Maria Jacobson
November 05 Israel Seminar
The Melton seminar was unlike any other visit to Israel. The educational studies were an enriching and enlightening experience. With an eager group of students and a dedicated instructor, Haim Aronovitz, we listened, discussed, observed and were exposed to: the history, the geography, the politics, the demographics and the food. We were filled with knowledge and a love of Eretz Yisrael.
Certain times and places endure as being deeply significant. One of those times was erev Shabbat in Jerusalem. Our itinerary was to light candles and participate in a Shabbat service at the Kotel. As Jews from Australia, Israel, South Africa and the United States we gathered on top of Mt. Zion.
As dusk was approaching, we entered King David’s tomb. We assembled inside the ancient walls. The women lit candles and we ushered in Shabbat. All over the world Jews would be doing the same, celebrating Shabbat, but in Jerusalem we shared this sacred time and place. We felt an extraordinary sense of connectedness to one another, to our history and to our heritage.
