shabbat program

what a wonderful mitzvah program on shabbat
i got goose bumps just reading about it
the chidren were probably thrilled and it
was wonderful to see the teens interacting
continue to have a wonderful time
joanie

Shabbat

Shabbat in Jerusalem is always special and ours' was no exception. Friday night we joined the Kol Haneshama teens again. They lead a service and then we were hosted in their homes for Shabbat dinner. This was a real highlight. We all came back to Beit Shmuel and with great stories, happy bellies and new friends. Laughing and talking went late into the night.

This morning we celebrated Shabbat with a wonderful view of the city. We each took a turn holding the Torah with our eyes on Jerusalem.

After lunch we went to the Save a Heart house. We brought lots of toys and got to play with beautiful children either just before or just after receiving heart surgery. There were kids and moms from all over the world. It was great to be a small part of this wonderful organization.

At Save a Child's Heart Mitzvah Project

At Save a Child's Heart Shabbat Mitzvah

Our time at Yad Vashem

Loving the pics. It seems that everyone is having an amazing time! Wishing the whole group a special Shabbat Shalom!

So nice to see so many happy faces!

It looks like everyone is enjoying the wonderful sites and the warm weather. Thanks for sharing, it's great to be able to follow your trip. Remember to take lots, and lots of pictures. 

The Lefler's

just enjoying all the pictures
and just being with you in spirit
stay well and have fun
shabbat is coming , enjoy and relax
love to rabbi michael and sally
shabbat shalom
joanie shiner

Tel Aviv, Independance Hall, With our new and past Shin Shanim

Today's Top 10 (in no particular order)

1. Meeting the shin shinim coming to Temple Sinai next year
2. Seeing Israeli friends
3. Awesome dinner at Yemenite, meat restaurant called Meganda
4. Goosebumps during Hatikvah at the end of Ben Gurion’s Declaration of Independence in 1948
5. Market in Old Yafo was full of people selling their garbage
6. Mediterranean Sea
7. Palmach Museum was like being inside a movie
8. Story of Yitzchak Rabin in Rabin Square. Especially seeing the graffiti on the wall and diagram of where Rabin, his security and the murderer stood on the sidewalk.
9. Chillin’ on the beach during sunset
10. Beautiful view from Old Yafo

Our day today, Massada and Ein Egdy. Great!

The lowest point on Earth did not mean a low day

Today we traveled down to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the Earth.

Atop Masada

Jeremy, our guide, told the compelling story of the Jews who fled the destruction of the Second Temple. He challenged us to see how we might respond in a situation that required us to fight and die for our Jewish beliefs. "We felt the story of Masada was very interesting." "It gave me a different perspective than previous knowledge." "What would I do on Masada? I truly don’t know.”

Our day at Ein Gedy.

Today was “a completely new experience. The Dead Sea and mud were very cool. It was something that can only be done in this place and few others around the world”. “The smells at Ein Gedy were terrible.”

And now back to pilgrim or tourist:

“I feel that I am a pilgrim because I have so many things to learn about myself and I feel I will learn it from coming here.” “I believe that slowly I am becoming more of a pilgrim. When I first came to Israel I was really excited that I had the chance to make my own experience. Now I feel more like a pilgrim because my specific reason is to find the holiness and spiritualness in myself and Israel.”

One final question:

“How will this experience effect my life? This trip has given me knowledge and understanding of many different cultures and how they relate to each other.”

What a great day!

Amazing photos and inspiring words! So glad to know that your young travellers are so passionate about what they are seeing and hearing.

Looks like you're having warm weather -- short-sleeve shirts seem to abound! No short sleeves to be seen here.

I need a favour from Ira or Cantor Katie. Please tell Robert he has a job for the summer. I know he will be happy to hear that. Rob, we're all very proud of you!

Enjoy! Enjoy!

Hope you guys are enjoying Israel

Hey guys, seeing you walking in the old city between that holy place brought me back so many memories from last year when I was there with Jordan. I can just imagine myself walking that very place and having the exact same feeling you are all having at that very moment. I wish that all of you will make the very best of your trip in Israel because you are very lucky to have the opportunity to explore such an amazing place.
SHERI!!! I HOPE YOU TAKE MANY PICTURES!!! WE MISS YOU!!!

- Rami & Jordan :)

The Old City, the Western Wall and the Secind Temple

Exploring the Old City

Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz, "a cool rabbi we enjoyed getting to know", taught us today that half of the world's population consider Jerusalem as a religious center of the world. Today we explored all four quarters of the Old City, with a focus on Judaism, Islam and Christianity. "I enjoyed actually getting the chance to visit the old city and not just looking at it from afar, as I got to explore some of the most important sites for various religions."

The day began by ascending the steps that once lead to the Second Temple by singing our psalm of ascension, Psalm 126:1-6. From there we got a 3D look at what the current structure most likely looked like when it stood 2000 years ago. This really helped to gain a perspective of what stood before us.

The next stop was the Western Wall, the Kotel; an experience so many recall. For many, this was the best moment of the day. We particularly liked "praying" and "putting prayers in the wall." "It was a pretty unique experience. It felt very spiritual and enhancing."

"Seeing all the religions' significant places" continued after lunch when we visited the Temple Mount. "The Muslim architecture was awesome." Rabbi Klein-Katz highlighted our unique opportunity to visit this holy place for Muslims and we felt lucky "seeing a place that few Jews get the chance to see." As we circled the Dome of the Rock we couldn't help but wonder where the Holy of Holies from our own Temple once stood.

Our last religion to explore in the Old City was Christianity. Through following the last few stations of the cross we "learned where Jesus walked." In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre we watched as devout Christians place their hand upon the spot the cross was erected, place themselves and objects on the stone Jesus was prepared for burial and as they entered the tomb Jesus was buried and then rose from three days later. Their faith-based devotion to these locations was interesting.

After a very long day of walking from quarter to quarter, and ascending and descending hundreds of stairs our feet were ready for a break. It was a beautiful, cloudless, blue-sky day. It concluded with free time on Ben Yehuda Street. "It was really fun." We had dinner and did some shopping. One of us "picked out a ring with his Hebrew name".

Today was also special because we got to celebrate Zachary's 16th birthday. That was his favorite part of the day too!

Questions of the day

From the Ayalon Institute

Could you imagine yourselves being passionate about something to drop everything in your life to go underground and make ammunition for the Jewish people to fight for a state?

"I think I could see myself being so passionate about something that I would do something extreme for that cause. However, at this point in my life I'm not sure what that cause would be. Still, I think I'm a very passionate person so I do believe that I would be able to drop everything I was doing in my life for something I believed in."

"I am not exactly sure whether I would be able to stop everything that I am doing at one point and change my whole life. I think I would feel bad with stopping my life because I would would have gone through so much to get that far, but I would have to say that I would probably stop everything. To have that feeling that I am really helping my nation/country, it would be very honourable. But honestly, it would be very, very, very hard to decide.”

“No, I could not be so passionate to, at the age of 18, go underground for 3 years an build ammunition because it would take a lot of thought to want to stop everything and to not follow my dreams and instead put my life at risk while others aren’t.”

“Given the right causes, I would go to any length to protect a cause that I live by.”

From the archeological dig dating from the period just before the Maccabees (160s BCE)

Do you think this experience will impact the next time to celebrate Chanukah?

“I feel that digging in the caves impacted my Chanukah for next year because it helped tie some loose ends in my mind about the story of the Maccabees and my understanding. I will probably think about the archeological dig this coming Chanukah.”

“I think this years’ Chanukah will have more importance to me because I feel a stronger connection.”

“Last year’s Chanukah was the same, nothing changes. We gather as a family, light the candles, and talk. I think for the Chanukah coming it will be the same.”

Day 2 A day throughout time

This was a day of amazement and searching as we explored over 2300 years of Jewish History. From our tour of the ammunition factory at the Ayalon institute, to our dig at Beit Gvurin, we explored the British Mandate period and then the time of the Maccabeus. Seem like a lot; well you have not heard it all.

We then spend tie with the Israeli youth of Kehilah Kol Hanishma in Jerusalem. Our youth found it both exciting and challenging. Cantor and I were not prepared for the extreme passion that many of the teens had. Was everything Israel Centric. Many youth felt their own commitment to Israel and Judaism was in question. Must everything be centered on Israel and their time in service? It was as if their commitment to the state was needed to be thanked for our very survival. Stay tuned, the kids are looking forward to their next meeting on Friday night, which will be a program, tiffilah and dinner qt guest homes. Our kids want the chance to talk about their commitment to Canada. Are we Canadian, Jews or Canadian Jews? One thing for certain, the thought juices were flowing.

Great to see you all!

Hello Everyone...especially Sheri,
So great to see you all smiling in Israel! Looking forward to seeing lots of photos of your trip! Enjoy every moment.
Susan

Tal! That's a big gun you have...!

I'm so glad the group got to see her - my daughter from another mother :-)).  Very nice to see the group all looking so bright eyed and bushy tailed...

Thanks for sharing group photo

Glad to hear you had a smooth landing. It is a wonder that everyone is smiling and their eyes are open after such a long flight.  Say Hi to Lauren for us!

Our first day

Today began with a smooth landing. Excitement was high even if the eyes were sleepy after our flight. Our arrival in Jerusalem took us directly to Migdal David for our first overlook of the Old City of Jerusalem. The Muslim call to prayer was on. We wove our prayers into theirs with a meaningful singing of “Shehecheyanu.” The cacophony of religious prayers highlighted the multicultural nature of the city we now dwell.

Jeremy, our guide, posed the following question after learning about the history of the historic and awesome view:

Are you visiting Israel as a tourist or as a pilgrim?

“I am on a mission to discover the history of my people.”
“When I was told I was going to Israel, it was by my parents. Personally, I wasn’t 100% certain I even wanted to come to this so called ‘Holyland’, but as soon as the plane started to land, I knew I couldn’t be happier to be in Israel. When we landed we went to a museum called the Tower of David Museum. I was honestly shocked and amazed by the view from the top of the tower. I have never been so amused with something as the view of the top of a building.”
“I feel that I am both a tourist and a pilgrim because I came here to see the beautiful scenery and also because I feel that coming here will better my future in Canada and maybe I will be able to find the next step in my identity as a future Jewish adult.”

Moments of the day:

“A moment that stood out to me was when we were at the top of the tower looking over the entire city. It was so beautiful and majestic and so full of life. It was a really great moment.”
“The moment that made an imprint in my head was when we were on top of the tower of David listening to the prayers and looking down on the streets of Jerusalem.”
“The minute I stepped onto the Israel ground I felt something different, special, amazing. Yesterday morning my mom told me that when she stepped onto the ground she felt at home and I now understand that feeling. I’m at home.”
We’ve arrived!

Whatever happened to Robert Naster's glasses

Hope everyone enjoyed the flight and caught a few winks!!!

Robert's mom and bubba are wondering if Robert and his glasses were re-united. After a couple of Nascar runs along the 407 to Richmond Hill, Air Canada assured us that Robert and his glasses would meet again before take-off.

Wishing everyone a safe and amazing trip!

ready...set....go!

The excitement is mounting as we get ready to depart. Looking forward to spending time with everyone in Israel. It is the only way to really "feel our Jewish connection." Have a great Shabbat. See y ou at the airport!