PICTURES 7.1-7.5 08 SET 1

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Our Israel B'nai Mitzvot

Close your eyes and imagine this scenario for just a
minute:
You and your family are standing on a rooftop of the
Mirkaz Shimson, overlooking Old Jerusalem. A perfect haze
airbrushes the city, as your mind wanders to picture your
ancestors 2000 years before you, filling the streets
below. Your community of fellow Jews stands lovingly
beside you, as you your child reads from the Torah.

What could possibly be better than that? Well, add to the
mix 7 other wonderful children sharing the day, a group of
kvelling parents, and top it off with Rabbis Goor and
Moskovitz running the show! Oh, and did I mention a buffet
brunch that would make your mouth water?

It all happened on Thursday July 3rd, here in beautiful
Jerusalem. It's a day none of us will ever forget!

Photo Album

Go Ride a Camel!

Day 3 in Israel began with a visit with the LA-Tel Aviv Teen Partnership.  Our group met with 8 students from various Tel Aviv High Schools who participated in the exchange program with Temple Judea and other Jewish schools back in Los Angeles.  It was a fascinating dialogue - parents were surprised to learn about the freedom and independence Israeli teens have at such young ages - our youth immediately began to lobby hard for the same. 

We then went to Independence Hall where we heard the story of the establishment of the State of Israel.  Following that we travelled south to Beit Guevrin for an archeological dig and then to Kfar Nokdim in the Negev Desert for an incredible bedouin experience with Camel Rides.

In the Holy Land - We Have Landed

We arrived late afternoon on Monday morning after a slightly longer than expected flight due to some bad weather in New York.  Coming into New York from Los Angeles, we circled JFK for about 90 minutes when the pilot announced that we would have to divert to Philadelphia- a cry went up from the plane- reminiscent of when the children of Israel were told in the dessert that shrimp would not be kosher unless eaten in a chinese restaurant.  But this time the Almighty heard the cries of His/Her people and not 20 seconds later the pilot came back on the PA and told us we had been cleared for landing at JFK.

We landed safely connected with those waiting in NY for us - stretched out legs had a nosh and then back up in the air for our 11 hour flight to Tel Aviv.  

What a feeling coming over the suburbs of Tel Aviv as we made our approach to Ben Gurion Airport - the city has grown so much.  We landed, we cheered, we hugged, we said Shecheyanu and made our way through customs to our bags (they all made it with us) and to our buses to meet our guides Mike and Yishai, Dani and Ariel.

A short trip to the hotel - a shower, also deserving of a blessing and then quickly to our Orientation Session with our guides and then off to an incredible dinner at Maganda - an Israeli/Middle Eastern Restaurant in the heat of Tel Aviv's Yemenite neighborhood.  The food was good and plentiful and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and each other's company.

We leave early Tuesday morning for a meeting with our Partnership High School, Independence Hall, the archaeological at Beit Guvrin and then down to the dessert for our Bedouin camping experience and camel rides!

Temple Judea Goes to Israel

Our bags are packed and we are ready to go! The 2008 Temple Judea Family Israel Trip leaves June 29 for two weeks of Israel adventure. Check this blog for daily updates and pictures from our incredible journey of discovery!