Virtual Israel Experience

Steven Snyderman

Friday, July 13, 2001

Shalom! I am in Tel Aviv right now. Israel is wonderful! I hope you remember me. I was supposed to go on a NFTY trip but it was canceled. I then switched to the BBYO trip to Greece and Israel. You told me to keep in touch when I arrived in Israel. Well, let me tell you how everything has been.

First my BBYO trip went to Athens where we traveled all through Greece from Tolo in the west to Athens (or Athena as the Greeks call it) in the east. We traveled through many of the world's most important archaeological sites, learning about Greek culture and also Jewish culture in Greece by going to the last remaining Jewish synagogue in Athens where we watched and participated in an orthodox bar mitzvah.

The next day we went to the island of Mykonos where we stayed for about a day. This was a great break from our travels on the mainland. We lied on the warm beaches and soaked ourselves in the crystal clear waters all day. Later that night we went to the only town on the island and watched the Pelicans while shopping. We then took a boat to the island of Santorini (my favorite). This place is thought to be one of the most inspirational places on earth. The island is on a big mountain overlooking a still active volcano as well as the other three islands in the Santorini chain. The only way to get to the cities is either by an adrenaline-rushing donkey ride to the top (which we did to get to the city of Oie) or by taking a breath-taking, beautiful small winding road slowly up the mountain.

On our first day in Santorini we walked five minutes from the hotel to the black sandy beach which is made of black stones and sand. This beach was very enjoyable to sit on and relax; but for swimming the big black rocks couldn't even compare to the soft sandy beaches of Mykonos. The next day was the red beach, which was extremely beautiful because you have to pretty much hike and climb down a small cliff to get there. Afterwards we took a boat to the volcano and hiked to the top. The volcano was amazing, and we received a short lesson in Geology.

The next day we went to the archaeological site of Aqratiri which is where the lost city of Atlantis was supposed to exist. Then we drove to the small airport, which was about the same size as the Blue Ash airport in Cincinnati. We flew to the island of Crete where the history of the Jewish population in Greece and the isles would all come together. The first day we went to the cave of Zeus where we received a lesson from Baruch, our guide, on Hellinism. We learned about the influences the Greeks had on the Jews.

Then, on the next day, we went to visit not only the last remaining practicing Jew on the island but the last synagogue on the island as well. We walked into the courtyard as an old man slowly walked out of an office. He was Mekos. For 2 1/2 hours he enlightened us on the history of the Jews from Crete. He spoke about their beginnings and when they had prospered to the sad story of their destruction as they were all put on a boat and sent out into the Mediterranean and blown up.

After the lecture we explored the Synagogue. First my friends and I walked into the fairly well preserved mikvah where the only light was coming from the open door we had entered through. Surprisingly the mikvah was still running with the fresh cleansing spring water.

After saying goodbye to Mekos, we left for a night on the town of Heraklion. This city on the coast seemed to be the center of nightlife and socialization for young people on the island. We then headed for Athens where we boarded a flight for Israel!

We anxiously held hands as the plane ascended into the night. As it was midnight, each of us fell asleep. However, our ears popping upon our descent awakened us.

I looked out the window and saw Tel Aviv. As we landed a smile appeared on all of our faces. I walked slowly down the steps of the airplane and stepped onto the concrete of the airport runway. It really didn't even don on me where I was until the next day or should I say later that day because we had arrived at the Hotel Neve Lon at 5 a.m. We all slept until 11. Later that day we went to an overlook of the Old City of Jerusalem. When I stepped off the bus I saw a gigantic gold dome in the distance. I finally realized where I was-I was in my homeland, the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the land of Eretz Israel.

On Tuesday we went to an archaeological dig where we climbed in a little cave and took our tools and started digging. In just fifteen minutes I had discovered a lost staircase and had excavated 3 1/2 steps before we got in a line and started passing 20 pound buckets up to the surface. Throughout this hard work we sang old Disney songs-- that made the work a lot easier! Afterwards we climbed on our hands and knees through the caves and saw where ancient Jews used to hide from attacking enemies.

The next day was by far the most spiritual as we went to the Old City of Jerusalem and to the Kotel. We arrived around lunchtime so we sat on some benches and ate a nice packed lunch. All of a sudden I saw someone from Cincinnati. I thought, hey, I know who that is - it's Seth Gildenblatt! He also was supposed to go on the NFTY trip that was canceled. Instead he ended up on the Young Judaea trip. What a small world!

After lunch we traveled first to the tomb of King David and then went upstairs to where the Last Supper took place. While in Jerusalem, we learned a little bit about Christianity as well. While there we saw Israeli soldiers and we talked with them. I gave them some water because they were very thirsty. They were very nice and they were from all over the world. However, all spoke fluent Hebrew and English.

Next we went to the Kotel. They checked our backpacks and we then slowly walked to the wall. I passed an orthodox man and he asked me if I could read Hebrew. I said "Cane." He then asked if I wanted to put on Tifilin. I had never done this before but there is no time like the present. So I wrapped the Tifilin around my arm and went up to the wall. There I said my prayers on the paper he gave me. As I placed my head on the wall and put the notes I had written and that people had given me into the cracks of the wall, I felt all my worries and thoughts glide away as I just thought about where I was now -here at the foot of this ancient remaining wall of the Temple; the place where Jews would walk to for miles and miles and would purchase a goat or a chicken with all the profit they had made that year. They would walk up to the Temple Mount and offer their sacrifice to the high priest.

We could not go up to the Temple Mount but a friend I had met on the trip had been to Israel before and he described it to me. He described it as a building with red carpet. He said that when you enter the building you take off your shoes and you see the rock where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son and where both tablets of the Ten Commandments were kept.

Today we went to the city of Tel Aviv. We participated in a reenactment of David Ben Gurion's speech at city hall and at the end we stood up and sang Hatikvah. We then left to go to the old city of Jaffa. We spent two fun-filled hours in a flea market where we haggled with vendors. We purchased lots of souvenirs and at very competitive prices.

I can't wait to go to Masada and ride camels in the dessert. Who knows what's to happen in my future journeys but hopefully G-d will guide me in the right direction.

Steven Snyderman is a junior at Sycamore High School. He is a member of Temple Sholom and a student at Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School. He also is a member of NFTY.

Copyright 2008 The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise