The Charlotte Jewish News - September 2010 - Page 21 A Jew in Jerusalem, Everything is All Right By Amy Krakovitz me, for delivering me to this The kids in our group, As we continue in the dry heat moment and the many to and even some adults, work along the road to Jerusalem, our come. out some stored up energy guide Doron Ezra, makes us feel Then Steve plays another by climbing on the tanks at home in Israel. “Diaspora Jews well-known tune, “By the and creeping out onto the and Israelis are like the wings of Rivers of Babylon,” words long guns in front. bird,” he says. “The bird can’t fly from the prophets, tune from Lunch, our first meal in without both wings.” This is as Bob Marley. It expresses the Israel, is at the café right much our country as it is his, he longing we all have and have here in Latrun. We are met tells us. I believe it already. had to bring our bodies and with an impressive array of Tour guide Doron Ezra, Rabbi Judy We arrive at the Burma Road souls into this land of our salads awaiting us on the Schindler, and Steve Burnstein overlooking overlook. Here we can see an Jake Gilbert and Josh Rappaport explore the ancestors. tables. With the pita bread the Burma Rd. expanse of dry land along the hills tanks at Latrun. Just a short drive down the and juice, that alone would in the distance. There is a stone road is Latrun, closely con- have been enough food, but more precious metals. My eyes can’t wall with a map and a plaque that nations,” someone answers. nected to the Burma Road as this comes: chicken, potatoes, hot veg- drink enough of the view. I want explains what we are looking at. “And the wine?” was where stood the Arab strong- etables, and dessert. Too much to stay here longer, but it’s time to Inspired by World War II sto- This time it’s one of the kids, hold that threatened transport in food and all too good. move on to our hotel. ries of the bypass from Japan to Kate Frankenberg, who responds. and out of Jerusalem. After the During lunch we get a surprise Determined not to let jetlag China, Col. Mickey Marcus (an “Grapes grow here!” she offers. War of Independence, it remained visit from an old friend, Rabbi conquer me, I decide that during American Jew who volunteered in Steve smiles. in Jordanian hands until its libera- Miri Gold from Birkhat Shalom in our free afternoon in Jerusalem, I Israel’s War for Independence) “What about the challah?” tion in 1967. Kibbutz Gezer comes to say hello. will not sleep. The Dan Panorama named this makeshift thorough- Now a chorus of voices answer. Today it is a museum and She stays only briefly. We will see is just a few blocks from Ben fare the Burma Road. To avoid the “The wheat! You grow the wheat memorial to soldiers fallen in all her for Shabbat on Friday night. Yehuda Street. I am going to take barrage of fire that came from in Israel!” Israeli wars. The outdoor display I have been gone from home a walk down there myself. Arab-controlled Latrun, this alter- Steve swings his guitar up and includes more than 100 tanks and just over 24 hours and my heart is “Are you sure you’ll be all native route was constructed in strums the recongnizable brachot armored vehicles used by the full already. How could I know right?” Rabbi Judy asks me. 1948. from Shabbat and we all join in. Israeli fighting forces for more that the next stop on our itinerary “Judy,” I answer, “I’m a Jew in As we stand overlooking one of Then he finishes with the she- than 60 years. would bring it near to bursting. Jerusalem. What could be bad?” the many brainstorms that aided hecheyanu. On the way to our Nothing. Nothing could be bad. in the salvation of Israel in 1948, Yes, I am thinking, hotel, we stop at the It’s a simple walk on a simple we are met by Steve Burnstein, thank you, God, for at last Haas Promenade, part street yet for me it is full of excite- our representative from Israel bringing me to the land I of a public park of ment and mystery and discovery. Experts, the tour company that has have loved for so long. I walkways and paths, I take Keren Yesod St. to King created our trip. am breathing the air, dry with an overlook to George St. I get that “everyone With his acoustic guitar in one and hot though it may be; Jerusalem. Here is my here is Jewish” amazement again. hand, and plastic symbols of I am looking at the land, first view of the holy Every door has a mezuzah on it! Shabbat in the other, Steve gathers green some places, brown city and it is clear why Most people in the US don’t even us together and shows us how the in others; I can feel the it is called “Jerusalem know what a mezuzah is. It’s new familiar objects he holds are true stones under me, these of Gold.” Not just the and familiar at the same time. connections to the land. special stones that were gold of the dome, but Have I been here before? Did I see “Why are the candles a connec- used to build our great the way the sun hits the that café in a film or in a dream? tion to Israel?” he asks. temples and sanctuaries. The group on the Haas Promenade with Jerusalem in the Jerusalem stone in the Wasn’t that building something “Israel is a light among the Thank you for sustaining background. Old City shines like (Continued on page 22).