How crazy is it that we woke up in Jerusalem yesterday, spent the day in Tel Aviv and Jaffa, flew from Tel Aviv to New York…and then onto Boston?
Yesterday, we checked out of the hotel and took the bus to the site
of the Knesset -- the Israeli Parliament. We compared and contrasted
the Knesset to our US Capitol Hill…but the differences were striking.
First, the Knesset is located in the hills of
Jerusalem and surrounding by magnificent gardens and a park. While
nothing was open because it was Shabbat, we talked about the beginning
of the State and returned again to Israel's first Prime Minister, David
Ben Gurion, to discuss how the Israeli democracy
works. We discussed how difficult it is Israel to put together a
government because of the many political parties that exist and the
ever-changing landscape of things in the region. We saw the famous
menorah that stands outside of the Knesset that reminds
everyone that Israel is a Jewish state, based on the values and customs
of Judaism.
From Jerusalem, we took the famous road to Tel Aviv -- lined with
tanks that had been destroyed on the way, and did not make it to
Jerusalem during the War for Independence in 1948. The tanks are a
living memorial of those who fought for the State of Israel
against the British in 1948, and then faced legions of Arabs who
attacked from all sides after independence was ultimately declared. We
arrived in the big city of Tel Aviv -- where, as opposed to Jerusalem --
most stores and restaurants are open on Shabbat.
Big buildings, five-star restaurants, clubs, shopping, beach-side
hotels…Tel Aviv is a major city filled with people in their twenties and
thirties. We walked the streets of Tel Aviv -- down to the beach,
toured the first German neighborhoods built in Tel
Aviv, and stood outside Independence Hall where David Ben Gurion
declared Israel's independence in May 1948. We walked the famous Tel
Aviv streets --- Dizengoff and Rothschild -- with their beautiful
tree-lined avenues and beautiful homes in the Bauhaus style
of architecture.
Then, we took a short ride to see where Tel Aviv originated -- in
the ancient port of Jaffa, just a few minutes drive from Tel Aviv.
Jaffa is a 7,000 year-old port, going back to Egyptian times. We talked
about the Egyptians, the Phoenicians and Greek
mythology with respect to Jaffa. The ancient city of Jaffa, adjacent to
the port, is now residential as well as home to some of the finest
artists and craftspeople in all of Israel. We walked the winding streets
and peered over the tops of houses and studios
to see the magnificent sea. We stood in a place in which Jaffa was
behind us and Tel Aviv straight in front of us -- which really
encapsulated our entire 10-day experience in Israel: a constant
juxtaposition of ancient and modern within a very small geographic
area. We headed back to Tel Aviv for our final dinner with our Puzzle
Israel friends, Nir, Guy and Shachar, some hugs and goodbyes…and then we
were off to the airport.
It is always tough to leave Israel. But I have learned that we
never really "leave"…we say in Hebrew -- "l'hit'ra-ot -- meaning, "until
next time." But never goodbye. Israel always beckons us back again: to
see more sites, visit new archaeological digs, explore the modern city as it grows and changes, hike more beautiful
trails, eat more fabulous food. We are all tired but satisfied…a good
kind of tired that I always associate with coming home from Israel. It
is a special type of exhaustion and exhilaration:
from a lot of fresh air and sun, from new experiences, moving and
touching moments, lots of laughs, and the knowledge that we have left
our imprint on the country and that it has most certainly changed us in
the process.
It was a terrific experience to see Israel with our Grade 10
students again this year. Rabbi Joe Eiduson and I want to thank
everyone for being such great travelers -- for being patient, energetic,
passionate and open-minded. We loved being with each
and every one of you, our students, and we look forward to sharing our
stories with our TBA congregational family.
Best,
Rabbis Lisa and Joseph Eiduson
All of the blog posts have been wonderful - both from the perspective of the students as well as from Rabbi Lisa. It has been a treat to see and hear about Israel through your eyes. Thank you so much for sharing your impressions with us!
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