We began with an early morning meeting at the National Military Center on Mt. Herzl. There we met with Tziki Aud, the founder of the Lone Soldier Center. Standing at the grave of young American, Michael Levin who died in 2006 as an Israeli soldier in the 2nd Lebanon War, Tziki movingly told us who this dynamic young man encouraged him to take care of others like him. Israeli soldiers are supported by their families and spend leave time at home. Lone soldiers, who volunteer from abroad, have no such support. Thank you to our congregant Daphna Stadig for making this connection. We were all very, very moved.
After a brief tour of the cemetery, which included standing at the grave of Hannah Senesh - and having Cantor lead us in her song "Eli, Eli", we came to a new multi-media museum on the life the founder of Zionism, Theodore Herzl.
Later, Renee led us through the remarkable and deeply moving Yad Vashem complex. Renee's knowledge, sensitivity and eloquence helped us encounter the horrors of the Shoah and understand how Israelis incorporate this dark period of Jewish history. We left this tomb-like structure and entered into the light of the Israeli day. After a journey through the Children's memorial, we had a brief ceremony of remembrance on our own.
Leaving Yad Vashem it was important to return to life. We went to Machane Yehudah, the open air market where we had a fun scavenger tasting hunt with some of the finest spices, halva and bourekas you can imagine. Renee then gave us a tour through the old Nachalot section of Jerusalem.
Afterward we returned to the hotel and met Rabbi Susan Silverman, a Reform rabbi living in Israel who gave us an insider's view of Women of the Wall. She also helped us understand the realities of liberal Judaism in Israel and ways that secular Israelis often don't know how there values can be found and informed from within Judaism.
A good but emotional day.
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