May 19 and 20, Friday and Shabbat

It is motzei Shabbat, Saturday night, May 20th actually going into May 21st, and our kids had another wonderful Shabbat in the land of Israel. Friday was spent, as you heard from an earlier post, getting themselves together and getting ready for Shabbat. A number of them went to the shuk and guess who they met there? Rabbi Wohlberg! Don't expect any anonymity in Israel, ever!

The highlight of this Shabbat was their walk to the Kotel and their experience there...singing and dancing and davening, bringing in other groups with them. It was a truly spiritual high and a highlight of the trip. They went back to the hotel and had dinner. By this time they were exhausted so they went to sleep.

Shabbat morning dawned and once again they had an opportunity to go where they wanted for services since there are about 5 different synagogues in the area. They were able to go for new and diverse experiences, to choose the synagogue that they were most comfortable in, although I must admit that some of the choices were made, not on theology, but on geography! Because the kids were tired we gave them a chance after lunch to rest and to play some games in the park, to sort of chill out. It was a busy but light afternoon. The kids had an opportunity to talk a lot about the politics of Israel based on the speakers that they have had. This contributed to a meaningful Shabbat. After the closing of Shabbat with havdalah, they changed and went to Ben Yehuda St. where they once again ran into Rabbi Wohlberg. He treated them, and Beth Tfiloh paid for, all of them to have schwarma dinners.

They were waking up when I spoke to Cherie and they were getting their last chance of some shopping on Ben Yehuda and tonight, meaning Sunday night, they were going to the Opening Ceremony and concert that are kicking off the Yom Yerushalayim celebrations. They were going to the concert and a light show (most of you know what a light show is, I do not) and they were looking forward to that.

So we will have much more to report tomorrow evening, but it sounds like the kids are having an extraordinary time. This is their wind-up week so I am sure we will hear much more about their exciting activities. We will continue to keep you posited.

Stay connected,

Ziporah Schorr