Dear friends,

It's been quite a week! Extremely busy but lots of fun. (I'm so happy it's Friday and I have the day off!)

On Tuesday, we had a tiyul to a few sites relating to the War of Independence in Israel and the reunification of Yerushalayim in 1967. We saw the castel, a fort over which there had been quite a battle. It overlooks a road that connected Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv, so when it was in Arab hands, it was impossible for Jewish travelers to get to Yerushalayim...they would be bombarded with gunfire. How they got the castel was fascinating. For a while, it was in Jewish hands, but then they were forced to retreat after Arabs attacked the castel from every side (it was surrounded by Arab villages). The Jews decided to try to take back the castel right away, and, amazingly, the Arabs had left it completely unguarded. Not a single soldier left to guard it. Obviously, the Jews simply took control over it without single shot being fired...what a miracle.

Everyone's favorite part of the tiyul was visiting Har Adar, where they had several tanks that we could explore. We had such a great time climbing to the top of the tanks, although they were so high up, that the short ones (like me!) had trouble getting down!! One of my tall friends easily hopped down and then helped me down!! It was hilarious. We had so much fun!

The next day was Yom Yerushalayim. Yom Yerushalyim celebrates the day in 1967 that Yerushalayim was reunified. For the first time in 1900 years, the Western Wall was in Jewish hands!! Thank GD! Now just to clarify, the Jews were under attack by the Palestinians. They neither started the war nor aimed to take over the part of Yerushalayim in Arab hands. However, because of the war, the Israelis ended up gaining this land, and Jews could finally pray at the Kotel (the Western Wall) once again. (As a sidenote, the same thing happened when Israel was formed. The Jews were offered a very small part of Israel, mostly the desert, and they agreed. The Palestinians, however, refused, and fought the not-yet-Israelis. Israeli wins resulted in a much larger portion of land than they had initially agreed to!

Yom Yerushalyim was incredibly moving and beautiful. There were thousands of people in the Old City, singing, dancing, and waving Israeli flags. I can't imagine that if I studied in Israel 45 years earlier that I wouldn't have been able to visit the Kotel whenever I wanted. Now, whenever I feel the desire, I hop on a bus and go pray at the Kotel. Thank Gd!

Now it's almost time for Shabbat. I'm staying in Har Nof this Shabbos and spending time with my wonderful roommates.

Love from Yerushalayim,
Rachel

P.S. The pictures are a "before and after" picture from Lag B'Omer (the trash heaps that the kids compiled to turn into bonfires) and then a couple of photos from Yom Yerushalayim at the Kotel. Enjoy!