Day Six

Jodi and I had a plan, but of course, like all great plans, we had to adjust.

After breakfast at the hotel, we decided to go the the synagogue down the road, dubbed The Big Synagogue by locals. We had tried to go yesterday on our way back from shopping, but the little man at the door, who spoke perfect English, told Jodi her shorts were too short, and to come back tomorrow. He told us to come early because they will be closing to prepare for Shabbat. He told us to bring our cameras. So this morning we go, happily wearing long shorts, but still shorts. Little man: "your shorts are too short, come back tonight for services"!! This is beginning to sound a little Wizard of Oz-ish!!

Turned away twice, we decided to head back to the hotel to catch a taxi to Yad Vashem. I don't think it really matters how many times you visit this museum, it is so powerful, you just feel compelled to return. We were really debating whether to go, and decided that since the last time we were there, we were with (impatient) husbands and children, that we would go and take our time.

Well we did just that, three hours to walk through this amazing exhibit, and just as powerful as the last time I visited, and the time before. Originally we didn't get the head phones, but we went back to get them and it was such a good thing we did. Ended with a visit to the Hall of Names, the Children's Memorial (a few tears) and we left feeling relief that we decided to go back to this museum.

We hopped into a cab to go back to the hotel, and on the way asked him to take us instead to a restaurant near the hotel that he could recommend. The restaurant was very good, but that was the first time we felt "ripped off" by the cab driver, or anyone in Israel for that matter, and so, we gave him NO TIP!! Good Shabbos!! (by the way, pretty sure this cab driver was an Arab-Israeli)

Lunch at the Dolphin, non kosher (our first hint of this was the shrimp and mussels on the menu) but it was a nice lunch. After, walked back to the hotel, Jodi took a power nap, I took a power shower, and at 4 o'clock, started to get ready for our 3rd and final attempt at getting inside The Big Synagogue!!

Services started at 4:40 sharp, we were warned not to be late. So at 4:20, Jodi, Rachel, Rachel's mom Andrea and I headed out for Friday night services!! When we got there, we were dressed appropriately!!! Yay!! But we were not allowed to bring electronic devises into services, so we had to leave our phones and cameras with "the little man" at the door. He put (literally) 8 phones, and 4 cameras into a plastic shopping bag, and said he hoped they would be there when the services let out. What???????

With a leap of faith, we walked the 3 flights of stairs to the women's section of the synagogue, made a left turn to the "guest" section, and sat through an hour of prayers that we didn't understand or recognize. I impressed the others with my ability to find the spot where the Chazan was chanting (it wasn't easy!!) The service was interesting, the shul really unimpressive, but big as the name suggests. The best part of the service was that is was a total of an hour, then we were out!! Of course, our cameras and phones were there safe and sound, and we were also relieved to discover that we weren't the only people stupid enough to bring these items, there were plenty of phone and cameras in the drawer of the little desk at the entrance to the synagogue, but no "little man"!

We walked back to the hotel, congregated in the lobby for wine and conversation, and then to the dining room for Shabbat dinner, which we were really not hungry for, but managed to eat just a little.

Tomorrow is a big day, so trying to get to sleep early.