Day Nine (Group A - Jerusalem) - Politics, Then and Now (Myra Baylin)

Thursday, October 18:

We spent the day learning about Jerusalem. First we drove in a minivan to the Museum of Underground Prisoners which was a prison established by the British to house common criminals and Jewish Freedom Fighters. The building was originally a Russian Women’s Hostel.

We saw the facilities where the prisoners were held, the kitchens, synagogue and exercise yard. We heard inspiring stories of prison breaks and two young men who chose to end their own lives rather than being executed by the British.

Next we went to lunch on Ben Yehuda Street. We enjoyed pizza and shawarma and ice cream. Some of us did a little shopping. Then we picked up Iftach Berman who gave us a very informative lecture on the geopolitical situation of Jerusalem. We stopped at an overlook of the city where he pointed out the various sections of the city and the border wall. He told us the history of the city since 1948.

We returned to the bus and traveled to another overlook of Bethlehem and several settlements. We learned the history of the area. Next, we headed for Ammunition Hill. We traveled thru several Ultra Orthodox neighborhoods to Ammunition Hill, the site of a 1967 battle between Jordan and Israel. 

The heavily fortified hill was held by the King of Jordan’s elite guard. The Israeli’s attacked, losing 24 men in the process, and sadly failed to take the Hill. Fifteen Medals of Honor were earned in the battle. It is now a national memorial. 

We returned to the Hotel and joined the group that had gone to Masada. Then went for dinner.