Our Friday night highlight was Kabbalat Shabbat. We sat on the sun deck of the hotel. Rabbi Walter led some Shabbat prayers and then staff and residents shared thoughts about this week's experience. It has truly been emotional and, in many ways, transformative.
Shabbat in Israel was also a great day. A number of folks went to services this morning while the non-Jewish staff had an opportunity to take a walking tour of the Christian quarter. In the afternoon, we rested, had Havdalah and then headed out to the Sound and Light show at the Tower of David. Helen called the experience "incredible" and Nelson told us that it was "better than anything he'd ever seen . . . even on television!" We topped the evening off with shopping and people watching on Ben Yehuda Street.
This morning we headed out to Yad l'Kashish, Lifeline for the Aged, a workshop for seniors that was absolutely inspiring. We chatted with the participants and then patronized the gift shop that sells their products and helps to support the project. Next stop was a great tour at the Knesset.
While we were in the Knesset, we all wondered if you were home watching us on Good Morning America. NEWS FLASH: We got an email from the producer that GMA ran out of time this morning and we will either be on the ABC evening news tonight or on GMA next weekend. Sorry that is not more definite--it is the best we can do. Please be on the lookout for our star turn!
Spearking of star turns, the front page article in the Jerusalem Post has gotten us attention everywhere we have been. We've been recognized and treated like real "stars!" Such fun!
This afternoon we toured Latrun, a memorial to the IDF tank corps. It was very moving and we presented the young soldiers an Israeli flag that had flown at Cedar Village. Now we are on the bus to our sister city of Netanya where we will visit Bet Elazakri and we'll spend the night in Haifa!
Note: We are at the Dan Carmel for Sunday and Monday Evening.
