Our final day in Israel was spent in the Holy city of Jerusalem. At around 9 in the morning, we began our day at the Haas Promenade, which was a great destination to view the landscape of the Old City. Our tour guide pointed out different locations we would be visiting throughout the day, and we were soon on our way into the small city.
When we entered the Old City, we were blown away by the architecture. We visited sites including Mount Zion, the Church of Dormition, King David’s Tomb, and The Upper Room, where the Last Supper was held. We walked throughout the Old City, learning about the history along the way. One thing we learned was that the Old City is divided into quarters: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, and the Jewish Quarter. During our tour, we were able to visit the Jewish and Christian quarters. We also made stops at the Western Wall, where we made prayers, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is home to Jesus’ crucifixion and burial sites.
After touring the city, we shopped at the market in Jerusalem, where we put our negotiating skills to good use. After some downtime at our hotel, we headed to the Israel Museum, home to the Shrine of the Book. In the unique complex, the first seven scrolls of the Hebrew Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls are preserved and on display for the public to enjoy. Our tour of the museum was followed by our final destination- dinner. We enjoyed hamburgers and wings, and then, in a circle at the back of the restaurant, we shared our favorite memories of the trip. Finally, it was time to load the bus and head to the airport. While some of us dreaded the long flight back home, others felt ready to sleep in their own beds. The trip was absolutely unforgettable, and I am forever grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel to Israel. Thanks to our chaperones Mr. Tronicke, Dr. Zubov, Mrs. Ogden, and Ethan from the Jewish Federation.