After all the excitement and adventures of Pesach break this week I started to get back into the groove of school. On Sunday I started my first day of my internship at Finn Partners. I absolutely love it! Everyone I work with is not only super nice but quirky and fun. I have my own desk and computer so I feel very official. They even gave me a company email! I was put right to work making media lists, researching companies and helping with whatever assignment they give me. I have learned so much already and I have only worked for 3 days. The greatest part is the openness of the company, everyone eats lunch together, the interns and the head of the company. Also every Thursday we get pizza for lunch!
Wednesday my archeology class had a field trip up north. We traveled to the ancient city of Bet She'an and Bet She'arim. We focus our studies on the Roman- Byzantine era. Bet She'an is very interesting because you can see how the city changes as it is conquered and how it changes with the spread of different religions. Bet She'arim is known for its cave tombs where lots of famous Rabbis have been buried. We studied the tombs and decorations of the tombs to find out more about the people and culture that were buried there. The coolest part of my class is we learn a concept and then can walk 20 minutes to the Old City and apply what we have learned.
Thursday was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. At 10am sirens sounded all across Israel and everyone stopped and stood in silence to remember the 6 million Jews killed. People on the highway stopped their cars and the country was silent for 2 minutes. We learn about the Holocaust in school but in Israel the majority of people lost someone in the Holocaust and it makes the atrocities that much closer to home. It is amazing how after such an horrific event the Jewish people could come together and create something as amazing as Israel. Wednesday night we watched the state ceremony and watched as flags all across Israel were lowered to half mast. At the end of the ceremony everyone recited the Mourner's Kaddish. Thursday after the siren sounded Hebrew University had a memorial service that I attended it ended by singing the Israeli national anthem. It was a solemn day all over Israel but when sundown came the entire nation continued and persevered on as they do everyday.
For Shabbat Marissa and I headed to the Kotel. It was packed as usual for Shabbas. Everyone was dancing, praying and celebrating another week. I love the Kotel on Friday night because it is full of excitement and hope. Everyone is getting geared up for Independence Day next week so Israeli flags and banners are everywhere. A family who lived in the Old City invited us for dinner. The wife and husband were both Americans who moved to Israel 12 years ago. They now have 5 daughters who kept us entertained all evening. The husband, Elie was hilarious. He kept us laughing all night. When he introduced himself he said, "I live in the real OC: The Old City." It is always great when you go into a home and can tell how great and loving of a family they are. It is also great to see the stereotypes of the Orthodox being broken. As the wife and husband helped prepare and serve the meal together. They had 12 guests for dinner most of us were young students on all sorts of different programs. The evening was wonderful and we stayed till after midnight. I am using the rest of Shabbat to work on my research and rest up for the next week.
One of the greatest parts of Israel is all the holidays. Almost every other week they have a major holiday that shuts down most of the country, especially Jerusalem. It means lots of celebrations which I love! There is always something exciting happening!
Shabbat Shalom!
xoxo,
Katy Searcy
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