Leaving Jerusalem

Shalom,

Our departure from Jerusalem marks another step in our tour of Israel and brings forth some fond memories. Last night, two of our soldiers, Sarit & Ariel came back to the hotel to see us only one day after saying goodbye to the group in Tel-Aviv. Experiencing Israel would not have been the same without the three lovely soldiers who accompanied us for only 5 days, so props to them.
Yesterday, we went to the military cemetery and Yad Vashem and if their was an over arching idea to the day it was that life is short. We saw graves of soldiers who died in battle and pictures of Jews digging their own graves in camps to savor the last few breathes that they had. My goal is not to make this journal to somber but to reflect on possibly the two most important sites on this trip. We must take advantage of the opportunities and time that we have because life comes and goes and if we slow down for a minute, we'll miss it.
Today, we're going hiking in Ein Gedi and tomorrow will be our last day to soak in the sun and the beautiful landscape. Last night, Ben pointed out all of the natural scenery such as the mountains, canyons, deserts, rocks and beaches. He made a good point in mentioning that while we do have these things in the US they are not concentrated in one small area like they are here. It is awesome to think that our ancestors inhibited this land a couple of thousand years ago. Today it is a place where Jews can live, visit, and connect with one another. Last night, I stayed up until 3am chatting with a girl named Michaela about our South African experiences, swapping stories from trips and learning about one another. Just sitting in the hallway. I realized then that this is what Israel is all about. Earlier in the trip we were asked what kind of relationship each of us had with Israel. Today I know the answer. My answer at least when David Ben Gurion declared the Jewish State in Independence Hall in 1948, he did it so that Jews like Michaela and I could sit in the halls of the Shalom Hotel in Israel. I suppose Judaism in general is about connecting and making new friends and forming new relationships.
With only two days left, and after 8 days filled with excitement, energy, and a little Israeli adventure, I am not ready to leave. Before I came on this trip, I did not understand what attracted people to Israel, after all, it is in the Middle East. But after learning from Jason, an extremely spiritual artist, I am beginning to understand the attraction. When I am sitting in class back at Cornell, I may not recall all of the facts of the land, but I will remember the people and places and maybe one day in the future I'll come back and do it all again.

Todah Raba,
Mike Reiss