They landed in Tel Aviv on a Sunday and I surprised them at the airport, but to my surprise I wasn't the only one there! Harris, former cantor at our temple who made aliyah a few years ago, and Maxine, another temple member in Israel in a few months, were there at the airport as well. It was great to see my Mom's face and Heather's when I too was there! We finally got out of the aiport, rented our car, then drove back up North to my apartment for dinner! After a nice evening of relaxation they went to their hotel in Akko, only about 20 minutes away. On Monday, we went up to the Kabbalistic city of Tzfat, my favorite city in Israel! It was a bit rainy but that didn't stop us from exploring the artist colony there! The colony is filled with small shops of artists and jewelers. We spent much time in one artist's shop and spoke with her for SO long, we all ended up buying a painting of hers. Mine being a picture of a balcony in Tzfat with gorgeous flowers, mine Mom's- a gift for a friend of a beautiful Tree of Life, and Heather's- a Chamsa (upside down hand, a symbol for protection). I was so excited that I could share my love for Tzfat with my mom! The next day we headed down south to Jerusalem but on the way stopped at the Tishbi Winery that you may or may not have read about in earlier posts (depending on if you actually read the stuff I write). So we went on the tour, ate bomb food, and then had a chocolate/wine/wine jelly tasting! We bought nearly every flavor of wine jelly and so many bottles of wine! After we headed down to downtown Jerusalem to stay at Agron, where I lived for the entire first semester. We went to dinner at a super good Asian restaurant and after went for dessert at my FAVORITE place in Jerusalem, Babette - the best waffles in the world and you can get anything in the world on them. My person favorite is 1/2 hot chocolate with banana and 1/2 cinnamon cream cheese (not American cream cheese - don't worry, that'd be gross). On Wednesday we set out for our Jerusalem expedition - Old City, shopping, touring, everything. We went to: the Kotel, the most colorful marketplace in the Old City, the Church of the Holy Seplecure, Ben Yehuda Street for shopping, and a ton of walking around the city. That night we had dinner at our family friend's house outside of Jerusalem and spent the night there. Thursday we went on a guided tour to the Masada mountain in the desert and then got to spend a few ours at the Dead Sea and then my Mom finally got to meet a ton of my Nativ friends! We went to dinner at a soup restaurant with one of my closest friends, Ashleigh, and her parents who were also in Israel! We all then met up with a bunch of friends for ice cream and to just chill! It was amazing having my mom meet some kids who are the most influential in my Nativ year! Friday we set out early to go to a Craft Fair that I love going to (you might have read that too!) and went to lunch again with Harris; then got ready for Shabbat! We met up with some friends and Ash's family at Shira Chadasha, the temple I got to on Friday night - the singing there just lights up my Shabbat! And after, the three of us had an AMAZING hotel dinner where we were staying. Saturday we went to a temple overlooking the Old City and then spent the day with friends in the hotel lobby. After Shabbat was over we went shopping yet again in Jerusalem and got waffles for the last time. Sunday we went to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Museum, and we headed back up to Karmiel for them to come with me to where I volunteer in the evenings in Karmiel. Sadly that night I had to say bye to my mom and Heather but luckily.. I'll be home in 2 months (luckily but also very UNlucky.. I don't want to leave!). Their visit to Israel was absolutely AMAZING and I am so glad that I got to guide them around Israel on their FIRST (hopefully of many) trip to Israel
Since then, I've just been chilling around Israel.. volunteering teaching English and working semi as a mentor at a children's village (I'll be posting an article about it soon that I wrote for The Boston Jewish Advocate). Also, I've attended a week long leadership seminar in Jerusalem and spent Purim there as well! Purim was AMAZING in Jerusalem, everyone in Israel had a Purim vacation and Jerusalem was just party central! See pictures online!
http://gallery.me.com/danabornstein
XO- Dana
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| Mom and I in front of the Kotel! |
Matt and I- Purim in Jerusalem
Purim Parade in Holon
Sean, me, and Ash- Purim Parade in Holon
Me, Amy, Ash, Becca, & Lauren- Purim, Saturday Night
Shushan Purim on Monday in Jerusalem!
Ash and I in Karmiel!
