4/2/2011 - HUC-JIR and We're Off

After packing all of our bags and getting them ready to go on the bus, we headed to the HUC (Hebrew Union College) JIR (Jewish Institute of Religion) for dinner and havdallah before saying our goodbyes to Nir and Shalom and heading to the airport for our flight home.

This has been a great experience from start to finish.  It's hard to believe that the two and a half weeks have passed so quickly.  In looking back, we had many very full days, but I wouldn't have changed anything about the trip.

We traveled with a great group and created a new community within our Temple Sinai community.  We will treasure this experience for years to come.

L'hitraot!

4/2/2011 - The Israel Museum

The best way to spend Shabbat afternoon - other than a good nap - is going to a museum and the newly reopened Israel Museum has a great collection of art work in various media.  While waiting for cabs to the museum we took in the flowers in the garden in front of the hotel.

Once we arrived at the museum, we regathered as a group to look at the large model of the Old City and the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book.

Israel flag unfurled in the wind on the Kineset.

This is where we'll meet up at 4p.

Take a hand.

Good to the core.

Ahava

Darren's new love.

Yes they are sprinkling the roof - keeps it cool and clean.

The Temple

The Southern Steps

Gary stayed at the museum, but I took advantage of an early departure to return to the hotel and prepare for our dinner and long flight home.

4/2/2011 - The Great Synagogue and Picnic Lunch

Rabbis Rick and Susan, Allan Markman, Linda Dorfman, Gary and I went to shul this morning at The Great Synagogue across from our hotel.  Although we arrived before 9:30 a.m., the Torah service had already begun.  Rabbi Susan helped to find the spot in the Torah portion - Tazria.  There were two auf ruf's duirng the service with candy being thrown from the men's area and the women's area above.  Because there were no microphones in use, hearing the Torah reading was a challenge.  There was a beautiful men's choir during the service and the Jerusalem stone walls of the sanctuary are made even more beautiful by the large stained glass above the Aharon Ha Kodesh.  The Ark itself held 18 Torahs all adorned by silver Keter's.  Above the women's section were additional stained glass windows.

The lobby of the shul was full of cases containing a massive mezuzah collection of all media - silver, glass, ceramic, cloth, acrylic, paper, etc.

Linda and I left after the Torah service to join the rest of our group for our picnic in the park next to the hotel.  There was plenty of food, of course, as everyone bought more than enough of everything in Mahane Yehuda yesterday.  The best part of our picnic was the camaraderie among the group in sharing all that we had.  Some of the leftovers were thrown out, but some were given to others in the park so that they didn't go to waste.

4/1/2011 - Kabbalat Shabbat at Kol Haneshamah

After a few minutes of rest and time to clean up for Shabbat, we took some pictures of the view from our hotel room.

The park below our hotel where we'll have a picnic lunch tomorrow.

The American Consulate in Jerusalem across from the Park.

The Great Synagogue

The Conservative Shul across from the hotel.

A view toward the Old City - the Temple Mount.

The Waldorf Astoria Residences under construction.

We then headed back on the bus to go to Kol Haneshamah, a progressive congregation in Jerusalem.  Services were very low key and included some english direction.  The Rabbi didn't wear a suit or tie and sat on the bimah at a table.  Some of the melodies were familiar and others were new, but relatively simple and easy to follow.

We returned to the hotel for a Shabbat dinner in a private dining room - there were many courses and a lot of food.

After a long day, we returned to our room for our last full night in Jerusalem.