On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 21

Monday, July 21st:Group 8 spent the day around the Kinneret. They hiked down the Arbel, a fortress from the Second Temple Period. They then cooled off from the hot day with a swim in the Kinneret! After that the group rode donkeys and each had a turn to drive and ride. They dressed up like ancient donkey drivers and learned about the history of Kfar Kedem. Tonight after dinner in Poriyah, the group did a program called "Café Dilemma" and discussed some of the questions they face as American Jewish teens.

Notes from the front: Morgans named her donkey Clarissa and Ashleigh named her donkey BarBar Hay Hay the 3rd... he girls are having a great time and they do say they miss us but they don't say they want to rush home.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 16

Wednesday, July 16th:Group 8 woke up in the Bedouin tent this morning. They ate breakfast and davened Shacharit and then left for a hike in Ein Ovdat. From there they drove to Sde Boker, former home of David Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel. They walked through the "hut" in which he lived, and visited his grave and the grave of his wife Paula. From there they drove to Tel Aviv, toured Old Jaffa and walked along the Mediterranean Sea.

News from the front: This Shabbat Ashleigh and her 2 other Far Westerns will be leading Mincha , other than that the girls are having fun and as always practicing the fine art of sleeping anywhere they get a chance.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 15

Tuesday, July 15th:Group 8 began their day at Kibbutz Ketura where they did a seminar on life on kibbutz and discussed some of the dilemmas that face kibbutz members. After swim they drove to the Bedouin tent of Mamshit. They rode camels, were treated to Bedouin hospitality, ate dinner, and had a bonfire.

Notes from the road: I spoke with Ashligh this morning Morgan was practicing the fine art of sleeping wherever and whenever you can.... the
camel rides were great she named her camel Shlomo and she thinks Morgan named her camel Rhonda we will have to wait until I talk to her to find out why.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 14

Monday, July 14th:Group 8 spent a fun and relaxing day in Eilat! They began at the underwater observatory where they saw sharks, tortoises, and an assortment of fish, as well as a view of the gorgeous Red Sea (which is in fact blue). They then got a taste of the water as they went snorkeling in small groups, and learned about the coral reef found right off the shore of Eilat. They had a delicious lunch in the Halleluyah restaurant and then did a short afternoon activity. After dinner on the boardwalk, they went on a Disco Boat Ride on the sea where they danced and enjoyed a pretty view of the coast.

Did you know that Eilat is the sister city of Los Angeles? I don't' think Ashleigh does either. I will have to tell her when I call later. Her basic description is "It's HOT as Balls!!!!" I hope they have a good time on the Disco Boat I know Sam really liked it. They have run into group 5 from time to time and they have also seen Ramah Seminar from across the street. I can't wait for more pictures.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 13

Sunday, July 13th:Group 8 left Jerusalem and headed south this morning. They first stopped in Lachish to go grape-picking and made grape juice with their feet! From there they went to Be'er Sheva, where their staff members did a presentation on Nativ, USY's post-high school program in Israel Sam was on that Program. Then they drove to Eilat, Israel's most southern city. Tonight they had free time on the boardwalk and in the mall to hang out and go shopping!

There are new pictures...

go back to the begining to see the girls!

On tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 11

Friday, July 11th:Group 8 woke up happy in Jerusalem this morning. They boarded their bus and headed to learn about the First Temple period. But before entering the City of David they went to the Southern Wall to daven Shacharit and then had time at the Kotel for their first time this summer. Then they went to the City of David, where they watched a wonderful audio-visual show and then walked through Hezekayah's Tunnel, a water aqueduct that brought water to the city during the time of King Hezekayah. The USYers had a wonderful time splashing in the water. Then they retuned to the Fuchsberg Center to prepare for Shabbat. They will all look their best as they welcome in the Shabbat bride with a lovely Kabbalat Shabbat service overlooking the walls of the Old City. Tomorrow they will go to different synagogues in the area and spend the rest of the day singing, learning together, and hanging out. Shabbat Shalom!



News from Ashleigh: She did see Adam and Judith at the wall and told them thank you for the packages. Their first Shabbat in Israel was a little crazy due to physical issues but she is recovered now and Morgan has a cough but with a little cough medicine she is doing better also. The were on Ben Yahuda after Havdalah and she was able to go to Moshikos. She really liked it everyone likes Moshikos especially Daniel and Yoni. Tomorrow they will be leaving the base for a week first they are going grape pickingg and then they will be traveling to the south... I am hoping to get some pictures of them from the web site soon.

Morgan is wearing a multitude of different hats...today she is a Yankee.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 10

Thursday, July 10th:Group 8 began their day at the Archaeological Dig Seminar where they dug to try and find artifacts from the Second Temple period. They climbed through caves and learned a lot about how archaeologists discover things about the past. After lunch at Beit Guvrin, the group had a fabulous time swimming in the pool at the kibbutz. They then returned to the Fuchsberg Center for an afternoon of rest and dinner. This evening the group heard a lecture by Neil Lazarus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and then went to the supermarket across the street to buy some Shabbat snacks. They finished the day with a short creative writing program.

I spoke to Ashleigh this morning before I got my challah started and wished her a good shabbos Morgan was already practicing taking a shabbos nap... so I will try her a little later before they shut the phones off. I am still anxiously waiting for pictures (probably not until after shabbos). Ash did say that she ran into Adam and Judith (friends of our who just left for Israel) at the Kotel, they had just delivered my packages to Morgan and Ash so the girls are going into their first shabbbos in Israel and I know it will be a wonderful experience I can't wait to hear about it and see pictures!!!! I feel like I am going through withdrawals.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 9

Wednesday, July 9th:Group 8 landed in Tel Aviv early this morning and were ecstatic to be in Israel! They went first to the Tayelet which overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem in the same way that Abraham looked at the city in the Torah. After a special welcoming ceremony and a powerful Shacharit service, the group drove to the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism, their home for the next few days. After breakfast, they had a few hours to sleep before lunch, laundry, and orientation. In the afternoon, the group split up and went on different walking tours of the neighborhood so that they could acclimate a bit. This evening, they looked fabulous as they headed out to Emek Refaim , a fun Israeli street with shops and cafes.





Conversation with Ashleigh and Morgan: they both had long naps today and felt a lot better after that. Ashleigh had lunch at Burger Bar it was one of Sam, Daniel and Yoni's favorite places. Bubbie and I went when we were there and all I can say is the burgers were good the sweet potato fries were unbelievable. Morgan had a falafe at a stand close by.

They are in Israel!

They are in Israel ... this is probably one of the most welcomed text's I have gotten in a while...followed about 45 minutes with a phone call... they have probably just gotten to Bayt Nativ (the base camp in Jerusalem, also Samantha's home when she was in Jerusalem) I wonder if they will get room 301.
However I am most excited about the fact that now there will be pictures of them.... so you will have to go back to the old posts in about 2 days to see the new pictures.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 8

Tuesday, July 8th:Group 8 spent many hours driving to Prague today. On the bus they watched the film "Schindler's List" at the USYers' request. Once they got to Prague, they had some free time and then headed to dinner at the JCC, where they had spent a few meals at the beginning of their trip in Eastern Europe. This evening they will head to the airport and board a plane for Israel. The group could not be more excited about beginning the next part of their already fantastic trip!

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 7

Monday, July 7th:Today Group 8 drove to Auschwitz concentration camp, where they began the tour by walking under the infamous sign, "Arbeit Macht Frei," "Work Will Make You Free." They went into several buildings and learned about what went on in the everyday lives of the camp's victims. After lunch outside, the group traveled to the Birkenau death camp, where they began by walking through the famous guard tower featured in almost every book on the camp. They went inside barracks, stood at the very place where Dr. Mengele chose who would live and who would die, and saw the former crematoria that were destroyed at the end of the war. At the end of this long day, the group paused to have a memorial ceremony where they read several poems and said the traditional mourners prayer for all those who perished in the camp. This evening the group drove to the town of Scezin on the border between Poland and Czechoslovakia. They slept there tonight in anticipation of their drive to Prague tomorrow.

soon we will actually have pictures of the girls.... I can't wait. tomorrow night they leave for Israel.

On tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 6

Sunday, July 6th:After a lovely Shabbat together, and attending the Jewish Music Festival last night, Group 8 was ready to start a new week, and is especially excited to fly to Israel this week. They spent the day in Krakow, visiting the Jewish Quarter, Old Town, and the Bell Tower. This afternoon they drove to Schindler's Factory, the place where Oskar Schindler saved the lives of 1,000 Jews by employing them to work in his factory. This evening the group returned to their hotel for dinner and some free time.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 4

Friday, July 4th:Group 8 began their day in the Majdanek concentration camp just outside the city of Lublin. One of the most interesting and shocking parts of the camp is that much of it is still intact, and therefore gave the group a full image of what it looked like in the 1940s. Also, the group was extremely moved by the barrack full of shoes, and walked through quietly trying to imagine the people who filled them. After lunch they began the drive to Krakow where they will spend Shabbat. Tonight the group will daven Kabbalat Shabbat in their hotel, and eat dinner with July 4th related decorations. Tomorrow Group 8 will join USY groups 9 and 10 for services at the Temple Synagogue. The rest of the day will be spent relaxing, learning Pirkei Avot , and spending time together. Shabbat Shalom!



Before After

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 3

Thursday, July 3rd:Group 8 toured Warsaw today. They began in the Genscher Jewish cemetery where they learned about life in Warsaw during the hundreds of years prior to World War II. They learned about a few important figures who are buried there, and had some time to find interesting tombstones and learn about the symbols found on them. From there they followed the Heroism Trail which highlights such sites as Mila 18 and the Rapaport Monument, both a tribute to events such as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in which even the victims rose up to defend their honor as human beings. The group also visited the orphanage of Janusz Korczak, who went with his "children" to the gas chambers, so that they would not be afraid. They then left for Lublin where they spent the night.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan July 2

Wednesday, July 2nd:Today, Group 8 drove to Tikochin, where there is a beautiful synagogue still standing. They learned about the town and about Jewish life there. From there they drove to the Lupuchova Forest, which is a site of mass graves. After lunch, the group followed the train tracks to Treblinka extermination camp. While nothing remains at Treblinka there is a very powerful monument at the site of the camp: thousands of stones jutting out of the ground like tombstones, some with the name of a town or city from which Jews were brought. There are also symbolic concrete blocks marking where the trains used to come into the camp. After a memorial service the group drove back to Warsaw where they are spending the night.