This week, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to explore Jerusalem with my fellows. Our program coordinators organized a two day trip, showing us some of the wonders of the city. Here's what I experienced and learned along the way.
Monday morning we woke up bright and early to jump on the bus. In typical Israeli fashion, the bus was almost an hour late. Alas, we were finally on our way to the holy city. We began our trip at the Scroll of Fire Holocaust Memorial. It was built by Holocaust survivor Nathan Rapoport and meant to look like a Torah scroll, and as you walk around, you can follow Jewish history from the Holocaust leading up until Israeli independence.
Monday morning we woke up bright and early to jump on the bus. In typical Israeli fashion, the bus was almost an hour late. Alas, we were finally on our way to the holy city. We began our trip at the Scroll of Fire Holocaust Memorial. It was built by Holocaust survivor Nathan Rapoport and meant to look like a Torah scroll, and as you walk around, you can follow Jewish history from the Holocaust leading up until Israeli independence.
There were also great views of the Judea mountains. I was sad to hear that people stole the brass off the memorial and sold it. It just goes to show that people will destroy even the most beautiful of things.
After we all got a good look at the memorial, we jumped back on the bus and made our way to several different religious cites all built into one small area. We started by visited the Tomb of Virgin Mary in the Church of the Sephulchre of Saint Mary. The church was beautiful and full of amazing architecture.
After we all got a good look at the memorial, we jumped back on the bus and made our way to several different religious cites all built into one small area. We started by visited the Tomb of Virgin Mary in the Church of the Sephulchre of Saint Mary. The church was beautiful and full of amazing architecture.
From there we went to King David's tomb, which sad to say, wasn't nearly as beautiful. We then walked up to a room which we found out was where the Last Supper was! I couldn't get a good picture though because the room was jam packed with several different tour groups. We ended this little tour by climbing up a few flights of stairs to the Mount Scopus lookout. We could see so much of Jerusalem!
On our way to lunch, we heard celebration and couldn't help but check out where it was coming from. We ended up walking straight into a bar mitzvah! It was a small group, but they were very welcoming. The entertainer came right up to our group and pulled us into dance. I was right next to the father of the bat mitzvah boy! It was amazing to see how welcoming there were into such an important family moment. Everyone here really does open their arms to strangers and enjoys sharing the happy moments in life with others.
After lunch, we went to the Museum on the Seam. The museum is a socio-political museum that creates discussion about issues in Israel and abroad through art. The building itself originally was home to the Barmki family and was turned into a military post in 1948. It is called the Museum on the Seam because it was located on the border between Israel and Jordan next to the Mandelbaum Gate. Unlike the inside of the building, which is now beautifully renovated, the outside of the building was not renovated. It still boasts the damage from war.
On our way to lunch, we heard celebration and couldn't help but check out where it was coming from. We ended up walking straight into a bar mitzvah! It was a small group, but they were very welcoming. The entertainer came right up to our group and pulled us into dance. I was right next to the father of the bat mitzvah boy! It was amazing to see how welcoming there were into such an important family moment. Everyone here really does open their arms to strangers and enjoys sharing the happy moments in life with others.
After lunch, we went to the Museum on the Seam. The museum is a socio-political museum that creates discussion about issues in Israel and abroad through art. The building itself originally was home to the Barmki family and was turned into a military post in 1948. It is called the Museum on the Seam because it was located on the border between Israel and Jordan next to the Mandelbaum Gate. Unlike the inside of the building, which is now beautifully renovated, the outside of the building was not renovated. It still boasts the damage from war.
Some of the exhibits were really interesting. On the bottom level was a video exhibit. It was all in Russian, but it showed the exploitation of the working class. There was also an amazing view of Jerusalem from the roof.
Although only mid afternoon, we were all exhausted. We went to the hostel for a well deserved nap and dinner. I had to call Oneonta to order my transcript, and I can't say that it went according to plan. Due to the fact that I had studied abroad, my transcript had a supplement. Oneonta does not give online PDF copies of transcripts to students that have a supplement. This put me in a serious bind because I needed it for a job application I was working on. Thankfully, my mom agreed to pay extra to have it over-nighted to her office where she scanned it and emailed it to me. I thought my day was ruined, but boy was I wrong. First, the dinner at the hostel was surprisingly good. I cannot say exactly what type of fish it was, but I can say that it was delicious and flaky. It paired well with the rice.
Once again, we jumped back on the bus and made our way down to the Kotel (Western Wall). The Kotel is the most religious sites in the Jewish religion and we were all excited to see it. Many of us had seen it before, but that didn't take away from the experience. A few of us went up to the wall, said the prayers, and left our notes. When we were all back together, we started the tour we were really there for: The Kotel Tunnels. Right next to the Kotel is a Muslim village. Because of this, there is a large portion of the Western Wall that can't by fully excavated. Forcing a huge Muslim village to move would cause too much unnecessary political drama. Instead, digging began underneath the city. Today, visitors can walk through the underground tunnels and see parts of the Western Wall, the Herodian road, and other parts of Temple Mount. It was truly spectacular.
Although only mid afternoon, we were all exhausted. We went to the hostel for a well deserved nap and dinner. I had to call Oneonta to order my transcript, and I can't say that it went according to plan. Due to the fact that I had studied abroad, my transcript had a supplement. Oneonta does not give online PDF copies of transcripts to students that have a supplement. This put me in a serious bind because I needed it for a job application I was working on. Thankfully, my mom agreed to pay extra to have it over-nighted to her office where she scanned it and emailed it to me. I thought my day was ruined, but boy was I wrong. First, the dinner at the hostel was surprisingly good. I cannot say exactly what type of fish it was, but I can say that it was delicious and flaky. It paired well with the rice.
Once again, we jumped back on the bus and made our way down to the Kotel (Western Wall). The Kotel is the most religious sites in the Jewish religion and we were all excited to see it. Many of us had seen it before, but that didn't take away from the experience. A few of us went up to the wall, said the prayers, and left our notes. When we were all back together, we started the tour we were really there for: The Kotel Tunnels. Right next to the Kotel is a Muslim village. Because of this, there is a large portion of the Western Wall that can't by fully excavated. Forcing a huge Muslim village to move would cause too much unnecessary political drama. Instead, digging began underneath the city. Today, visitors can walk through the underground tunnels and see parts of the Western Wall, the Herodian road, and other parts of Temple Mount. It was truly spectacular.
The next day we were up bright and early again. After a quick breakfast, we were back on the bus and on our way to Mount Herzl. Mount Herzl is Israel's national cemetery and is named after Theodor Herzl. Theodor was an Austro-Hungarian Jew who is known as the father of modern Zionism. He formed the World Zionist Organization and believed that must create a state of their own. As a journalist, he followed many anti-Semitic rallies in Paris and felt that it was not safe for the Jewish people in Europe. Herzl was never lived to see his dreams become reality, but he did have him bones as well as the bones of his family flown to Israel to be buried.
This is the portion of the trip where I split from the group. I was finally on my way to the American Consulate to that the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). Those who pass this test continue through a rigorous process in the hopes of working as a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department. This has been a dream of mine since I was 14 and I couldn't believe I was finally about to take the test. I jumped on the rail car and started to make my way to the consulate. Of course I got a bit lost and had to get off the rail car just to get back on in the opposite direction. I did finally find the correct stop, but at that point I was low on time. I had to walk quickly if I wanted to make it there on time. I pulled up a map on my phone, but I was still nervous that I wouldn't find it. As I was walking, I saw a group that looked oddly like mine. I yelled out to one of the boys and sure enough, he turned around. I couldn't believe it! My group was right around the corner from the consulate! I was so happy to see my group leader because she calmed my nerves and walked me the rest of the way to the consulate.
I was surprised by the look of the consulate. I expected a really cold, government looking building. What I found instead was that they had built into an old monastery. It was full of beautiful gardens and paints and stonework. I wish I could have taken photos but they took my phone at the entrance.
I sat down to take the exam and wasn't as anxious as I thought I would be. It took me just under three hours to finish the test. I wouldn't say that I left feeling extremely confident. but I think I did okay. I'll be thrilled if I pass, but I won't be too hard on myself if I don't. I can always take it again!
From here I walked to a market to meet up with the rest of the group. Everyone had a million and one questions about the test. It was nice to see how much these people that I only met a month ago really cared. We've started to form a little family here and I am so thankful for it.
We got back on our bus one more time and started the drive back to Rehovot. It was a great two days. I got to explore Jerusalem a little bit and take an exam I've been dreaming about for 7 years. I would say it was a success.
For more pictures, as well as the video of us dancing in the bar mitzvah, check out the photos and videos sections of the blog!
This is the portion of the trip where I split from the group. I was finally on my way to the American Consulate to that the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). Those who pass this test continue through a rigorous process in the hopes of working as a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department. This has been a dream of mine since I was 14 and I couldn't believe I was finally about to take the test. I jumped on the rail car and started to make my way to the consulate. Of course I got a bit lost and had to get off the rail car just to get back on in the opposite direction. I did finally find the correct stop, but at that point I was low on time. I had to walk quickly if I wanted to make it there on time. I pulled up a map on my phone, but I was still nervous that I wouldn't find it. As I was walking, I saw a group that looked oddly like mine. I yelled out to one of the boys and sure enough, he turned around. I couldn't believe it! My group was right around the corner from the consulate! I was so happy to see my group leader because she calmed my nerves and walked me the rest of the way to the consulate.
I was surprised by the look of the consulate. I expected a really cold, government looking building. What I found instead was that they had built into an old monastery. It was full of beautiful gardens and paints and stonework. I wish I could have taken photos but they took my phone at the entrance.
I sat down to take the exam and wasn't as anxious as I thought I would be. It took me just under three hours to finish the test. I wouldn't say that I left feeling extremely confident. but I think I did okay. I'll be thrilled if I pass, but I won't be too hard on myself if I don't. I can always take it again!
From here I walked to a market to meet up with the rest of the group. Everyone had a million and one questions about the test. It was nice to see how much these people that I only met a month ago really cared. We've started to form a little family here and I am so thankful for it.
We got back on our bus one more time and started the drive back to Rehovot. It was a great two days. I got to explore Jerusalem a little bit and take an exam I've been dreaming about for 7 years. I would say it was a success.
For more pictures, as well as the video of us dancing in the bar mitzvah, check out the photos and videos sections of the blog!