Today we explored what it’s like in Jerusalem during Shabbat. We started off the morning in an untraditional Shabbat way by doing a graffiti tour of Jerusalem. We learned what it’s like to be in the shoes of a graffiti artist and why their message is so important that they are willing to break the law and possibly get arrested. After jumping into the shoes of a graffiti artist we then walked around Jerusalem and took a deep dive into the meanings of certain graffiti and learned each graffiti artist’s story by looking at the graffiti. It was a very interesting experience to see how even the smallest drawing can have a significant meaning.
After the graffiti tour we spent time getting to know the Israelis who were with us for a Mifgash (get together) better with a shinshinim run “restaurant”. We were all asked certain questions and learned more about each other through our answers. It was really cool to learn about how the Israelis live and be able to create friendships with new people.
We then got ready and headed to the Old City. There we learned about the history of Jerusalem and how four different groups of people all live together and consider the city to be their holiest spot. We explored how the walls built have changed places over time and how the old city has transformed since the time of King David. During our time in the old city we also got the chance to pray to what might one day be a temple again at the western wall. This was a very meaningful moment that made me feel more connected to Judaism. It was a feeling I’ve never had before while at the Kotel.
In the evening, we had a Havdala service to end our Shabbat in the holiest city in the world. It brought us closer to each other and was such a meaningful way to end our Shabbat experience as a group. But though Shabbat was over, we had the evening ahead of us, and our final activity was a silent disco with Guru Zuzu. This was our final moment to connect with our Israeli friends, as the Mifgash was coming to an end. It was really cool to see how by just dancing in the street we could connect to so many people not even just in our group, but all over the city. It was a great way to end the night before we headed back to the hotel. The icnext Shabbat experience in Jerusalem was a mix of fun, unique activities, meaningful experiences and ways to connect to our Jewish roots. It was a meaningful, unique way to spend Shabbat.