The Last Day

Special Israel Edition

Well, it’s almost all over. Just a short night, and a trip to the airport in the morning are all that is left of an amazing trip to visit family and country. This morning we went to Yad Vashem, the Israeli museum for the remembrance of the Holocaust. It’s situated on a mountain top in Jerusalem, and is one of the most uniquely designed museums that you will ever see (and you will have to see it in person, as they don’t allow photos inside). It brings with it all sorts of emotion, especially since there are all kinds of direct family ties to Germany, the immigration to Israel (as well as the US, the UK, and Brazil), and the Holocaust itself. It’s such an amazing time in history – and obviously not for the right reasons. The visit to the museum qualifies as a ‘must-do,’ but be prepared to be educated and reminded – not to have fun.

After returning from Jerusalem, we all gathered and visited with Savta for a few hours. We had a great discussion, and a wonderful time. She and Ezra get along so well that it’s sad to have to say good-bye. We finished the evening with dinner at the local falafel stand, sandwiched between packing up.

So it’s time to go home and return to our lives in Colorado. We are looking forward to meeting a new addition to the family of friends, and to seeing our cat who has braved the early summer on her own. But we are sad to be leaving Israel. The visit has been remarkable, and the visiting with family has been unforgettable. It has been a real treat to be able to introduce and share Ezra with everyone here, and we can’t wait to come back and do it again. I suppose that there is only really one person left to thank before we depart, and that’s Rena. She has been unbelievable: letting us stay in her home, stocking us with food, supplying us with things to do, giving us information, and being part of the whole experience. We can only say ‘thanks’ and hope to someday be able to return the favor.