Program Updates

Can you believe it - the girls are now in the second half of their stay here and, B"H, are doing excellently.  How the time flies by! We finished today the regular studies at the Ulpana and now have ahead of us three and a half weeks of fun, excitement and spiritual growth.

Just a reminder;  Next Shabbat, June 6/7, is set to be our official Free Shabbat, which will commence on Thursday, June 5 at 7 p.m. and finish on Sunday, June 8, at 11 a.m.  Could you please finalize your plans for your daughters by next Tuesday, June 3.

 I left you in my last update just prior to the two-day tiyul which the girls went on in the Judean Desert. It started on Thursday when we took a hike in Ein Gedi and bathed in the beautiful river of Nachal David , following which we witnessed the wonders of the Dead Sea area, the lowest spot in the world, and floated in the Dead Sea .  We arrived in the evening at the Bedouin tents of Mamshit, receiving a warm welcome from the Bedouin.  The girls rode on camels and had a special kosher Bedouin meal.  At night-time, Lag B'Omer, we had a bonfire under the stars, singing Israeli and American songs.  We spent the night in the Bedouin tent - a most unusual experience for the girls…  After a short night, the girls were woken at 3.30 a.m. with a hot cup of tea and then set off to hike to the top of Masada to see the sun rise - which is a most beautiful and unforgettable sight - well worth getting up in the early hours of the morning to see!  Breakfast followed, and we then all set off for our Shabbat destinations - the Free Shabbat or Shabbat Roommates weekend. 
During our final week of studies, which finished today (Wednesday), the girls finalized their school obligations and took tests. Together with their studies, they did their voluntary work, as usual.  The girls went today, together with their fellow Ethiopian students at the Ulpana, on a trip to Mini Israel, which is a miniature model of Israel in the Latrun/Jerusalem area, and a popular tourist spot.  This brought their period of studies to an end in a very pleasant and interesting way.

Tomorrow, we are heading to the North, where we will spend three days in the Galilee , based in Tsafed .Details to follow.

http://www.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?U=no&SiteName=parks&ItemID=315651171&ValuePage=Card1
http://www.deadsea.co.il/index.php?page_id=1&lang_action=change_lang&to_lang=en&geo_action=done
http://www.mamshit.co.il/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/42944/jewish/Lag-BaOmer.htm
http://www.minisrael.co.il/home_en.html