If you will it it is no dream...

Visiting Yad Vashem was an extremely emotional and moving experience for each one of us. The horrific pictures, movies, and stories touched our hearts and moved us to tears. Our next visit to the Herzl museum on Har Herzl made us realize that so many people have dedicated their lives to the establishment of this beautiful state of Israel. Herzl believed that if you will it, it doesn't have to be just a dream. After the sadness of Yad Vashem and Har Herzl,  we saw the dreams come alive in Machane Yehuda  as Jews from around the world pushed and shoved to buy the tastiest challa and freshest veggies for Shabbat! To quote one of the kids, "Herzl was a prophet!"

Shabbat Shalom!

 

    

Washington DC Trip Comes to an End

6th and 7th grade have been traveling through the Washington DC area all week learning about the foundations of our democracy within a historical context.  They have visited national monuments and museums and have enjoyed surrounding areas, including Mt. Vernon and Jamestown.  We welcome them back on campus on Monday and can't wait to hear about their experiences first hand.

Jerusalem of Gold

     

Jerusalem pics...

     

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav

To the beautiful song, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, we "went up"/alinu to Jerusalem. Our first stop was a visit to Yad Lakashish, an organization that helps the elderly to keep busy by involving them in arts and crafts. We then explored the Jewish Quarter. 

Nikbat Hashiloach, also known as Hezekiah's Tunnel, is a water tunnel that was carved underneath the City of David in Jerusalem in ancient times. Equipped with flashlights, the students waded through the water of the dark tunnels. We then explored Minharot Hakotel, the excavated Kotel tunnels. Exhausted we ended our busy and amazing day at the hostel. 

     

More pics...

     

Trip to the North....

     

Trip to the North

We left early this morning and headed north to kibbutz Ein Shemer. In 1927, the first pioneers of HaShomer HaTzair arrived at the site. The group consisted of 18 women and 36 men, all in their late teens and early twenties. These youngsters, from Poland, left behind parents, homes, and future careers in order to fulfill their dream of revitalizing the Jewish people in its ancient homeland, to work the land with their own hands and to make the Zionist vision come true. We then made our way to Caesarea. The town was built by Herod the Great about 25–13 BCE as the port city Caesarea Maritima. After that we visited Ramat Hanadiv where Edmond de Rothschild and his wife are buried.. For his Jewish philanthropy Baron Edmond became known as "Hanadiv HaYadu'a" (Hebrew for "The Known Benefactor" or "The Famous Benefactor") and in his memory his son bequeathed the funds to construct the building for the Knesset. We ended our day strolling through Zikhron Ya'akov which was founded in December 1882 by 100 Jewish pioneers from Romania. 

In 1883, Baron Edmond James de Rothschild became the patron of the settlement and drew up plans for its residential layout and agricultural economy.

     

Washington DC Day 2

Students have experienced many aspects of the learned available in Washington DC.  In addition to visiting the Ford Theater, they spent time in the Smithsonian and were able to visit several historic monuments today, including the White House, Capitol Building, and Jefferson Memorial.

The body of work written about Lincoln

Jefferson Memorial

White House

Capitol Building

Washington DC - Day 1

This week, Kadima 6th and 7th graders will be visiting the Washington DC area as part of their social studies unit.  Today, they explored Jamestown, Virginia, which was the site of the first permanent settlement in the Americas in 1607.  Students were able to visit the site of an archaeological dig,  and encountered glass blowers and "pioneers" that allowed them to relive the moments that started what at the time was a new nation in the new world. Students met costumed historical interpreters who described and demonstrated daily colonial life.  From Jamestown, students traveled to Colonial Williamsburg, where they saw an interpretation of a colonial American city and exhibits of for restored buildings, including the Capitol Building. This form of experiential education allowed our Kadima students to learn history by living history in a classroom without limits.

Archaeological Dig

Colonial Williamsburg Capitol Building

The High Court