Whether some people try to forget it, others try to embrace it, and some choose to pretend it never happened, everyone knows what the Holocaust is. What many people don’t know is how many people that were tortured, murdered, or survived are nowhere to be found. By visiting the Holocaust Musuem in Jerusalem the group and I had learned so many amazing facts that we did not know about. For example, we knew that about 6 million jews died, but what we didn’t know that this museum is trying to get everyone’s names and they only have 4 million. That’s 2 million dead, with no evidence of existence and etc. The musuem was shaped in a triangle to show that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

As we approached the light at the end of the tunnel, we went into the Children’s memorial. A lot of people, including me felt very connected to that. We were all thinking, How could God do this to his people? Would Israel not have been created without the Holocaust? Is suffering through the Holocaust a fair price to pay for Israel?

After we ate amazing burgers with fries, we went into our Chabura groups and debated these topics. As much as I love to participate in my Chabura group, I love to look around and see the passion in my peers as they talk about their religion, God, and their opinions.

We later went to an exhibit and activity center with the IDF. Right as we came in, we saw an amazingly presented “movie” about Israel’s history and the role of the IDF in Israel. Everyone split up into what their wanted to do. Some walked around and other flew planes. As we all walked out we found ourselves in an outdoor mall/carnival area at which many people bought smoothies and we all talked with our friends.

When the bus came to pick us up, we went to a park where many important people were buried. Malkey, our tour guide spoke to us about the history of these people. Rabbi Greene told us that we could be heroes as well as all of the people buried in the area. Zach Beer, one of our amazing advisors spoke about his experiences as well.

And throughout a day like this, filled with sadness, remembrance, and serious topics, we as a group, friends, as a family found ways to have fun and enjoy ourselves as if it were another day where we had to talk and communicate with each other to make it our Best Summer Ever.