The day began with a most moving presentation by Dr. Rachel Korazim of the Israe
l Agency. With dynamism and intelligence, she placed Holocaust remembrance into the context of Israeli and American society. We are reminded that the way we have understood survival, changes with changes in society. Clearly among the best speaker we have heard so far, we were wonderfully prepared to approach Yad Vashem.
The sky was brilliantly blue as we entered the Holocaust Memorial. This was my first time to visit the new museum – a long shaft slammed into the hillside. We left the sky and underground entered into a violent world that even with my family history remains to me incomprehensible. Beautifully designed, the museum takes us on an emotional journey we cannot forget.
How to describe the experience of the Yad Vashem? Better not to limit with words. But also be charged to use words, to tell the story when we return. We exit in silence, overwhelmed with
what we have seen and felt. From beneath the ground we emerge, blinking, into the bright sunlight of a Jerusalem day. We gaze out across the hills of Jerusalem and our hearts are lifted – the Jewish people survive and thrive! We are charged to remember that what we build here and in our communities back home must honor those who were murdered. We create and live in part for those who cannot, and our Temple’s responsibility is to insure the continuation of the Jewish people.
Standing in a circle on a plaza we held a small ceremony of remembrance. The sky had become cloudy and the wind was chill, but the light fragrance of the almond trees blossoming in the winter reminded us of the earth’s own rebirth. There is hope.
Many of us took a few moments to walk through the remarkably moving Children’s Memorial, honoring the million children murdered by the Nazis. Again, there are no words.
From Yad Vashem we came out to connect to the reality of Israeli life. At the Yad Sarah center we learned about this wonderful national volunteer organization that provides free or low cost medical equipment to a
nyone who needs it. Now a major institution in Israel, housed in a beautiful modern office building, I remember when the Jerusalem center was a tiny temporary structure.The highlight of our visit 
was a hands-on workshop where in teams of three we assembled walkers to be given out to those in need. Congratulations to Bill and Sharon’s team who assembled their walker in record time! Everyone received a certificate of thanks.
From Yad Sarah we traveled to the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. There we saw the wall the community built during the Intifada after terrorists from the nearby vill
age of Beit Jalla were shooting into resident’s homes. From there we could see the security wall that has been built around Jerusalem. I recall standing at that same spot in 2001 before the wall was there – and the sense of immanent danger I had felt, now gone. Gilo has been quiet.
l Agency. With dynamism and intelligence, she placed Holocaust remembrance into the context of Israeli and American society. We are reminded that the way we have understood survival, changes with changes in society. Clearly among the best speaker we have heard so far, we were wonderfully prepared to approach Yad Vashem.The sky was brilliantly blue as we entered the Holocaust Memorial. This was my first time to visit the new museum – a long shaft slammed into the hillside. We left the sky and underground entered into a violent world that even with my family history remains to me incomprehensible. Beautifully designed, the museum takes us on an emotional journey we cannot forget.
How to describe the experience of the Yad Vashem? Better not to limit with words. But also be charged to use words, to tell the story when we return. We exit in silence, overwhelmed with
what we have seen and felt. From beneath the ground we emerge, blinking, into the bright sunlight of a Jerusalem day. We gaze out across the hills of Jerusalem and our hearts are lifted – the Jewish people survive and thrive! We are charged to remember that what we build here and in our communities back home must honor those who were murdered. We create and live in part for those who cannot, and our Temple’s responsibility is to insure the continuation of the Jewish people.Standing in a circle on a plaza we held a small ceremony of remembrance. The sky had become cloudy and the wind was chill, but the light fragrance of the almond trees blossoming in the winter reminded us of the earth’s own rebirth. There is hope.
Many of us took a few moments to walk through the remarkably moving Children’s Memorial, honoring the million children murdered by the Nazis. Again, there are no words.
From Yad Vashem we came out to connect to the reality of Israeli life. At the Yad Sarah center we learned about this wonderful national volunteer organization that provides free or low cost medical equipment to a
nyone who needs it. Now a major institution in Israel, housed in a beautiful modern office building, I remember when the Jerusalem center was a tiny temporary structure.The highlight of our visit 
was a hands-on workshop where in teams of three we assembled walkers to be given out to those in need. Congratulations to Bill and Sharon’s team who assembled their walker in record time! Everyone received a certificate of thanks.From Yad Sarah we traveled to the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. There we saw the wall the community built during the Intifada after terrorists from the nearby vill
age of Beit Jalla were shooting into resident’s homes. From there we could see the security wall that has been built around Jerusalem. I recall standing at that same spot in 2001 before the wall was there – and the sense of immanent danger I had felt, now gone. Gilo has been quiet. Over an elegant Mediterranean dinner (lots of first course salads) at the nearby restaurant “Olive & Fish” we had a very interesting discussion with the youngest Member of Knesset, Yoel Hasson. MK Hasson is a representative of the Kadima Party, the party that currently leads the coalition. A protégé of Ariel S
haron, Mr. Hasson’s views were not always in line with our own. But he gave a fascinating insight into this government’s thinking and into the geopolitical situation of today. He believes that we are in a holding pattern with the Palestinians, that Lebanon is not a big problem and that the primary concern Israel has internationally today is with Iran. He noted that in Israel George Bush is seen as one of Israel’s best friends – a reality that did not go over well with our group. Still it is clear that Mr. Hasson (who noted that he is engaged) is someone with high political aspirations. I suspect we will be seeing more of him in years to come.
After dinner there was time to reflect together on what it means to be leaving Jerusalem, and appreciating how much we have done and how much we have still to see. Carol and others around the table really moved us with their reflections.
haron, Mr. Hasson’s views were not always in line with our own. But he gave a fascinating insight into this government’s thinking and into the geopolitical situation of today. He believes that we are in a holding pattern with the Palestinians, that Lebanon is not a big problem and that the primary concern Israel has internationally today is with Iran. He noted that in Israel George Bush is seen as one of Israel’s best friends – a reality that did not go over well with our group. Still it is clear that Mr. Hasson (who noted that he is engaged) is someone with high political aspirations. I suspect we will be seeing more of him in years to come.After dinner there was time to reflect together on what it means to be leaving Jerusalem, and appreciating how much we have done and how much we have still to see. Carol and others around the table really moved us with their reflections.
I pray that we can hold on to the spiritual spark that Jerusalem has kindled through our remaining days in Israel and when we return.
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