Our last day was a beautiful Shabbat in Jerusalem. We had nothing planned so the group took it all in: HUC (the Reform movement seminary), the Old City, and a last chance to play Marco Polo and pool tag together. We boarded Shlomo's bus one last time and drove to the Arab village of Abu Ghosh, reknowned for its cuisine and its long history of peaceful integration into Israeli society. The meal was perfect for the occasion - again with the bar mitzvah comparisons!
As the sun began to set, we gathered in the restaurant courtyard for Havdallah - the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the separation between holy and regular time. There's no better way to conclude an experience like ours. The service marks the end of Shabbat and the call to return to your "normal" life. This time it also marks our separation from Jerusalem and Israel. We each felt, however, that the greatest change was within ourselves. Roni says that with all the thousands of people he has guided through Jerusalem, he has never seen a person remain unchanged by their contact with Jerusalem. We are no exception. We blessed that change with wine, fire, and the scent of fresh basil pulled from the courtyard. I asked everyone to share what is their biggest "take away" from the trip. Everyone agreed that the comraderie and the relationships we made on this trip were its greatest blessings. We sang of Eliyahu Ha-Navi and extinguished the flame. The change is complete.
Thanks, Roni and Shlomo. Thanks to the group. Thanks to Ayelet, IGT and all those behind the scenes who made this trip possible. Thanks to God and thanks to all Israel.
Welcome home. The trip was moving and emotions were like those we experienced last November. Bob G.
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