Day 2 and 3 - Shabbat and Jerusalem!

Hi everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend! MBI has been busy the past two days, both spent exploring Jerusalem!

Just a reminder that I will not be posting the blog on Shabbat, however I will update you all the following day!  

I hope you are settling in well to having your children away from home, feel free to give me a call or send me an email if you have any specific questions or concerns about the trip so far!

Day 2 (Saturday): Shabbat in Jerusalem

Yesterday MBI continued celebrating Shabbat in Jerusalem. They opened the day by getting to know their new kvutzot better. Then, they participated in special Shabbat chuggim (interest groups).

After lunch, we got into our kvutzot to discuss how kupa works on MBI and how we want to use kupa to shape MBI into a great experience for all.

Afterwards, we headed out of the hostel for a little more sightseeing and to learn more about Jerusalem's landmarks and history.

Lastly, they headed back to the hostel for dinner, havdallah, and musicale (a musical talent show).

Day 3 (Sunday): Old City, Kotel, Julian

Today was spent in historic Jerusalem. The theme of today was Jewish values and the history of the city. They passed into the Old City through the Zion Gate and into the Jewish quarter of the city. Then, it was onto the Cardo, an excavated Roman street.

Each bus then had the chance to visit the Hurva synagogue. Built in the 18th century, it has been over time one of the most important Ashkenazi synagogues in Jerusalem. The building has been destroyed and rebuilt more than once. The last time it was destroyed was 1948, during the Arab-Israeli war. They also visited the Old City walls from the time of Isaiah.

In the afternoon, they walked to the Kotel (Western Wall). From there, MBI met Julian, the mazkir (world director) of Habonim Dror's world wide movement. He's also a tour guide. He took them to see the southern walls of the ancient temple. They also visited a digitized 3D model of the temple as it was 2000 years ago. They closed the day with a tekes (ceremony). The presenters at the tekes reflected on what they saw today and what they learned.

Southern wall of the temple mount

MBI - Ceremony about their relationship to Jerusalem

The participants also had an activity where they conducted an auction on what they valued most about their Judaism. 

Rosh MBI's sandal tan after only 3 days!  The weather has been sunny and hot!