Mission goersgain spirit of Israel firsthand.
6, of Bloomfield
ills awaits her
turn to pray at the
Kotel in Jerusalem.
Laura Langberg,
Teen Mission 2004, sponsored by
the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, Sam and
Jean Frankel and the Detroit Jewish
News in partnership with metro
Detroit congregations, left June 30
for more than a month of travel and
study in Israel. Sarah Crane is one
of four participants who offered to
share their experiences with JN
readers.
6 Bloomfield
ownship; Erica
oven, 16,
ranklin; Gabe
. .
etstein, 17, West
loomfield; Ben
riedman, 17,
West Bloomfield;
and Ken Hansen,
17, West Bloom-
eld enjoy kreak.
an,
6, of Bloomfield
Hills stands at the
overlook at the City
of David in
Jerusalem.
Rabbi David
Castiglione of
Temple Beth El
and Zachary
Chutz, 17, of
Bloomfield Hills
lead singing at
Kabbalat Shabbat
on the southern
wall steps in
erusalem.
'
7/ 9
2004
22
1._
hat an incredible first
few days! We hiked, we
swam, we ate, we slept
(a little), and we did everything in
between. It feels like we have been
here for a month, even though it
has only been four days.
Let me walk you through the
beginning of our journey. After
some 22 hours on the airplane
and in several airports, the Detroit
group was excited to immediately
begin touring. (Keep in mind we
had half a day ahead of us. It was
about 2 p.m. Israeli time).
However, we were soon reward-
ed for staying awake with a beau-
tiful view of Jerusalem from the
Haas Promenade. There, we had
our welcoming ceremony, and our
stay in Israel truly began.
On Friday, we had our first
Shabbat as a group, and it was a
most powerful event. We sat on
the steps of the southern wall of
the Second Temple and participat-
ed in Kabbala Shabbat (welcom-
ing Shabbat). After chanting
prayers and singing songs togeth-
er, we moved on to the Western
Wall to think, to reflect and to
pray. The Western Wall is such an
amazing place. You are surround-
ed by the thoughts, wishes, hopes
and prayers of those around you.
Some people are even moved to
tears at this holy site.
Shabbat was a much lazier day.
After morning services, we hung
out by the pool, played sports and
worked on our tans. After Shabbat
was over, we went to a large mall
and shopped until we dropped.
Israel is a remarkable place.
Here, you can travel from the
past to the present with the blink
of an eye. You can walk in the
footsteps of those who lived thou-
sands of years before you, and
you can create your own path in
new and exciting parts of the
land. You can meet new people,
make new friends and form last-
ing relationships. Best of all, you
can experience being a Jew in the
Jewish homeland. The Teen
Mission to Israel is a wonderful
opportunity. I can't wait for the
weeks to come! E
— Sarah Crane, 17,
Farmington Hills
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wwvv,detroitiewishnews.corn on
Monday.