Day eight provided us with some insight to the youth and various cultural groups of Israel. We spent the morning at Yemin Orde Youth Village. It is a home to 440 children from around the world. The Village has welcomed children from France, North Africa, Iran, India, Yemen, Eastern Europe and South America. Most of the children have suffered trauma in their young lives from isolation and neglect to abandonment and extreme poverty. At Yemin Orde, they find a home, a family and a future. It was an amazing campus and the way that these kids have thrived through many difficult life challenges was refreshing and encouraging.
Our afternoon was spent in a local Druze home where we were served traditional Druze food. One of my favorite meals of the trip. We also learned a little bit more about the Druze as a people. They are originally from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, but some have migrated to Israel near the Golan Heights. They have their own religion and only marry within their own people, and yet, they also serve in the Israeli army. It was a very fascinating lunch!
Our last stop of the day was Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv reminded me so much of Miami, Florida. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea so it has that casual, beachy feel, but it also has the profound architecture of a thriving metropolis. I loved Tel Aviv and really wish that we had had a couple of more days to explore.
Anyway, on our first night in Tel Aviv, we had arranged to meet Dione, Katz, Becky and Yehudah for dinner at a Ethiopian restaurant. It was the so fantastic and I do not typically even like Ethiopian food. After dinner and catching up with our family, we headed out to the experience the bars and nightlife of Tel Aviv.
Our afternoon was spent in a local Druze home where we were served traditional Druze food. One of my favorite meals of the trip. We also learned a little bit more about the Druze as a people. They are originally from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, but some have migrated to Israel near the Golan Heights. They have their own religion and only marry within their own people, and yet, they also serve in the Israeli army. It was a very fascinating lunch!
Our last stop of the day was Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv reminded me so much of Miami, Florida. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea so it has that casual, beachy feel, but it also has the profound architecture of a thriving metropolis. I loved Tel Aviv and really wish that we had had a couple of more days to explore.
Anyway, on our first night in Tel Aviv, we had arranged to meet Dione, Katz, Becky and Yehudah for dinner at a Ethiopian restaurant. It was the so fantastic and I do not typically even like Ethiopian food. After dinner and catching up with our family, we headed out to the experience the bars and nightlife of Tel Aviv.
Stop One ~ Yemin Orde Youth Village
Learning about the Jewish Aliyah from Ethiopia
About Yemin Orde
Stop Two ~ A home-cooked Druze meal
Last Stop ~ Tel Aviv
Dinner with Dione, Katz, Becky and Yehudah
After dinner drinks ...
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