I got eight hours of sleep last night. No joke. Just thought I’d let you know. On to today!
After some hesitation at the day’s starting point-let’s just say Jen Goldstein took some liberties with the wake up time-we made our first stop at Zichron Menachem, a center for children with cancer. Shira spent a year of her civil service volunteering at the center, so the place was especially meaningful for her. It’s pretty amazing how one day, we can do all the cliché, “touristy” Israel things-like Masada and the Dead Sea-and then get to go to places that are diamonds in the rough, special to only a few people-like Zichron Menachem was for Shira-and get just as much meaning out of it. There’s been a great blend of the grand and the personal.
While there, we made cupcakes for the children and toured the facility. Shira informed us that they don’t receive any funding from the government, and only six people who work there make any money; the rest are volunteers. It was a pretty special place.
Afterwards, we made a stop to plant trees and took a minute or two to go bird watching, learning a little bit about the ornithology of Jerusalem.
Our last tour of the work week took us to a marketplace in Jerusalem where we there was shopping and eating galore, and then some more shopping and eating. My lunch here was the best falafel I’ve had in Israel so far. Robbie, Andrew, Ethan, and I were coerced by our new friend Yoni-an employee of the grill we went to-to get some of their falafel. We ate, but of course, it wouldn’t be Israel if it wasn’t accompanied by a little Pre-Shabbos song and dance, which the four of us and Yoni partook in right in the middle of town. Israel, huh?
We carried on for an hour or so in the marketplace, dabbling in hummus, rugulach, nuts of all shapes and sizes, iced coffees, fresh fruits, all the while perusing through the shops and buying some souvenirs and keepsakes. We weren’t only shopping for ourselves and families, but for each other, as we each secretly received a person on the bus to buy a small gift for. All I have to say about that, still need to keep mum on it. Though, I did buy myself a blue Omri Casspi jersey and some fresh spices to bring back home.
Before I head out and freshen up for our night of Shabbat in the old city, I thought I’d take a moment to thank everyone who’s been keeping up with this blog. Rabbi Levi informed me that it’s getting a lot of positive feedback, and as long as you keep enjoying reading it, I’ll keep enjoying writing it. Only a few posts left, so keep checking back! I’m sure tonight’s trip to the wall is going to be a gem.
Shabbat Shalom!
At Zichron Menachem
