Our last day began with much needed sleep. After breakfast we decided to venture into the Arab Shuk. Eva joined us for our shopping adventure. Wheeling and dealing was the name of the game. Bruce and Eva were in their element. Our visit to the Shuk was going great until I was confronted by a young shop owner who when I said, “I am not interested in looking at his shop” he verbally attacked me. Saying that “ all Americans hate Arabs and that is why I avoided his shop”. I became quite upset but quickly realized anything I had to say was falling on deaf ears. It was perplexing to think that if I hated all Arabs why would I be shopping in the Shuk. I touched him as we were talking and he flinched in disgust. Eva calmed me down and we moved on.
After what was to be a 45-minute shopping experience that lasted 3 ½ hours, we returned to the hotel only to remember that we forgot about Bruce’s massage. Oops! Money saved, money lost!
Jill and Bruce cooled off in the pool while I packed.
Our trip was sadly coming to an end. Later I met with a small group and David to walk to the 1st neighborhood built outside the Old City walls, Yemin Moshe, named after philanthropist, Sir Moses Montfiore. On the site stands the Moses Montefiore Windmill built to provide cheap flour for poor Jews. The homes are lovely but something or should I say someone was missing. The residents! They are vacation homes.
Dan Utley and his wife Rachael led our Havdalah service. The service ended and the majority of the group loaded the bus for the airport. Hugs, kisses and goodbyes! A few families stayed behind. The Leibovich’s were off to Eliat and Petra. The Krantz’s were visiting relatives. Our family and the Fineberg’s had flights the next day. So what did Jill and I do? We went shopping, this time my kind of shopping, meeting the artists and buying their art. The streets of Jerusalem were still buzzing as we headed back to the hotel at midnight!!! I finished packing and as I drifted off to sleep my mind was filled with thoughts of Israel & the new friendships we all made.
Before this trip I felt no personal connection with Israel even though my mother’s & father’s families were true Zionists in Europe during the 1930’s. Until you visit Israel everything is just a story. Now I have a better understanding of the complexity of life there. I am left with mixed emotions that will be with me for the rest of my life. We hope that in our lifetime peace will come to Israel.
Love,
Ruth, Bruce & Jill Klotzman
