L'hitraot to Jerusalem

Today was our last day in Jerusalem. True to form the situation in Gaza flared up with over 100 rockets flying out to Israel over the past two nights. Last night even in Jerusalem we were once more in the shelter. The tonight, our last night in this amazing city Hamas warned that flights out of Ben Gurion Airport as of 6am are in danger. Our flight leaves at 1:45pm...long enough to assess the situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, we ordered our Sherut to the airport for a 10am pickup tomorrow right outside our apartment at Shatz and Shmuel Nagid in Jerusalem. This has been a great location for us. Close to all our favourite places and a short 20 minute walk to school. We had no real obligations on our last day here. We walked to school to bid farewell to some of our teachers. Here we are with Professor David Ilan...our own Indiana Jones...who has taken us on several archeology adventures while we have been here. We are very grateful for our learning with him.

 Next we wanted to use the Jerusalem light rail system. Whereas previously we had taken it a few times just to the Central Bus Station, today we jumped on board and rode over the big white bridge in Jerusalem and to the end of the line, which is at Mount Herzl. At this location there is a tremendous view of the En Kerem neighbourhood, the Jerusalem Forest and more. Har Herzl is a cemetery of great import. This peaceful location is next to the campus of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial and education centre. The cemetery is maintained by the World Zionist Organization and at its centre is the Kever of Theodore Herzl, the father of Zionism. Also here lay the national leaders of Israel, such as Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and many others. Missing only is David Ben Gurion, who is buried in the Negev at Sde Boker. Amidst this peaceful parklike cemetery are groups of graves for various soldier groups, paratroopers, different brigades, and soldiers who died on various missions. It is moving and sombre to walk these pathways and acknowledge and deeply feel the sacrifices for the freedom of this country. In the distance we can hear fighter jets and we know they are headed south to deal with the situation in Gaza.

We take the train back to our neighbourhood. All in all a wonderful last day in Jerusalem. We do not know how flights will work tomorrow at Ben Gurion Airport. Every day has been a new adventure, requiring patience and understanding and lizrom, hebrew for flow...or going with the flow. That is the best advice we received about living in Israel for the summer. I am, of course, excited and happy about seeing my loved ones tomorrow night, but I am sad to leave this extraordinary place. Jerusalem, you have moved me and brought me closer to your heart and I will not forget you!