Dealing with the history of the State of Israel will - at some point - need to focus on the wars, battles and scars gained from a country only 62 years of age. One of the most difficult battles was held at Ammunition Hill in June 1967. It was a military post in Jordanian controlled East Jerusalem and a strategically important point for the release of the isolated Hadassah Hospital and Hebrew University in East Jerusalem. Covering no more than half-a-mile in length, the battle - mostly hand-to-hand combat, lasted nearly 5hrs. The pupils were able to walk through the trenches and taste the atmosphere and were treated to a new presentation using archival video footage and interactive maps. In 1975, a memorial site was inaugurated in which a part of the old post was preserved and a museum was built. One wall in the museum lists the names of the 182 Israeli soldiers killed in the battles for the capture of Jerusalem. In 1987, the site was declared a national memorial site. The main ceremony on Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) is held there.

Now imbued with a sense of survival against all odds, we now headed to the Herzl Museum. To many he is the is considered to be the first 'modern Zionist', and extremely influential in creating the modern state of Israel. Here, through this museum, our pupils were introduced to the man, his thoughts, his background and his ideas to further comprehend his aims. They learned that he helped organize zionists in Europe behind a new collective banner, the World Jewish Congress, that he secured funding to buy land in Israel and helped gain support for the zionist cause from various governments.

After an intense and uplifting morning we settled to lunch in the Jerusalem Forest. Some of the most impressive sites in Israel are natural ones. In Jerusalem and its outskirts are some magnificent forests. The Jerusalem Forest is but a short bus ride from Mount Herzl and is an excellent place to witness the greenery of Israel. This forest is also home to a special memorial to President Kennedy and also, where we ate, to Raoul Wallenberg. Kennedy's memorial building resembles the stump of a tree that was chopped down in its prime. It consists of 51 columns in a circle, representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Inside, an eternal flame burns in front of a bust of JFK. The surrounding trees were also planted in the President's honour. The Raoul Wallenberg memorial stands at the beginning of the wooded area named in his memory.

Rested, satisfied and fortified we set off for Machaneh Yehuda Market - a real market experience. Often referred to as the 'Shuk', it is an outdoor marketplace in Jerusalem. The market is located between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street. Apart from fresh fruits and vegetables, one can purchase baked goods, fish, meat, prepared food, spices, clothing and shoes, homeware goods, textiles and even Judaica. On Thursdays and Fridays, the marketplace is bustling with shoppers stocking up for Shabbat - of which we were too!!!

Before Shabbat arrived we had a couple of snaps taken of the group together. We are all looking forward to a restful and fulfilling Shabbat in Jerusalem.

The Year 9 Israel Team