July 29: Jerusalem

(1) We began our first morning in Israel by having bagels from a deli off Ben Yehuda Street... because that isn't the most Jewish thing one could possibly do. After we were done proving the truths behind stereotypes, we set off for the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum. Established in 1953 by an act of the Israeli Knesset, Yad Vashem is located on Har Hazikaron, the Mount of Rememberance. (photo: www.yadvashem.org)

(2) This garden pays tribute to the approx. 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust. Needless to say, this was one of the downer portions of the trip. However, just because it is painful, does not mean it should be overlooked. As with these museums and memorials, people should also visit the concentration camps in Europe, just to get a taste of how terrible the atrocities were, and a feel for the horror endured by the prisoners.

(3) Next activity! To brighten our spirits, we ventured over to the Holyland Hotel to get a glimpse of an exact replication of Jerusalem as it looked in 66 A.D. before the Romans ransacked the city. The hotel's late proprietor, Hans Kroch, envisioned and oversaw construction of this model, which was built upon a magnificent hill to a 1:50 scale using authentic materials (stone, marmor, steel). I vaguely recall seeing a sign that instructed visitors not to take photographs of the model of the old city, but I've never really been good at following directions. However, come to think of it... I'm in the photo. That means mom is the true culprit. Authorities, arrest this woman!