07/08/2014
Shorashim Bus 314
Our fourth of July, Birthright day five, started out in Jerusalem. We took off for Yad Vashem bright and early, to visit and tour Israel's Holocaust Memorial on Mt. Herzl. Yad Vashem is a museum structured unlike any other, with the unique architecture adding to the tour experience. The museum is designed to not only lead you through the story and history of the Holocaust via its information, but also subtly manipulate your physical experience. The museum's structure starts wide, but then goes on to narrow as the sufferings of the Holocaust amount, finally releasing into the refreshing broad light of day as patrons exit to look out on to a spectacular view of Israel, gently reminding us where we stand today, as we take in the vista. The heat from the Israeli summer and the light from the early afternoon elicited a feeling of relief, like a deep tense breath had been released. Our usually talkative group found ourselves in a reverent quiet as we took in the past couple hours and an ending to the tour that reminded us that it is our duty to not allow the faces and sufferings of those affected by the Holocaust fade into history.
The rest of the day was far less intense, as we walked the streets of Nachlaot in a specific strip called "the shuk" - a market street lined with shops selling everything from fruit, to pastries, to clothing, to coffee; with sales people calling from their booth to you as you walked by. As this unique Jerusalem neighborhood prepared for Shabbat, our task was to each bring a snack from the shook for Oneg. Oneg, if you are unfamiliar, is an intimate gathering where we as a group enjoy sweets and snacks together after our Shabbat dinner.
After the shuk, we returned to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat - this meant some much needed rest and relaxation, after the intense morning and chaotic afternoon. Come Shabbat, our amazing Shabbat committee got us in the mood for the celebration, by having us sing song and arrange for the boys to bring each girl a rose and ask them to be their dinner date. The Shabbat committee led the traditional Shabbat prayers, and then, finally, we sat down to Shabbat dinner. Going through the prayers with the group was interesting, because not everyone comes to Israel with the same depth of exposure to Judaism. There are some who do Shabbat every week and then there are those for whom this is the first time ever hearing these prayers.
During Oneg, we played a couple of games, and then were released from group activities for the evening, though none of us stopped having fun together. I would say, and I'm sure that many of us share this opinion, that after Shabbat dinner and going into Shabbat on Saturday was our best night together thus far. It was the end of day four, we were finally comfortable with each other (aka finally knew everyone's names) and could really spend the night in the bonding and hanging out in the lobby of our hotel. A guitar was brought out, a deck of cards was found, and needless to say, we took advantage of being able to sleep in the following morning.
The next day started off with some much needed sleeping in before a day that I know I was personally looking forward to very much. My roommate woke me up by saying, "Dude, you're getting Bat Mitzvah-ed in like, 20 minutes. You better get up!" This was the day that anyone who hadn't had a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or wanted to have a second one in Jerusalem was able to do so. I had grappled with this, but after spending time with the group, I found that I was more than willing to open myself up and be vulnerable with the group, so I decided to take advantage of an opportunity that I would surely regret if passed up, and have my first and only Bat Mitzvah. In Israel, in Jerusalem - an absolutely mind blowing opportunity.
As I told the group in my "speech" to them, I was not born Jewish, but in fact converted to Judaism June 12, 2011. I had wanted to for a decade, since I was 13, and finally did it after college. I won't go into my whole long story, but I certainly was happy to open myself up to the group and tell it to my newfound friends. I had been worried that if I told the group I had converted, that I would some how come off looking like fraud, like an outsider trying to weasel my way in to a culture, but no Jew I've encountered has given confirmation to my insecurities, and this group was no exception. After telling my story and being Bat Mitzvahed, I was once again welcomed into the open arms of the Jewish community, by way of this wonderful group of people - my first real Jewish community of peers. I could not be happier to have told my story, and ousted myself as a convert because I will return home with the memories of the incredible encouragement, hugs, tears and love that I received to bolster myself whenever I feel insecure again. I will always be grateful for this specific group of people for letting me know that honesty and revealing my true self is way more rewarding than trying to fit in, and hiding my history. If any of you are reading this, thank you so much, you have no idea how wonderful you made me feel. If any of you parents are reading this, congratulations - you raised some awesome people.
Two other guys, brothers, in the group were also re-Bar Mitzvah-ed to claim their identity as a Jew as their own, and to confirm that it is in fact their choice to continue to be Jewish - not just something they did as kids. Watching them speak beneath the trees as these three Bar/Bat Mitzvah's took place, in the calm Jerusalem breeze, was truly a unique experience, and something I think we'll all remember.
The duration of the day was spent resting and relaxing, in typical Shabbat fashion. Some of us went to the park, and some of us stayed at the hotel to nap, repack our suitcases, or spend some time on the hotel's wifi. The day ended with the Havdallah to mark the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the week, followed by a trip to Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem's main shopping district, for dinner. Strolling back to the hotel after dinner, on the streets of Jerusalem, was a perfect way to end a near perfect day.
-Caitlin
