of the most beautiful Shabbos experiences of their lives. Rabbi Seitz and his family hosted the group for dinner in his backyard. There we sat–eating, laughing, dancing, singing–all the while watching the sun set over a breathtaking view of the rolling Jerusalem countryside. The food was as endless as the Shabbos spirit that washed over the group, binding us together in the most pleasant of knots. We joined together singing niggunim (Jewish songs) until well past midnight, at which point we departed in groups of twos and threes to our host houses.

The next day after eating lunch with our host families, many in the group wandered over to the park in the middle of the community. The park itself is a sight to see–it sits framed on all four sides by white houses built into the surrounding hills. We sat in the grass, basking in the warm Israeli sun, talking and joking about the time spent together thus far, and wishing the best for the time to come.

At six o’clock we all went back to Rabbi Seitz’s house for third-meal. There was a certain lightness about the group; a gentle Shabbos soul lifting us to new heights. One by one we spoke, recounting our Shabbos experience thus far, describing what was new, what was familiar, what made us feel at home, and what made this Shabbos so indescribably special. The sun set once again, and we made Havdallah–Rabbi Seitz singing and his daughter accompanying him on the piano.

We left Ramah Beit Shemesh inspired, invigorated, and hopeful that we could experience a Shabbos like that again. But in the meantime, we re-focused our group’s energy on the week to come. The bus reved up, and it was off to the Golan Heights we went.

June 13th - cont’d

Our first day in Jerusalem has come to a close! In the afternoon we participated in various ropes course activities, each one of us falling helplessly over the other for most of the challenges. It was a sight for sore eyes, and it was a great way to start off an Israel adventure.

After the ropes course, we had dinner in the Old City of Jerusalem and talked about the exciting twenty days ahead. After dinner, some of us walked around town, while others (including myself), visited the Kotel (the Western Wall). It would be a lie to say that my eyes were dry the whole time; in fact it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I have been to Israel (and the wall) once before on Birthright, but this time around it was different. For one, my whole Israel experience is being spent along with an exceptional group of Jewish students with whom I’ve gotten closer and closer over last semester of college; and two–if this makes any sense–I’m more ready for Israel this time around. I’m excited about it.

After the wall, a few of us took a tour of the archeological site under the wall, learning about the history of the holiest place in the world. We wound our way through underground tunnels, finally arriving at the point which is the closest one can get to the Holy of Holies. The feeling, needless to say, was from another world.

After the Kotel, it was off to Ben Yehuda street! It was Thursday night, and the city was alive. From impromptu drum lines to bars overflowing with patrons into the street, Jerusalem was bustling! We hung out with friends and made new ones, enjoying our first of many warm Jerusalem nights.

We capped off our London trip with a few tours around the city, hitting all of the spots—Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Windsor Castle, and London Castle, and Hyde Park to name a few. We were privileged with front row viewing spots for Prince Phillip’s birthday cannon and horse march, and enjoyed our last lunch in London atop row-boats and paddle boats.
We’re just getting settled into our hotel, but Aish has us running around the city quite soon. After some ropes-course activities, we’ll be heading to the Old City of Jerusalem to walk around and get oriented at the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva. A fun day awaits! I’ll check back in soon.

-Zack

We have arrived in London! There was some confusion about which side of the road our bus driver should be on, however once that was cleared up the ride to the hotel went smoothly. After lunch, we’re departing for the London Eye—the world’s largest Ferris-wheel, one which affords spectacular panoramic views of London. Then, after a nice dinner, it’s time to hit the pubs! I personally am not tremendously looking forward to the popular way of serving beer here—warm—but a few drinks will be in order for the sake of my cultural sophistication. I have a feeling my fellow travelers will make similar concessions.
There is a palpable buzz about the group. Most of us spent an unforgettable eight days together over winter break in Costa Rica and also have learned weekly, either in Manhattan or Queens. That leaves 17 guys and 34 girls, all coming together as family for twenty three unforgettable days in London and Israel.

-Zack