After a visit to the Shrine of the Book and seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls, we split into groups and competed in another amazing Stav Scavenger Hunt. Genesis ran away with her Calgary buddies and I went with the boys. We creatively hunted down the artefacts and stopped to take in some of the majesty along the way.
I was sure to point out the sand on the floor of the reconstructed Suriname synagogue and, while I stopped to take a photo, the boys had moved into the adjoining room filled with Megilot from Europe. Noam came up running: "Moreh Ari, we found scrolls! They're really cool!" Well, now, isn't that just the whole point of the museum... Even cuter, though, was that I then found them huddled over the 400 year old Book of Esther singing chapter 1 to the tune of All Around the Mulberry Bush just as Robin taught them in grade 1. And isn't that just the whole point of the trip...
We actually spent about two hours at the museum and I was really impressed with the way we all had lots of fun and also clearly appreciated the improbable context of the exhibits.
After a stop in the shade, we were back at the hotel for supper and Havdallah before heading out to Ben Yehuda Street for the first non-matza meal. In the morning it was off to Caesaria where the penpals awaited!
Caesaria and Acre present some essential points in the struggle to understand the predicaments of being a modern Jew. As a Jew in Herod's time, when everyone else was praying to the Roman gods before watching a play at the theater, should you enjoy the play or boycott and ostracize yourself? Should you cheer as the Jewish slaves are slain in the gladiator pits? How far do we go these days? Good thing we kind of touched on that stuff in class, because the Israelis showed up and there was no learning goin on after that!! If you want to know about Acre you'll have to check another blog.
The reunion was everything you would expect, it doubled the size of the group, and it quadrupled the noise level on the bus! Next we got to the Druze village for a solid lunch and they were loud there. If they like the sound of their voices, why are they trying to make each other deaf? But they were very nice listening to the Druze man explain his village and culture. He himself was a soldier and gave a well spoken presentation. Our kids asked questions and it was a little break from the noise. We dropped everyone off and sent them to be noisy at the homes of their host families. I expect calls from the Kibbutz guards tomorrow, but I can't help it if Canadians and Israelis just can't contain their excitement.
I'm very excited to see the mifgash starting off so energetically. I'm really happy to be reacquainting myself with chametz, and I'm grateful we had such a meaningful and fun time in the Jerusalem phase of the program.
Shavua tov!
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