Waking up on a beautiful Shabbat morning in Jerusalem, the fellows were presented with the opportunity to attend one of three synagogues. The services included one for Orthodox observance at the Great Synagogue, as well as Conservative and Reform services at other, and nearby, synagogues. Many fellows stepped out of their comfort zone and went to services different from their own practices: Reform Jews went to the Orthodox service, while Conservative Jews went to Reform services. Following our new experiences, the cohort had a profound discussion regarding similarities, differences and opinions they encountered. Perpetuating our Jewish culture, the cohort guide, Shido, gave the group a tour of the Old City, of the Jewish Quarters in particular; many of the stories he shared dated back thousands of years! The group indulged in a juvenile pleasure as they sat upon the stone outside the Old City and watched cars attempt to exit the Zion Gates: drivers usually received an applause upon their success. Our tour finished with an excellent view of the Western Wall and the area around it, as well as the Dome of the Rock and parts of the Muslim quarter. Finally, our guardians allowed us the privilege of roaming Ben Yahuda Street. Many view this area equivalent to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.Additionally, the fellows had the fortunate coincidence of running into other Diller teen groups, such as Baltimore, New Jersey, San Francisco and Montreal. Many purchased jewelry and clothing, while others purchased the delicious foods offered, such as Shwarma and Falafels. This was definitely a great way to finish up our limited time in such a cultured city!
Elyse Werksman and Kyle Wasserman
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