We were all excited to visit Jerusalem on Wednesday. Our first stop was Yad Sarah, Israel's largest voluntary organization, which provides free or nominal cost services designed to make life easier for sick, disabled, and elderly people and their families. Yad Sarah`s mission is to keep the ill and the elderly in their homes as long as possible. Yad Sarah lends medical and rehabilitative equipment on a short-term basis free of charge to anyone who needs it. The delegation was so impressed with Yad Sarah's services and medical innovative medical equipment that we asked them to open a branch in Los Angeles.
The delegation also met with lawyers from Yad Riva, a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to elderly who suffer from various forms of abuse and exploitation. Yad Riva is supported by more than 100 volunteer lawyers throughout Israel. The delegation heard about the organization's efforts to reach the more insular communities in Israel in order to provide their elderly with necessary education and services.
After lunch, the delegation toured Yad Vashem, a museum that is considered the Jewish people’s living memorial to the Holocaust. It is dedicated to documentation, research, education, and commemoration of the Holocaust. The museum was designed to give its visitors an emotional, interactive, and visceral experience.
Finally, the delegation arrived in Jerusalem's Old City. The Old City is divided into four quarters: the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian. These four peoples exist side-by-side in space filled with visitors from all over the world. We couldn't believe that we were acutally standing in front of the Wailing Wall! Oh, and there's the Church of the Holy Sepulchre! Is that the Mount of Olives and the Dome of the Rock that I see in the distance? We left Jerusalem feeling awed and satisfied and hoping we would get to return one day.
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