Trip to Israel day 5

[ahka]

• 1st 3 Days
• Day 4

Thursday, Day 5

Today, we had very emotional or emotionally sad day.  We started with the lecture by Ken Spiro about Anti-Semitism that was gloomy and disturbing.  There are so many lies and misconceptions about Jews in the world, it is very sad and makes me feel powerless.  Even Jews themselves believe in those lies and don’t want to find the truth.  That makes it even worse!

 After the lecture we went to the Yad Vashem -- Museum of Holocaust where I cried and cried and cried.  Last time I was in that museum I remembered crying very hard while visiting children’s memorial.  This time it was emotionally difficult throughout the whole museum.  Here is the picture of the exit from the museum:

 After the Yad Vashem they took us to the orphanage Kfar Yeladim David where we also cried.  It is a wonderful place for the kids, however the concept that they don’t have parents who can take care of them was difficult to handle.  The kids at the orphanage were singing a song about Ima (Mother) they did it twice and we all were weeping.  They gave us the lyrics of the song in English and reading the words and listening to the girls singing and dancing was touching to tears. 

After that we went back to the hotel to change in modest closes to go to the very religious area of Jerusalem Mea Sharim Geula.  We really had fun during this walk through busy streets.  We turned onto the little streets to see the real life Jewish Ultra Orthodox neighborhood.   We bought presents there for much cheaper than they are in the area of Kotel (Western Wall). 


My roommate turned out to be an awesome negotiator.  She bargained and bargained and got good deals everywhere.   

We walked so much, my feet are falling off, time for bed.   

Read about Day 6 and 7 Shabbat

Comments

[hannahsarah.livejournal.com]

When I went to Yad Vashem to do research on my grandmother, I couldn't even go into the museum. I had a panic attack just thinking about what she and her family went through, and I couldn't do it. I just couldn't. I felt like a Bad Jew for not going, but a friend told me "It's no mitzvah to torture yourself. If you can't take it, it's OK. Lots of us can't."

Geulah is wonderful, and I have friends in Meah Shearim. I miss it so much!

Those girls, ah, don't you just want to take every one of them home with you? My daughter is adopted. She's peacefully sleeping in my bed right now (it's her Sunday night treat). I think I need to go give her a big kiss.

[agusovsky.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is very hard to be in that museum... It looks like you have a big heart and a very sensitive soul. Thanks for reading my LJ. :)

[hannahsarah.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting your travel notes! I'm really enjoying reading about your trip.

Will you be going to Ein Gedi to float in the Dead Sea? Do try to get there, it's AMAZING!!!