Friday
2nd: Our final Shabbat
On Sunday we enjoyed some more Jerusalem scenery with a hike
in a picturesque area in the Jerusalem Hills to a place called Kastel, the
ruins of a Crusader castle located on a hilltop close to Jerusalem. From
there we went to Ha Radar, a lookout from where we could see for miles and
miles across Jerusalem.
After over two weeks in Israel the whole group had lots to reflect on so
we headed to the Kotel, the Western
Wall, for a moment of reflection before getting ready for Shabbat. It was
a chance for us to take a moment for themselves at the holiest place on earth
for the Jewish people. It really was a special sight to see the whole group
standing in front of the Kotel and it was one of the most spiritual highlights
of tour so far. It was absolutely packed with all sorts of people descending
on Jerusalem before Shabbat.
Trying to capture some more of the Jerusalem
spirit, we headed to the shuk also
known as Machane Yehuda, famous for its
hustle and bustle and haggling opportunities! We were given money to buy
lunch and enjoy the various culinary delights of the market.
We then went back to the hotel to prepare ourselves for what we knew
would be an inspiring final Shabbat on Tribe Israel tour.
Saturday
3rd
Friday night dinner was one which we will never
forget. Along with David Collins and Rabbi Gideon, we had the opportunity
to sit in the Old City at the most spiritual time of the week, in the most
spiritual city, while we ate, sang and chatted. After dinner we walked back
down to the Western Wall Plaza and everyone was struck by the stark difference
between how packed it had been earlier and how empty it now seemed. The Kotel
has the power to evoke such different emotions depending on whether it's busy
or empty.
On Shabbat day after
davening we had a session of games and discussions before lunch and then we
went on walking tour of the Jerusalem neighborhoods. It was really special
seeing how all the different types of people – Orthodox, Ultra-Orthodox,
secular, Arab and tourists – and areas, come together to make this city so
wonderful.
As Shabbat went out we had another special seudah shlishit (third meal) singing
songs that the we had learnt, followed by a beautiful havdalah to bring out our last Shabbat of Tour.
On Saturday night we got to experience the buzz and
excitement of Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall on its busiest night, which the group
really loved!
The Tribe Team
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