DAY 11 – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21: SERVICE PROJECT WITH BRIDGES FOR PEACE, FREE TIME
Today was a unique day here in Jerusalem. We not only enjoyed fantastic weather again (full sun, with highs in the mid 70s), but also a special service project in an Israeli school.
Bridges for Peace Service Project
Our Bridges for Peace Project in Jerusalem
Leaving the hotel at 8 a.m. today, we drove to the center of town. Here we arrived at Bridges for Peace, a 50 years old organization aimed to provide care and compassion to Jewish people all over the world! We heard the Director of Bridges (Rebecca Brimmer) share about the history, goal, and their objectives in extending care to needy people here in Israel. We also toured their facility.
Painting and planting flower pots
We again boarded the bus from here and drove to the Zalman Aran School. This is an elementary school in the Talpiot community in Jerusalem. We were greeted with a few songs offered by some of the students. It was very touching!
Breaking into four groups, each of us helped with either a painting or art project, a gardening project, as well as helping with soccer. The interaction with the students was special. We helped until lunch time (with a few continuing the painting and art project after lunch). We left about 2:30.
Old City/Rampart Wall Walk/Ben Yehuda
Walking the rampart walls in Jerusalem
We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon on our own at various places. Some got dropped off near Ben Yehuda Street, while most went into the Old City through Jaffa Gate. About 25 in the group walked the rampart walls (the Turkish walls built in 1537 AD). We walked from Jaffa gate to the Damascus gate.
We walked back to the hotel for dinner and a free evening. Many in the group walked to the old train station for a taste of Israeli entertainment, shopping, and coffee shops.