Mar 3, 2006
Classes
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Mar 3, 2006
Sharing groups
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Mar 3, 2006
Retreat
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Apr 2, 2006
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Apr 24, 2006
Day 1 - Auschwitz
Today we left New York and landed in Cracow. After loadcing our buses with our luggage, we went to tour Auschwitz. A warm day. it was still very emotional and moving. We did not arrive at our hotel until 10 PM Poland time. |  |
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Apr 25, 2006
Day 2 March of the Living
We began today touring the old Jewish Quarter in Cracow. The rainy morning turned to a very warm and sunny day when we arrived at Auschwitz for the March. We marched with 8000 other participants to Birkenau for a rememberance ceremony. Upon arriving at our hotel in the evening, we listened to a man who had rescued the mother of one of our adult participants. A long day but filled with meaning and emotion. |  |
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Apr 26, 2006
Day 3 Majdanek
After a very long bus ride from Cracow to Lublin, we arrived at Majdanek. It was a very warm day and a very tiring day. Many of us found this camp to be very emotional. Our young adults did not hesitate to support each other and the bonding between us continues. In our sharing sessions, many, many feelings were expressed and we were all strenghtened by today's experience. |  |
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Apr 27, 2006
Day 4 Tykocin and Treblinka
We began today with a visit to the Shtetl of Tykocin. Alot of ruach was shown as we danced and sang in the old remaining synagogue. Along cobblestone streets, we walked to sample what life was before the Holocaust. After lunch, we went to Treblinka. We were shocked by the nothingness and the stones that stand as a memorial to every village, town, and city that was destroyed. |  |
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Apr 28, 2006
Day 5 Warsaw
We started today by visiting the centuries old Jewish cemetery in Warsaw. Some time was spent in cleaning graves and the areas around them. Of great interest, was the symbols on the headstones. After lunch across from the Rappaport memorial, we then began to tour the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto. We visited Mila 18 and the Umschlagplatz where Marchers did rubbings of names. We returned to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. No pictures will be taken tomorrow. |  |
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Apr 30, 2006
Day 7 Caeserea and Kayaking
After Shabbat yesterday, we left Poland late last night. The plane flight was 3 1/2 hours and we arrived in Eretz Yisrael early this morning. We loaded our buses and traveled to Caeserea to have breakfast and tour the Roman ruins. We then left for lunch in an Israeli mall. The afternoon was spent kayaking on the Jordan River which was a great amount of fun. Dinner was had at a guest house in Beit She"an. |  |
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May 1, 2006
Day 8 Tzfat and Nesher
We began today by traveling to the mystical city of Tzfat. After touring the old center of town, we took time to shop and eat lunch. Many of us enjoyed the first real opportunity to help the Israeli economy through shopping. We then traveled to Arbal for donkey rides. In addition to the many jokes made about this activity, we enjoyed this ancient means of transportation. We then went to Federation's partner city of Nesher where we were presented with a show to welcome us to the city. It was also an opportunity to meet email pals. After spending some time getting to know them, we joined the city of Nesher for a Yom Hazikaron memorial ceremony before traveling to Jerusalem and checking into our hotel. |  |
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May 2, 2006
Day 9 Latrun and Jerusalem
We began today with a visit to Ammunition Hill which was the site of a strategic battle between Israel and Jordan in the War for Independence in 1948. This was quite fitting as today is Yom HaZikaron or Memoiral Day. We then traveled to the tank museum at Latrun and were given guided tours about Israeli tanks and how they are used. We then lunched at another mall. Upon our return to Jerusalem, we went to the Old City where many of our participants first saw the Kotel. We put on tefillin and prayed at the Wall. We left for our hotel for dinner. AS Yom HaZikaron turned into Yomk HaAzmaut, Israel's independence day, we went to Ben Yehuda Street for the celebration and of course, shopping. |  |
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May 3, 2006
Day !0 The March
We began today with a visit to the Haas Promenade for an opportunity to see the entire city of Jerusalerm and learn its importance. After having lunch there, we went to Safra Square to prepare for the march from Safra Square to the Kotel. We take great pride that our kids began the singing and dancing that eventually encompassed 5000 other Marchers. We sang and danced in the square and then marched to the Kotel for an inspiring ceremony. We the shopped, of course. Following this diversion, we went to the Big Event. We ate and watched/participated in a concert. |  |
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May 4, 2006
Day 11 Mt. Herzl and Indepedence Hall
We started this morning with a visit to the military cemetery on Mount Herzl. Many of our participants were moved by the soldiers who gave their lives at an early age for the independence and creation of the State of Israel. After lunch at the Rabin guest house, we traveled to Tel Aviv where we visited Rabin Square another moving location for our Marchers. We then traveled to Independence Hall where we saw a short movie on the development of Tel Aviv. We sat in the same exact room where David Ben-Gurion procalimed the birth of the Jewish State. We then ate and shopped at a mall in Tel Aviv. |  |
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May 5, 2006
Day 12 Masada and the Dead Sea
After breakfast, we traveled to Masada. We saw a movie and then took the Aerial Ropeway to ascend to the top. Each of our buses were given an inspirational tour by our Israeli guides. We then left and went to the Dead Sea. We ate lunch there and many of us went into the water. We returned to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. We traveled by bus to the Kotel to welcome Shabbat and then walked back. Tomorrow is Shabbat and no more pictures will be uploaded. |  |
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