Wednesday was a day of reflection and good feeling.
We started the day together with Avi in Tel Aviv, learning more about modern Israel’s history with a very informative and entertaining speaker at the hall of independence. Yet again, I found myself imagining being in the shoes of Israel’s early leaders, and trying to wrap my mind around what their lives were like, and some of the choices they had to make. It was funny to hear about the “secret” invitations sent out to 350 people, the microphone that was borrowed and is still on permanent display in Independence Hall, and people running around to quickly find chairs before the big event. It was sobering to imagine Ben Gurion making the declaration of Israel’s statehood, and leaving immediately to fight the war of independence that claimed so many Jewish lives. Independence hard won, indeed.
After a quick architectural tour and an ice cream, we were back on the bus (on time!) and off to Mofet Institute for an introduction from Dr. Sara Zeev, followed by a fascinating class on cracking the code on ancient tombstones given by none other then our own Tova. I enjoyed the lecture, and learned a great deal about a topic I had known nothing at all about! I also felt enormously encouraged, both times we spent in Mofet, by the incredible dedication this institute has for teachers and teacher training. I look forward to doing online learning through their program when I return home.
Then it was time for reflections, and certificates of completion of the program. When I saw that I would be the last to speak, I briefly panicked, wondering what I would say that others hadn’t already. Soon I was too caught up in the sincere and heartfelt responses of our group to even think about it. We cried together, and laughed, and revisited our experiences, each with his or her own perspective. What was common to all of our reflections was the sense we had of the togetherness of the group, how much we learned from one another, and genuinely enjoyed getting to know each other. I look forward to keeping in touch with new friends!
We gathered for a festive and delicious meal at a Yemenite restaurant – salads and dips and hot pita, meat on long metal skewers with crisp french fries, sweet red watermelon, all in a quantity and variety that has become the hallmark of many delicious meals we have been served here in Israel. Thank you Tsipy, for taking such good care of us!
Goodbye, good friends, this is an experience we won’t ever forget! Travel safely, and I look forward to our reunion and reminiscing about this profound and wonderful experience together.