Happy August!

Well the MBIers welcomed August with a day of learning, reflection, and introspection on their pasts and the collective pasts of Israelis and the Jewish people. The morning began with each bus going to Yad Vashem(Israel's Holocaust Museum) where they received a guided tour. The museum which was which was renovated 2 years has a unique design being a sort of long triangle that at the end there are windows piping light. In order to reach the light you have to criss-cross through each section of the museum, which spans from before the Holocaust looking at communities, through the end of the war exploring the many difficult topics and some of the more inspirational tales of righteous gentiles and the youth movements role in the war. The tour tries to focus on some of the aspects of the Holocaust without trying to overwhelm everyone too much by the enormity and difficulty inherent.

Afterwards the MBIers headed to Har(Mount) Herzl to get a tour and learn more about many of Israel's great leaders and historical figures buried there. Both Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin are buried there and being Israel's military cemetery, soldiers who fall in combat are buried there as well. It is an important place to see and learn about Israel's past and reflect on the hardships Israel has endured to exist as it does today in 2007.

In going through this very powerful day it was decided to be too much to do the Sataf hike and instead the groups sat together to process everything they saw and heard. It was a chance to ask questions, share feelings and emotions and try to discuss the signicance of everything they experienced.

The day ended on a lighter note as they returned to Nes Harim where they had a Medurah(campfire). There various MBIers performed various comedic acts, skits, sang songs, and generally celebrated being in Israel and being together as a group. It was a great way to end the day and affirm their collective experiences and to balance out the emotional day they had.

Tomorrow the buses will be heading to the Museum on the Seam in Jerusalem. They will also be going to the Shiloah Pool which is where one of the oldest aqueducts in the world is located. They will get to go hike Sataf and its springs in the hills around Jerusalem. The MBIers will also go to Mishkenot Sheananim which is of the first neighborhoods outside the old city to get a tour. Before they head back to Nes Harim the MBIers will make a stop in Abu-Ghosh for some of their famous and delicious hummus as well as knafe which is a delicious, warm Arab pastry that while being bright orange is filled with a sweet goat cheese filling and is definitely something to go out of your way to try at least once in your life. In the evening they will have a peula with their bus.

In terms of free weekend. The Saturday night drop-off for every location will be at 8:30pm. The buses will be at each location ready to go then so please make sure to be there on time. Also I have a small personal request to please try to call our office phone during office hours rather than my cellphone. Usually I am in my office from 9-6 so it would be appreciated to try to reach me there if possible.