The World’s Holy Wonders

Dear Ima and Abba,
“Breathtaking” is all I can say about the view from the top of the Rock of Gibraltar. When we arrived in Gibraltar we took a cable car up to the top of the Gibraltar rock. Rabbi taught us about the amazing D’orayta Bracha. It is the Bracha you say when you see the Mediteranian meet the Atlantic. As well as the fact that we were able to see multiple countries at once. It is a Bracha that is basically once in a lifetime as well as the only place where you can say it that is D’orayta. The rock was full of apes that are free to roam and are protected by the Queen of England. It is so cool because they are right next to you, so claose that you could put out your hand and touch them (That’s illegal though, so don’t!). We then headed back to the hotel to get ready for Shabbos. We were privileged to go to three magnificent old shuls over Shabbos. The details were exquisite.
I had never seen something like it before. The meals were full of singing, joy, and positive attitude. It felt as if we truly we’re an Ohana (family). On Shabbos afternoon we took a walk of the country. Even though it is so small it really is truly breathtaking. We ended off Shabbos with an incredible round of ebbing and an extremely powerful speech by Rabbi. Havdallah was so holy. It was as if time had stopped and there was no where else we had to be. It just felt special.
Sunday morning we woke up to a very busy day. First we crossed the border back into Spain and then traveled back to Toledo. We learned about the hardships that the Jews endured in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. It truly gave me an appreciation of where we are today and the freedom we have as Jews. The transition into Israel made it that much more powerful. The ability to go to a land that is ours, where we know we are safe, was an experience I truly cherished.
As we boarded the plane to go to Israel, Rabbi pulled me in for a hug. He smiled at me and said to me “We are going home Papa.” It was the first time I was able to go “home” in seven years. I could not sit through the flight. All I wanted to do was be in Israel. I was full of so many mixed emotions.
When I landed in Israel I lost my grasp of what was going on. I just began to cry. I am not usually a very emotional person but when it comes to my family and Israel, that is where my heart is. I feel such an emotional connection to the land. I wish there were words to describe what I was feeling at the moment. The mixed emotions, missing my family, finally being able to declare my religion and being able to say that I am finally home, brought me to tears. My friends were there to comfort me along the way. A friend grabbed me in a hug and told me it was all okay. I felt as if he were my brother. It’s hard to describe, but I immediately knew that these people would be my family forever. That hug is a moment that I will not forget for the rest of my life. It was a moment that I will cherish forever.
We went back to the hotel and finally got some well deserved sleep. When we woke up we gathered to head out to Ir David. It was an unbelieveable experience. We traveled through tunnels with basically no sight. All you could hear was the sound of the soothing flow of the water under our feet and the beautiful singing of my Ohana around me. When one of your senses is being taken away, in this case our sight, it amplifies your other senses. It this case, our ability to hear. The sound of each word touched our hearts and created such a holy experience.
We then headed out to the Kotel. Rabbi spoke to us about the holiness of the wall. To mentally prepare myself I put my head against a wall and concentrated on Who I was about to go speak to. As we approached the Kotel, when I was still at the entrance I froze. I didn’t feel anything. I had prepared myself and couldn’t understand “lo whyrooooooo.” It was as if all left my body. I tried to prepare myself again but to unavail. We then said Mincha with our Tefillin and I thought the connection would appear. It didn’t. When Mincha ended I thought I would be that guy at the Kotel who didn’t feel anything. As I was about to take off my Tefillin, I just couldn’t. I went up to the Kotel and finally touched the wall. I put my head against the stones and I thought of my twin brother. Our song about brothers began to play in my head. I then lost it. I began to sob. All my emotions came out for 15 minutes. As Rabbi Lashak had prepared us I literally only prayed for everyone besides for myself. I thanked G-d for my family, my friends, for this amazing trip and my new Ohana. It was by far the most emotional davening I have ever had. I doubt that I will ever have anything like this again. As we left the Kotel, I called my mother. I replayed for her my entire
experience. We returned to the hotel had a delicious dinner and had an incredible shiur by our assistant director, Yisrael. We then headed to sleep. At the end of the day I felt so accomplished. It was a day I will never forget. It could never have happened without this trip and I would love to thank my advisor, Mordi Spero, and all those who helped me achieve this unforgettable summer. I can not thank them enough.
B’Ahava Raba,
Lidor