Today was another fantastic day in Israel. To continue our
venture, we drove to the community of Neve Shalom. The literal translation of
Neve Shalom is Oasis of Peace, which is a perfect description of the
atmosphere. In response to the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians in
Israel, the founders of Neve Shalom created a society in which all people from
both religions could learn to accept and love one another. A member of the
community spoke to us about his journey at Neve Shalom, and inspired us to
appreciate the success being accomplished there. Next, we drove to the
Children’s Museum, where we experienced the “Invitation to Silence”. In this
exhibit, we were given noise blocking headphones, and were restricted from
speaking. We were given a glimpse into the life of the deaf as we pursued
several activities with the help of a deaf guide. Post tour, we were able to
ask our guide questions, which she responded to in sign language that was
translated to us. This experience was extremely eye opening. Often we take for granted
our natural senses, however this experience gave us a newfound appreciation.
Next, we drove to Jerusalem, the capital city and heart of
Israel. To juxtapose our thus far modern view of Israel, the Old City has deep
history of rich culture. We traveled through time and discovered the unique
background of Jerusalem. Israel is the home of so many cultures, and we were
able to see this through walking on historical land. To conclude our tour, we
visited the Western Wall, the Kotel. This is a famously meaningful site. Finally,
we went to Ben Yehuda Street and either shopped or met with visitors. Overall,
this day was an amazing look into the history of diversity of Israel.
Spencer Schwartz
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