Friday - Day 8
Ok, picking up again. I was sick Friday with a bad cold, so I did not go to Yad Vashem with the group. The weather had turned cold since we left Ramon, and it didn't help. I got some Claritin from a pharmacy(had to try 2 since the first was closed for vacation), and felt better by Friday night. Ann went to Yad Vashem and said it had been significantly improved since the last time we had been there. A new building and a new order of the exhibit. She was impressed, thet they had updated since the Holocaust Museum in DC had done such a good job.
Friday night we went to Tsur Hadassah for services. This is what was called a suburb, but felt more like an exurb. The little Reform community had fought for a building from the state, and finally got essentially a one room school house. It was a pre-fab building and very stark. A nice service and we spoke for a while with the members. The Reform movement seems to have very few native Israelis, and many English speakers. Our contact was a Canadian immigrant, and many of the families had at least 1 immigrant. We went to dinner afterward with some of the "mixed" families. This was a very pleasant experience. The families were artistic, and worked in metalsmithing and jewelry. We spoke of Ellen's current endeavors in Seattle. The other family did ceramics, and it turned out that the mezuzzah we have on our door at home was made by him! Very small world indeed. They have a small shop in Jerusalem, and he sells in America as well. We'll try to get him into the Temple Micah shop! On the drive back to the synagogue, the thermometer in the car read 6 degrees C, (about 41F - I SAID it was cold!!!)
Saturday - Day 9
Shabbat is Shabbat, especially in Israel. The pace is very slow and there is a very restful quality to it. We awoke late and meandered over to the Armenian and Christain Quarters of the Old City. Pottery and more pottery. It is still cold, but moderating some. I am not shivering in my sweatshirt.
We had Havdallah on the roof which was short and sweet. Also cold since it was outside.
Dinner at El Gaucho, a South American restaurant. Good steaks, and even chicken for Ann. The waitress was a very cute immigrant from Chile who somehow managed to speak English with an Israeli accent.
Sunday - Day 10
Sunday is Yom Rishon, the First Day, a regular work day. Everything is open and busy. We went to the Hadassah hospital on Mt. Scopus to get the usual hospital tour. For those who don't know, this hospital was the original hospital built in the 1930s. After the 1948 War of Independence, it fell into Jordanian hands and was converted to horse stables and destroyed. O Jerusalem has a terrific explanation of the fight for and loss of this area. Hadassah built another hospital in the Ein Kerem neighborhood in western Jerusalem (with the Chagall windows). After 1967, they built a new hospital on Mt. Scopus, and have expanded it. It serves a mixed Arab/Jewish population.
Then to Mt. Herzl, the Arlington Cemetery of Israel. This cemetery has the remains of Theodore Herzl, the founder of Zionism. We couldn't get close to his grave site since the army was rehearsing for the parade and marching in preparation of Independence day, Yom Haatzmaut in April. We went to Rabin's grave, and Danny gave a very moving talk and prayer. The Herzl museum was a little hokey, but tried to give some explanation of his vision for a homeland for all the Jews.
The closing dinner is tonight, and we should see my friend Joe Lowe afterwards. He was a resident with me at Ein Kerem in 1978, and we have kept in touch over the years. He has hosted the wandering Rockower Jews on many occasions, and I often catch up with him at the AAOS meetings in the states. This year it was in New Orleans during this trip. I chose to come here instead but luckily he has returned in time for a meeting.
Tomorrow back to the heat in Eilat and then on to Petra. I'm not sure of the internet accessability, but I'll try.
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