news-record.com

Judy Groner, the head of school at B'nai Shalom Day School, kept a travel journel as she helped shepherd students to Israel.

May 12
9 p.m., Jerusalem

It is finally evening in Jerusalem and a cool breeze is gently blowing outdoors.

We arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at 9 a.m. (Israel time) and went directly to Jerusalem's Old City. After viewing the Old City from its ramparts, we departed for Mahane Yehuda, an open-air market on Jaffa Road. Students enjoyed exploring the fruit and vegetable stalls as well as sampling some of Jerusalem's best chumus, dried nuts and spices. We kept everyone moving in order to make sure that everyone stayed awake!

After a pleasant dinner at the Fuchsberg Center, students are in their rooms showering, unpacking and organizing their belongings. Everyone is in good spirits and quite tired. A "late" wake-up of 7 a.m. will precede a day of exploring the roots of Jewish Jerusalem, beginning with the City of David and Hezekiah's tunnels.

The weather is quite warm and sunny. Winifred and I constantly remind kids to drink water, wear hats and put on sunscreen.

All of our students are getting along well with each other and with the Tampa Hillel students. Every piece of luggage arrived on time. Former BSDS teacher Orna Tal greeted us at the airport with cold drinks and chocolate. The food has been excellent all around and quite plentiful.

May 13
5 a.m., Jerusalem

Morning is breaking over Jerusalem as the sky changes from black to an increasing lighter shade of blue. Although the sun has not yet risen, the sounds of the city waft into the hostel's open window, where I sit at my room desk. The eighth graders slumber quietly, sleeping off the effects of two very busy days of walking, tasting, and learning the culture of their new home in Jerusalem.

Yesterday, they uncomplainingly walked about 8 miles - underground in water, in Hezekiah's tunnels, through the alleys of the Jewish quarter, to and from Ben Yehuda. I have yet to hear one complaint about the pace, the long days, or the food. The students see Jerusalem with eyes wide open, from the glistening fruit at Mahane Yehuda to the variously dressed ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups visiting the Kotel.

And being good Jewish kids, they ask questions - lots of questions. They seem to recollect their recent recitation of the "one who does not know to ask" in the Pesach Haggadah, and they respond to our tour educators with answers to their queries - and then with good questions of their own. As parents, you should be proud of your thoughtful and knowledgeable children.

Before we left Greensboro, we spent some time talk ing about ourselves as a group. We noted that while we are aware of each other's little quirks and characteristics, others who are just meeting the group may not. Our students took this conversation to heart, and have divided easily into groups, making new friends with others, and generally setting an example of inclusiveness. The Tampa group has responded accordingly, and now the groups have begun to blend.

Today, we are off to the coast and then the Galilee. We will begin at historic Caesarea and continue to a Druze village, ending the day in Tiberias and Kibbutz Ein Gev after an afternoon hike in Nahal Kelach. Though the trip is physically demanding, the kids have helped each other up hills and encouraged one another when frightened to walk through dark tunnels or climb a steep and rocky hill.

We will return to Jerusalem on Erev Shabbat in order to experience the quiet end to a very busy week in the world's holiest city.

It was a great day in the Old City with water tunnels, Kotel tunnels, Jewish Quarter and a great deal of walking. The kids were able to eat dinner in small groups by choosing food on Ben Yehuda. Students have all made new friends and are getting along well.

May 14
11 p.m., Ein Gev

Winifred and I are sitting at a picnic table listening to the quiet waves of the Kinneret as the students shower and get ready for another full day tomorrow.

We left Jerusalem early in order to avoid the Bush motorcade. Streets were already blocked off by 6 a.m. this morning. Taking the Route 6 north, we began the day in Caesarea with a tour of the amphitheatre and ruins. The class gave a review rendition of their Zimriyah song "Pitom Banu" on the stage and played gladiator games in the sand. The girls dipped their feet in the Mediterranean Sea before we reboarded the bus to Usifiya on the Carmel Ridge.

Visiting a Druze family at home, we learned about Druze culture and religion and were served a delicious lunch. Most of the students willingly tried new foods, including wonderful hummus, eggplant, lentils and salad. From Usifiya, we proceeded to the Carmel Forest and Nahal Kelach, where we hiked up and down the rock-strewn mountain. The breathtaking scenery made up for the warm temperatures and strenuous hike. Eighth graders did very well on the rocky paths.

Passing by the fields of the Lower Galilee, we continued to Tiberias for dinner on the Kinneret and then settled in at Kibbutz Ein Gev for the night.

Tomorrow morning we will begin the day with tefillot at the shore of the Kinneret, followed by a jeep ride on the Golan Heights.

May 15
midnight, Ein Gev

What a long and full day the eighth graders have had today! The morning began with an unusual weather event for May in Israel - thunder and lightning and pouring rain! Fortunately, none of the kids were around to witness the event, as it occurred at 5 a.m., when they were soundly asleep. By the time we gathered for tefillot by the Kinneret at 7:45 a.m., the sun was shining brightly and only the wet chairs remained as evidence of the quirky spring weather.

After breakfast, open jeeps awaited the group for a ride up through the Golan Heights on dirt roads, in shallow streams and over cobbled paths. The kids in my jeep loved picking fresh grapefruit out of the jeep windows and marveled at how wonderful they smelled and tasted - quite different from the ones they knew from home. Students also tried unripe mangos and grapes and apples that were quite tiny.

The bus met us several hours later and to continue up the Golan Heights to Har Bental. Gazing over Emek HaBachah into Syria, students understood the panic of soldiers surrounded by Syrian tanks during the Yom Kippur war. Pizza was delivered to our next stop at Elrom (it is amazing how "take out" in Israel may mean delivery to the middle of nowhere) and eighth graders eagerly consumed several boxes worth.

A brief stop at the shoe factory of Kibbutz Naot Mordechai (Naot Shoes and Sandals) injected some new life into the Israeli economy.

Next on the agenda was a hike in the nature preserve of Tel Dan. Though we were expecting a dry path, the trail included some dips into Nahal Snir (Hatzbani) and slippery paths still wet from the morning downpour. Our hot and sticky bodies crowded into the bus to travel south once again to reach our evening activity at Hamat Gader. The hot spring pools beautifully positioned on the border of Israel, Jordan and Syria were a welcome relief after a busy day of learning and hiking.

May 16
11 a.m., Tel Aviv

We are sitting on the bus in a Tel Aviv traffic jam on the way to Ben Gurion's home. Students dressed in the second century style rode donkeys through the Kfar Kedem Forest this morning in order to re-enact Mishnaic times.

Following a visit to the famous Tel Aviv crafts market Nahalat Binyamin, we return to Jerusalem for Shabbat. Everyone enjoyed viewing crafts and speaking to vendors (even using their Hebrew!). We look forward to a restful Shabbat in Jerusalem.

May 17
11:30 p.m., Jerusalem

We all had a restful Shabbat with interesting and melodic tefillot at two neighborhood synagogues. Ben Stern and Ben F. were honored with aliyot at Shir Hadash, and the entire class was welcomed by the rabbi at Reform Synagogue Kol HaNeshama. Students are preparing for bed after a post-Havdalah excursion to Ben Yehuda Street.

May 17
11:30 p.m., Roded, Negev Desert

We are getting ready for bed and a 3:30 a.m. wake-up time tomorrow for our climb up the challenging Snake Path to Masada. Today's highlights included an archeological dig at Beit Guvrin, cave crawling at Midras and lunch at the Rosemans' beautiful home in Gedara. Students particularly enjoyed our camel ride in the desert, followed by traditional Bedouin hospitality. We are about to camp out in one big tent together.

Laila tov from the Negev Desert south of Arad!

May 18
6 p.m., Jerusalem

We just returned to the Fuchsberg Center to pack for two days in southern Israel. This morning, eighth graders toured and volunteered at Yad LeKashish (Lifeline for the Elderly) in Jerusalem. Their knowledge of Hebrew, Spanish and Russian came in handy when communicating with the many elderly immigrants working in the various craft workshops. Boys learned how to embroider, paint and bind books. Several students learned the art of making ceramic beads. All were impressed at this wonderful institution's mission of providing meaningful work for the indigent elderly of Jerusalem. Many of our kids contributed their tzedakah money there as well. Ben Stern presenting the proceeds of our school tzedakah box to the staff at Yad LeKashish.

At lunchtime, we visited the "Mifletzet" in the Kiryat HaYovel neighborhood for some sliding and pizza. We then travelled back in time for 3800 years and visited Eretz Beresheet, learning about hospitality provided in the time of Avraham and his servant, Eliezer.

After we finish packing for two busy days in the Negev, we will go to the Malcha Mall for some dinner options, including Kosher Burger King. All of the kids have been eating well (no complaints!) and many eagerly try new foods each day.

The Shabbat experience provided a needed rest after a week of hiking, learning and less sleep than usual. Students were amazed at the familiar tunes they heard at Reform Kol HaNeshama in the Baka neighborhood. They commented on the quiet streets and enjoyed walking through the city Erev Shabbat and Shabbat morning. Several of our kids ran into friends from camp - providing the ultimate Israel experience and proving that Jerusalem is the center of the Jewish world. In the last few days, I ran into a former roommate from graduate school (now a rabbi in Baltimore), a friend from college, an AHA graduate from a few years back, and a rabbi who once applied to a job in Greensboro - small world indeed.

Your children continue to prove themselves to be true "mentches," helping each other when the need arises, comforting each other, cheering each other on. Winifred and I both enjoy every day. with them (and we'll have some good stories to tell upon our return!).

May 20
5:15 a.m., Jerusalem

Dawn is visible once again over the Old City of Jerusalem. Our hostel is situated in such a way that we see the sun rise outside our windows each morning.

Yesterday's activities were extensive. On Monday night, we learned about Bedouin culture and then took the kids out to the hills around our encampment to write letters to themselves. This period of solitary contemplation is one of the most meaningful parts of our trip. Each student spent almost an hour contemplating the Israel experience and writing him or herself a letter to be mailed next December from B'nai Shalom. They approached this task with the utmost seriousness. The scenery surrounding them was stunning - desert hills bathed in the glow of the setting sun and then in the moonlight of the full moon. After a delicious dinner in the tent, we showered off the effects of a very dirty day (particularly from the cave digging and crawling) and went to sleep in our Bedouin tent at about midnight. By 3:15 a.m., however, it was time to get up, have a cup of tea and board the bus to Masada. Most of the class chose to climb the Snake Path up the mountain. This is a steep 45 minute hike, and everyone who attempted it made it to the top successfully. We met up with those who climbed the Roman Ramp and davened Shaharit as the sun rose over the hills of Moab in Jordan.

We toured Masada and the reconstructed ruins, had breakfast at Masada's Youth Hostel and traveled a short distance north to Ein Gedi. Off the bus again, we hiked to the springs and bathed in the deliciously cool water. From there, we continued to the Dead Sea for mud baths and floating in the salty water.

By the time we boarded our bus to Jerusalem, we were tired, even though it was only 3 p.m.. It was a very quiet ninety minute ride back to the city. In the evening, students had their choice of dinner options in the Ben Yehuda area. Everyone gratefully headed towards bed by 10 p.m.

We begin today at Yad VaShem, the national Holocaust memorial. The afternoon includes a hike at Sataf. This evening's dinner will celebrate the beginning of the end of our trip, as tomorrow's dinner will be en route to the airport.

May 21
Jerusalem

We began this very hot day at Yad VaShem, the Israeli national Holocaust memorial. Students toured the Children's Memorial, railroad car and Valley of the Communities, concluding the visit with a short memorial service. The class respectfully lighted six candles. As we recited Kaddish, a yellow butterfly flew into our circle. The significance of this unusual occurrence did not escape notice by our very savvy children, who went on to recite a prayer for the State of Israel and to sing HaTikvah.

In the afternoon, the group hiked to the Sataf spring in the mountains outside Jerusalem. We are now on the way back from the tank museum at Latrun for showers before dinner and packing. Tomorrow we will visit Mt. Herzl military cemetery.

May 22
5 p.m., Jerusalem

We are on our way back to Jerusalem from Harel Mall in Mevaseret Zion. Students enjoyed kosher McDonald's or other meal choices. This morning, they had the opportunity to pray individually at the Kotel and insert notes they wrote. Afterwards, we continued to Har Herzl where we learned about Herzl and other leaders of the state. Our time in the military section was particularly moving, as our guides told stories at their friends' graves. A man at his father's grave asked our kids to stand with him and form a minyan so that he could say Kaddish. Throughout this trip, the 8th graders have shown themselves to be serious, thoughtful and dedicated to learning.

We look forward to continue our stories upon our return to Greensboro. Shalom from Jerusalem!