Last Day in Jerusalem

July 14, 2008
Happy Bastille Day! This is our concluding day in Jerusalem and Israel. As usual I feel like I want to remain but work calls. There are some who are tired and ready to return but others who would enjoy even more time here.
This morning we drove out to Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem to see the Chagall Windows. The complex keeps growing and they have opened a mall and a hotel right on the grounds of the hospital. In fact for us to enter we had to walk through two floors of the mall, cross a pedestrian bridge from the mall to the hospital and then arrive at the main entrance. We waited in the lobby for another group to exit and then entered the synagogue where the windows are to be found. In stead of a live docent they now use a voice recording as you view and learn about the windows. They are truly a special site. On the way out a bit more shopping at the gift shop and then we returned to the bus. On the way out Jan and I ran into a rabbi friend from Newton Massachusetts accompanying a NFTY trip.
Yakov was then able for us to go straight to the Supreme Court rather than waiting until 1:30. Due to extensive security we were told to leave everything in the bus except for cameras. The building is an architectural masterpiece combining ancient and preset, straight lines and circles and reflecting the biblical concepts of justice in many ways. The building combines a simplicity with a magnificence that is reflected wherever one gazes.
Our last official stop of the day and the tour was Machane Yehudah, the outdoor market in Jerusalem. We highly recommended chocolate ruggeleh from Marzipan. The colors of the fruits and vegetables dazzle the eyes and present a feast for the eyes. Jan tasted about 4 or 5 types of halva before making her decision. Some of us met the bus to return to the hotel while others made their way on foot back through the city one more time.
In less than an hour we will be having our closing dinner and then on to the airport. A great time was had by all. See you soon in Rochester! Shalom, l’hitra’ot.