Our next few days in Israel were somewhat low key. We didn’t sit around doing nothing, but we weren’t super active either. So this post will cover a few days, beginning with Sunday, our last day at the hotel. After breakfast, we headed out to visit Kever Rachel, the place where Rachel from the Torah is buried. This is one of Judaism’s holiest sites and an important place to pray.
From there, we stopped at the Tayelet, or Promenade, which overlooks Jerusalem.
There was a piano there and Zachary sat down and started playing Hatikvah (the Israeli National Anthem) and I was surprised that he knew how!
That afternoon, we went to an art fair featuring artists from the north of Israel who have been displaced due to rockets and fires. We bought a new washing cup there. Then we went to dinner.
We returned to my sister-in-law’s house that night. On Monday, we visited my nephew’s neighborhood, which is next to where his parents live. There is a food truck there that he told us to eat.
After this, Dave and Gabbie didn’t feel well, so they blamed the food. But the rest of us were fine. Dave and the boys went with my brother-in-law to visit where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah are buried in Hevron. I couldn’t go because of the stairs. Gabbie was supposed to hang out with a friend but she didn’t feel well so she was home too.
When they got back, we went to my nephew’s house and he showed us his big yard.
Then he started giving rides on an ATV. Zachary walked down the road and found the little cousins, so Simon took me to meet up with them there.
After that, Dave had to help my brother-in-law take his dog to the vet. He kept sending me pictures of the dog getting weighed, x-rays, etc. He said it was interesting there. They picked up dinner on their way back.
On Tuesday, we went to Tel Aviv and visited Hostage Square. This is where the families of those being held hostage gather and supporters pay tribute. There are protests and rallies held there, but it is also filled with art installations and tributes which are meaningful to see.
These four hostages were rescued the previous Saturday. This sign says “how good it is that they returned home.”
These are all surrounding the square itself.
There are timers showing how long it has been since October 7.
And a lot of meaningful art.
There is a large table set up with empty seats for the hostages.
Painted rocks:
A mock tunnel, which you can walk through:
And even more art displays:
After this, we visited the art market in Tel Aviv that I love. We didn’t find anything to bring home, but Gabbie and I got henna on our hands.
That evening was the beginning of the Shavuot holiday, which we celebrated with my sister-in-law and family! Next time, I will share about the following few days after that!
