An Amazing Shabbat in the North!
Today, we got to experience our first of the two Shabbats we will observe here in Israel.
During Shabbat, we focus on relaxation. We want to rid our minds of stress and take time to focus on fellowship and peace. We opened the day with an optional breakfast, where birthrighters could come and go as they pleased. From there, the morning was open for us to do an activity of our choice. Many of us enjoyed some yoga, reading, and catching up on sleep.
Later, we met up for a morning discussion complete with many memorable moments. We read some passages from the Torah and then acted out skits in small groups. We shared many, many laughs. After that, we took another short break and then shared in a wonderful Shabbat lunch consisting of pasta, salad, fresh fruit, and many other good things.
During the afternoon, we enjoyed more relaxation time up. Many of us went to the pool or enjoyed a game of basketball on the basketball court. Others took a long nap to catch up on sleep or called their family and friends to give updates.
In the evening, we met up for a long group discussion complete with many memorable moments. We had a few icebreakers where everyone got to talk about their likes and dislikes about everyday chores. It worked, because we soon launched a very long and intense discussion about what Judaism and "being Jewish" means to each of us. During this discussion, many birthrighters poured out their hearts and discussed very controversial topics. By the end, each one of us felt very emotional.
At 8:15, our entire group met on the lawn for a Shabbat closing ceremony. We sang in Hebrew and lit a Habdallah candle as we closed out our Shabbat together. It was a beautiful moment that most of us will always remember. Shortly thereafter, we got on the bus and went to a shopping center to enjoy dinner out on the town.
We broke into small groups. My group went to McDonald's, which, in Israel, turned out to be quite a unique experience. The picture below shows one of their most popular items - the Big America burger.
On our way back to the bus, we noticed that one of the shops in the center had caught fire and was filled with smoke. It was quite a sight to see.
Back on the bus, we headed back to the guest houses at Kibbutz Afik, excited to see what our trip to Tzfat and Tel Aviv would bring tomorrow.