Jerusalem and then down south

Today the MBIers set out from Ben Shemen to take part in two of Jerusalem's more somber and meaningful aspects. The MBIers headed to Har(Mount) Herzl to get a tour and learn more about many of Israel's great leaders and historical figures buried there. Both Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin are buried there and being Israel's military cemetery, soldiers who fall in combat are buried there as well. It is an important place to see and learn about Israel's past and reflect on the hardships Israel has endured to exist as it does today in 2008.

Then each bus went to Yad Vashem(Israel's Holocaust Museum) where they received a guided tour. The museum which was which was renovated 3 years ago has a unique design being a sort of long triangle that at the end there are windows piping light. In order to reach the light you have to criss-cross through each section of the museum, which spans from before the Holocaust looking at communities, through the end of the war exploring the many difficult topics and some of the more inspirational tales of righteous gentiles and the youth movements role in the war. The tour tries to focus on some of the aspects of the Holocaust without trying to overwhelm everyone too much by the enormity and difficulty inherent.

It was an emotional morning with many tears shed and a real connection was felt by the MBIers to their past and how it now relates to their and Israel's present reality. After being at both places the MBIers had time to sit with their madrichim(counselors) and process everything they had taken in at Yad Vashem and Har Herzl.

They then headed to their buses which took them south to an exciting destination of Mamshit, where they were going to be staying at Bedouin tents there. The first thing the MBIers got to do though was to take a camel ride through the desert. Having had a bumpy, at times smelly and yet overall fun ride, the MBIers headed over the tents were they would be staying. There got to relax and take in some Bedouin hospitality and learn more about Bedouin customs. At first they were served very sweet tea which is a Bedouin custom and eventually, while sitting on mats on the ground, were served the main event of a large meal. The groups got served huge platters of rice and meat(veggies and veggie kabobs for those choosing to not eat meat) as well as plates with humus and eggplant salad among others. It was quite a feast that was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

Having had more then there fill of food, the MBIers finished off their evening with a lovely Kumzitz, where they sangs songs by the fire. They all went to sleep under the large Bedouin tent they found themselves as they needed to get some rest before the events of tomorrow. As I write this(and perhaps as you read this), the MBIers will be waking up shortly as they are getting woken up at 3:15am in order to go hike up Masada to see the sunrise! While there will be grumbling as they are woken up, seeing the sunrise on Masada is a truly glorious thing to behold. Tomorrow they also will be going to Ein Gedi, Nachal David, and the Dead Sea. Their exploration and enjoyment of the desert has commenced!

Lastly, anyone who hasn't sent in the Free Weekend request is putting us in a difficult position since we need to confirm numbers staying behind and making sure there is sufficient space on the buses going to the drop-off points. We are doing our best to accomodate last minute requests, but we cannot guarantee anymore requests since it is so late.