Going to Machaneh Yehuda on Friday Afternoon…by Shara S.
By Friday afternoon we had gone around a day without any sleep! We were exhausted and the only activity that could possibly take us out of our stupor was shopping at the market in Machaneh Yehuda.
For me, Machaneh Yehuda was the perfect image of a shopping market in Israel. So, we took our 30 shekel per person and my friends and I walked around the market, smelled Israeli food and got a bunch of souvenirs. I love the excitement of a shuk (market) on a Friday afternoon-it is the opposite feeling of a shopping mall. Where malls are pristine and polished, the shuk is dirty and ragged. At a shuk you also get to do something real fun: haggle! There is a lot of excitement when you get to haggle with a shopkeeper, you get to play a game of “how much will I really pay for this item.” That is much more fun than shopping at a mall.
My friends and I got to have delicious falafel for lunch and a bunch of Israeli candy for dessert. And everyone knows that Israeli candy is the best in the world. Going to Machaneh Yehuda reminded me of Kindergarten when we get to have an Israeli shuk for Yom HaAtzmaut…that is where I first learned that you can handle prices at a shuk. Ever since then, I have wanted to visit a real shuk and last week, we had the chance to do it. Machaneh Yehuda was a real Israeli experience I will not forget soon.
Visiting the Kotel by Ezra H.
We arrived in Israel on Friday morning and spent a full day enjoying different activities and fun experiences. Early in the afternoon we were told that we would go to the Kotel (the Western Wall) for Kabbalat Shabbat. I was really happy to know that on the very first day I was in Israel, I would have an opportunity to visit the Kotel. Although I was there in December with my family, the experience of visiting the Kotel is always a special one for me. But what I did not know is how crowded it was going to be on Friday night! In order to physically touch the Kotel, I had to climb through rows of very religious men praying. However, when I touched the wall, I realized that my feelings had not changed much since December. I felt a strong emotion and I continue to realize that the Kotel is a central symbol of Judaism. It bothers me that there are people fighting over the rights of women to pray freely at the Kotel. Over the next two weeks I hope to learn more about the conflicts in the area and ways to solve the issues in creative ways.
I love reading the kids’ comments as they share their personal experiences and thoughts on a whirlwind of travels. The trip may be a culmination of tremendous learning, but reading about it allows a far greater appreciation for us back at home. Kudos to the blogmaster.
Next year in Jerusalem has come true for our kids! It’s so amazing to hear and see them flourshing in the land of our people. They are on the journey of a life time and it is just the beginning of many more!