Jerusalem. Part 2

We travelled towards Ramlah in the West Bank and stopped at the security fence. This massive concrete wall was built to prevent terrorists from entering Israel and has been extremely effective in stopping the terrorist attacks. Anyone entering Israel from the other side must pass through strict security checks. A Palestinian man who come to our group spent three hours crossing over. Regardless of their political positions, the Israelis we spoke to about the fence all felt that it has been very effective in stopping the killings.

From the serious to the celebratory, we went to a nightclub for a performance by David Broza. This popular singer is on the par of Bruce Springsteen in Israel. While all his music was in Spanish and Hebrew, it didn't matter. He and his band performed for three straight hours. They are incredible musicians and it would be amazing to bring them to our community. Here is his website. Tell me if you agree! http://www.davidbroza.net

We ended this afternoon in the Jewish Market in Jerusalem. Being there as the city prepares for the sabbath put us right in the middle of such tumult. Anyone ever have Halvah with coffee beans? I have to tell the Crown to try and order it! We bought some bread, cheese, olives, and tangerines and had a late afternoon lunch on a vacant bench. As it got closer to closing time, the vendors became more frantic and the prices kept going down. Years ago, I was here with a staff group from Rochester and we did a scavenger hunt in Nachl'ot, a 19th century Jewish neighborhoods adjacent to the market. It was a creative, challenging and engaging way to learn about a life in this amazing city. There is now one for the Old City. Great family activity....we will add it to the itinerary of the family trip.

Tonight, most of the group headed off to Tel Aviv for a Noa concert. I decided to head down to Kibbutz Revadim to have dinner with my oldest friend, Karen, and her kids. We have known each other for close to 50 years and I cherish these too infrequent chances to visit together.

Tomorrow we get to visit some of the neighborhood synagogues in the morning and then walk though the Jewish Quarter of the Old City in the afternoon. Shabbat Shalom!