By Jacob Wall, NFTY in Israel Participant, Bus 1
Last week, my NFTY in Israel journey has been eye opening in so many ways. As we entered Jerusalem, a million emotions were going through my head, as well as many of my friends. I was awestruck by the feeling of connection I felt in the city, and all I wanted to do was explore. We learned about the movement of Reform Judaism in Israel, the history behind the creation and destruction of the temples, as well as the relationship between the sects of Judaism. We visited the Western Wall, explored the tunnels of King David’s mansion, before moving down south, where we learned about the Jew’s relationship to the Romans by visiting Masada. Also, we floated in the Dead Sea, rode camels, and experienced Bedouin culture. Before we entered Shabbat, we bargained to get the best deal in the open-air markets of Jerusalem and Akko. For the second time this trip and in a more formal setting, we celebrated Shabbat as one community. In separation from the rest of the week, our community had a beautiful Havdallah service in a setting overlooking Haifa and the Mediterranean Sea. Exploring Haifa at the peak of night life on a Saturday night was a very fun experience, and an amazing way to end our journey in this port city of Israel.
