Germany Close Up 2019, Day 5
A moment that really moved me was Friday night in Berlin at the historic synagogue. From the beginning of the trip I would constantly remind my friends that here we are as Jews, in Germany, less than 80 years later. As the songs rang through the room, I took time to look around and take […]
Germany Close Up 2019, Day 5
Today was the most meaningful of all the days so far. I went to Friday night services at a synagogue and saw Jewish life alive and well in Berlin. I got choked up when we sang the Shema. It has so many meanings to me – it’s the prayer my parents said with me every […]
Germany Close Up 2019, Day 4
I had mixed feelings about the Jewish Museum in Berlin. On one hand, I thought that the symbolism of the building’s architecture was very powerful. I loved the courtyard that was built to look like a sukkah or chuppah, and how it was such a subtle resemblance that only a Jewish person would make the […]
Germany Close Up 2019, Day 4
On our 4th day we learned about Modern Germany. The discussion started with learning how Germany rebuilt as a nation after the war, led by one of leaders of Action Reconciliation Service for Peace. This organization was founded as early as 1958 to foster peace and atonement through volunteer social work in 13 countries, drawing […]
Germany Close Up 2019, Day 3
The third day of our tour was called “Remembrance & Beyond,” a day where we confronted the atrocities of the Holocaust. Located north of Berlin in the town of Oranienburg, Sachsenhausen was a former concentration camp used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to 1945. The site now serves as a public memorial and museum. […]
Germany Close Up 2019, Day 2
On our second day in Berlin, we started with a Q&A session about the Germany Close Up program. It was interesting to hear how Dr. Pruin came up with the idea for the program and how her experiences as a teenager in Germany shaped her vision. I really enjoyed hearing about how her town invited […]
Germany Close Up 2019, Day 1
Monday, August 5 was our first official day finally meeting up as a group. Many of us met in the lobby for an afternoon boat tour at 11:30. We did an ice breaker and everyone went around and said something that helps us remember our names. Our one hour boat tour around Berlin was fun. […]
Poland 2019: 7/7/19 blog by Emma Stewart
It’s sad to realize that today is our last day in Poland. This trip has been so amazing, and it’s crazy to know it’s about to end. This morning, we toured the Wieliczka Salt Mines. Because salt was the only way to keep food fresh before the invention of the refrigerator, salt became very valuable. […]
Poland 2019: 7/6/19 blog by Emma Stewart
Today started with a walking tour around Krakow. From our hotel, we walked to Schindler’s Factory. We spoke about the Jews he saved as well as his questionable motivations. We spoke about what it took to become a Righteous Among the Nations and its benefits. We also discussed the difference between Schindler in real life, […]