Breaking Bread, Building Bonds by Ben Grossman

We started our first day by having the opportunity to introduce ourselves which was certainly a good ice-breaker. This was followed by our visit to Ohel Jakob Synagogue where we had our group lunch and got to know each other even more. After lunch, we had the pleasure of meeting with a representative of the synagogue who took us on a brief tour of Ohel Jakob, educating us on its history, and discussing the surrounding Jewish community which represented an important example of Jewish life in modern Germany which was, essentially, the importance of community itself.  We then went to a conference room where we had the sincere privilege of meeting with Vera Szackamer. During our meeting, she shared a brief background of her life and how the Holocaust impacted her family and her life growing up which led to her career as member of the Executive Committee of the Central Jewish Council. By having the platform to engage in a direct conversation regarding the state of anti-semitism in modern Germany, the group was able to gain a better understanding of the social landscape that Jewish people face in Germany. After this, we embarked on a walking tour of Munich which was an enriching experience that brought the city’s historical significance to light. It was a wonderful way to become familiar with the area and learn more about the space we will be exploring. Overall, the first day provided: an opportunity to get acquainted, a strong conversation starter for the topics to come, and an immersive experience that provided the group with a well-rounded introduction to the trip in general.