YK Tzeirei HaShluchim 5774: Tunnels, Reflection and Restaurant Recreation

Sunday was packed with trips, tours, and a bit of free time to top off the trip of a life time.

770 replica just outside of The Old City

Sunday morning began with vekking at 6 am followed by shachris and choko. After davening we split into groups to do the famous tunnel tours. The tour didn't last very long, yet it may have been the most interesting part of the trip (you won't believe how far down the walls actually reach). After the tunnel tours we walked to עיר דוד for breakfast and more tunnels.

עיר דוד was a bit different than the tunnel tours, aside from the fact that it is completely dark (no flashlights!), this tunnel is also a water tunnel. Some people brought bathing suits (I guess for the vertically challenged it may be necessary) but I think a pair of crocs and rolled up pants is sufficient. The tour guide (sadly not Gili) did a great job putting us in the steps of דוד המלך, and detailing the importance of a water tunnel to ancient Israel. After that we went back to the Diaspora Yeshiva for some authentic falafal (I must say that it is better that tzfat) and chips.

After lunch we were kinda ready for some well deserved free time when they announced another trip (enough already, I'm not as young as I used to be), Yad Vashem. It personally was my first time going to Yad Vashem, and after hearing so much about the Holocaust in school it was really meaningful to see everything laid out in such an informative way. We had an excellent guide who answered all of our questions and opened up our eyes to new angles of The Holocaust which we had previously ignored. After the tour we davened mincha and headed towards the buses for the last phase of the trip: FREE TIME!!!

They drove us to Geula where we had the opportunity to split into groups of 7 (not counting a staff member) and do some shopping. Each bochur was given 25 sheq to buy supper, and for the next two hours we got to relax in Geula. There were a handful of restaurants to choose from and dozens of shops to explore (it would be nice if the shwarma store wasn't out of shwarma, but whose counting). We drove to a replica 770 shul for mariv, and then headed back to tzfat to finally get some sleep.

This was far and above the best trip of the year, its gonna take a while to make up all of the lost sleep (let's see if chassidus at 8:30 sharp happens). Have a great day and please enjoy the pics...