On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan June 30

Monday, June 30th:After Shacharit this morning, Group 8 went to the larger half of the ghetto in Vilna (having already seen the smaller half yesterday). From there they went to the Jewish cemetery where there is a memorial for the Vilna Gaon, one of Judaism's most famous rabbis. They also visited memorials where two Jewish cemeteries used to be. The group ate lunch outside and then drove to the Ponar Forest, the site where many Jews were taken to be killed during the Holocaust. This evening they toured a castle, and had some free time to walk around. After dinner, they met in sub-groups and played a get-to-know-your-staff game.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan June 29

Sunday, June 29th:After a great Shabbat together, Group 8 woke up this morning, davened Shacharit , ate breakfast, and drove to the airport. They checked in and boarded their flight to Lithuania. After a safe arrival, they loaded the bus and drove to eat lunch at Chabad in Vilna. From there they began a tour of the city, which included an overlook of the city, some of its history, and seeing a government building. Then the group visited the Jewish Quarter. Tonight they checked into their hotel, ate dinner at Chabad and met in subgroups.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan June 27

Friday, June 27th:Group 8 spent the first half of the day in Theresienstadt, a concentration camp located in the Czech Republic. This camp, unlike the others was used as a propaganda tool, or "show camp," where they would invite members of the Red Cross into the camp to dispel rumors about the extermination camps. One unique element that came out of this camp is the tremendous amount of art produced by children and adults. Today there a museum with lots of children's drawings from the camp and the USYers spent plenty of time in the museum viewing these works of art. They watched a movie about the camp, and saw the synagogue that existed there (another piece of evidence that this camp was quite unique). From there they returned to the hotel to prepare for their first Shabbat together. Tonight, the group will daven Kabbalat Shabbat together in the hotel, and tomorrow they will daven at the Jubilee Synagogue, a Conservative shul in Prague where they will learn about the Conservative Movement in Prague. They will spend the afternoon studying Pikei Avot, participating in separate girls and boys bonding programs, and other fun activities. Shabbat Shalom!

it is 3:00 sunday morning in Prague.... I am looking forward to hearing more about what they are doing.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan June 26

As I am typing they have actually just settled down for their first shabbat together... we did hear from the girls yesterday they sounded great.... they both said that they were very glad that they went on the trip. After today I do not expect any updates until Sunday.

Thursday, June 26th:Today, Group 8 toured the Jewish area of Prague. First they visited the Old-New (alteneu) Synagogue where the Golem (a Jewish mythical character) was invented. They then continued to a variety of other synagogues including the Spanish Synagogue, the Maizel Synagogue, and the Pinkas Synagogue. The USYers also had some free time in the Old Town Square. Group 8 then crossed the Charles Bridge again and played ice-breakers in a park. After dinner at the Jewish Community Center, they met in subgouprs to prepare for their visit to Terezin tomorrow. They also divided up into vaadot (committees) for the first time this summer. These vaadot will help plan various aspects of the summer together.

On Tour with Ashleigh and Morgan June 25

Wednesday, June 25th:Group 8 arrived safely in Prague early this morning. They retrieved their luggage, met their Israeli madrichim and tour guide, and drove to the hotel. After Shacharit and breakfast, the group walked to the Castle District and viewed the gorgeous castles. After an initial taste of the city, the group went back to the hotel to rest for a few hours. Following lunch, Group 8 went through the Mala Strana to the Charles Bridge, a site with an exquisite view, and artists selling their work. They then visited the John Lennon wall, formerly an ordinary historic wall in Prague, but, since the 1980s, people have filled it with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs. This evening they ate dinner at the Prague Jewish Community Center, played icebreakers led by their Israeli madrichim, and went to sleep, excited to wake up in Prague tomorrow.

I don't like this side of the trip

8:07 a.m. Monday June 23, 2008

why do I mark this moment... it was the moment that Sam realized "she did not like this side of the trip"

What side of the trip is that?

The side that stays here and doesn't get to go on the plane.

and had Ashleigh still been her (instead of on the other side of the trip) she would have said "Ha know you know how I felt!"

So Long, Fare Well, We'll See You In Six Weeks

it was early... The Bear and I were up at 5 (I don't want to tell you when we got to sleep). The girls were still asleep (o.k. some of them) were still asleep all the way to breakfast (Sam even slept most of the way home).






By 7:00 a.m. we were having breakfast and by 7:45 we were at the airport and by 8:15 they were through security and on their way. And the schedule would have worked great except for the fact that there were thunderstorms in New York and their flight was delayed and hour .... But I did hear from them and they are on the ground and in USY's hands.

It's an Adventure now!