Shalom from Israel!
We’re writing to you from the Old
City of Jerusalem. It’s Tuesday evening and a cool breeze is blowing through
the “Rova” courtyard. The sounds of happy students fill the air. We’re
digesting a fabulous meal of Israeli salad, quiche/ lasagna, and brownies. The
brownies are enormous. According to one of our guides, Menashe, they weigh at
least 1 kilo each.
Today, the Old City has been bustling
with tourists and groups from all over the world. We made our way from the Jaffa Gate to the
Kotel and back with many stops along the way. As we reviewed and learned new
things about this amazing city, we got to touch, taste, smell (not always a good
thing), see, and breathe Israel. In
spite of the crowds, we enjoyed access to all of the amazing highlights of the
Old City and even had time to treat the kids to Marzipan Rugulach (the single
most delicious chocolate pastry in the world—and parve for those who are interested).
These kids
are absolutely incredible. A common theme on the trip thus far is receiving
wonderful feedback about our kids from different people that we interact with:
the flight attendants, fellow passengers, the tour guide leading a group from
Uganda who ate breakfast with a group of our boys, the military personnel at
the Kotel, and so on. You should see the chaperones beaming with pride as we
tell folks that we’re from The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy in Atlanta, GA.
They’re shocked to know that the future of the Jewish people is set against the
backdrop of Gone With the Wind. But back to the kids-- it seems that somewhere
along the way these kids picked up great manners and know how to put them to
good use. Not only are they polite, but they are also genuine. When they say
“thank you” they really mean it. This makes all the difference in the world.
The kids
received their shekels today which means that the ice cream consumption has
begun. Within seconds of getting their hands on their spending money they’d
found the local makolet (mini-mart).
The amazing thing about Israel: endless
varieties of ice cream. You could literally tour the country eating ice cream
twice a day and never taste the same brand! Dunwoody Publix will seem to have
meager offerings by comparison when your kids return.
Whereas in
past years food has been a potentially tricky sea to navigate, this year
everyone is jumping right in. The hummus
flew off the buffet table last night, as did the eggplant, beef stew, Israeli
salad, olives, and of course, desert. Appetites are healthy and everyone is
staying hydrated. In place of trepidation, we have kids demanding more “Israeli
Food.” We’re only too happy to oblige!
On a social
level we’re pleased to report that the kids have been mixing it up quite a bit.
We’re fond of saying, “Israel is a great social tonic” and it is! The group has
quickly gone from being The Davis Academy Class of 2012 to The Davis Academy
Family of 2012. They’re a gregarious bunch and the trip has been characterized
by robust conversation and constant companionship for all involved.
As far as
personal responsibility goes (i.e. keeping track of one’s belongings): we
haven’t raised any money for tzedakah yet. This means that no one has left any
property behind! We fully anticipate that this will change, but for now we’re
pleasantly surprised and cautiously optimistic! Also, everyone has quickly
learned the value of sleep. The question was asked, “Are the days planned to
make us totally exhausted so we go straight to sleep?” The truth is, there’s
really no alternative. There’ll be time to relax and reenergize, but for the
most part we’re on the go.
Looking out
at the kids right now we see the girls in their Old City skirts as we’re getting
ready to head into the Kotel tunnels. From there we’ll head back to the hotel
to get some rest because tomorrow is another very full day.
So far
there have been lots of great memories and Israel has made a strong impression.
Be sure to ask your kids about the following: The Hasidim on the flight to
Israel, the salad bar at the hotel, Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel, visiting the Kotel
for the first time, and interacting with Israeli school children their age (who
are anything but shy!).
On behalf of all the chaperones know that we are honored to
be here and loving the opportunity to get to know these kids even better as
they get to know themselves and one another in richer and deeper ways as well. More to follow soon!
Shalom,
Micah and Jamie
