This morning we listened to Avram Infeld speak about the importance of finding and retaining our Jewish identity. He emphasized that JEWISH IS NOT A RELIGION. It is more of a way of life, a home, something that is chaotic and always changing, and whatever you can make of it. He described the Jewish people as being a family all around the world that holds unconditional love for one another, no matter how "good" of a Jew you may be. He talked of the five legs of Judaism, which include memory, family, Mount Sinai, the land and state of Israel, and the Hebrew language. He suggested that to in some way feel connected to three of these things would lead to everyone that is Jewish to feel connected. To me this meant you don't need to be a pro at all things Jewish to be a good Jew. But if you can find a few things about Judaism that sit well with you, that is great in and of itself. I have never felt more connected to the Jewish people than I did this morning listening to Avram speak. 

We then walked over to Yad Vashem and spent about four hours there listening to personal testimonies of the Holocaust, touring the museum with an awesome tour guide, and walking through the children's memorial. The children's memorial surprised me in its simplicity yet vastness. It was as if we were walking into a cave as we sloped a bit downwards into darkness before reaching a room surrounded with mirrors and lit with an indefinite amount of tiny lights. Names, ages, and places of origin of kids that were murdered in the Holocaust were slowly recited from somewhere above us. It was a painful, beautiful, enlightening reflection.

We then headed over to the Shuk at Machaneh Yehuda. It was packed with tons of souvenirs and an unlimited amount of food. We are now back at the hotel waiting for the start of our last Shabbat together. 

Dori