Today was a very impactful day, as we visited the heart wrenching Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem. We prepared for this intense day in our Maagal Laila on Thursday night when we discussed our own Jewish memories, both good and bad.
We began our day on Haas Promenade overlooking the entire city of Jerusalem. Ori, our tour guide, lead us in a traditional shehecheyanu, the prayer one says when beginning something new. We then said Kiddush and left for Mount Herzl.
Mount Herzl is the site of Israel's national cemetery and other memorial and educational facilities, found on the west side of Jerusalem. It is named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. Herzl's tomb lies at the top of the hill. This was an important stop for us our collective narrative for the Israel Summer Seminar comes directly from Herzl's quotation, "If you will it, it is no dream." We also learned about Michael Levine, a lone soldier who sacrificed his life for the State of Israel in 2006, Yitzchak Rabin, and Golda Meir.
After Har Herzl we went to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Memorial Museum. Our guided tour was very thorough and informative. While today was one of the tougher days we emerged with a greater sense of self and we all were able to crack some smiles when we hopped on the bus.
After our somber, informative morning, we headed to the wildly packed Machane Yehuda for lunch and some shopping. We had time to explore the market with its various aromas and vibrant hues. It was a sweet end to a bittersweet day. We can't wait for a wonderful and spiritual Shabbat in Jerusalem!
-Lexi
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