Before Shabbat Starts, I wanted to let you know that the last day of service on our trip has been one of the most powerful.
We started the day meeting with 3 survivors from the Odessa Ghettos. From this meeting, we went to the park where we joined our Odessan friends to help clean around the monument to the Holocaust that is part of a park in downtown Odessa. Something notable is that this monument is not stand-alone. As we worked, many families with small children were playing in the park.
We also had the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat (a little early) with some of the elderly clients of the Joint's Hesed program. Their energy was incredible and they were so excited for these beautiful, young, energetic American students to spend time with them and better get to know life in Odessa. Our students are incredibly grateful, also, for the gifts that the members of Hesed made for us after meeting us earlier this week. We are here to give to this community, but I think that, in addition to the beautiful gifts we have received today from our new friends, everyone who is a part of this community from the University of Delaware (UD) and JDC Short-Term Service, has gained an incredible amount from this experience.
We started the day meeting with 3 survivors from the Odessa Ghettos. From this meeting, we went to the park where we joined our Odessan friends to help clean around the monument to the Holocaust that is part of a park in downtown Odessa. Something notable is that this monument is not stand-alone. As we worked, many families with small children were playing in the park.
We also had the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat (a little early) with some of the elderly clients of the Joint's Hesed program. Their energy was incredible and they were so excited for these beautiful, young, energetic American students to spend time with them and better get to know life in Odessa. Our students are incredibly grateful, also, for the gifts that the members of Hesed made for us after meeting us earlier this week. We are here to give to this community, but I think that, in addition to the beautiful gifts we have received today from our new friends, everyone who is a part of this community from the University of Delaware (UD) and JDC Short-Term Service, has gained an incredible amount from this experience.
We wish you all a Shabbat of Peace, relaxation and love and look forward to speaking with and seeing you all in a couple days when we are back in the US.
UD Staff
Celebrating Shabbat at Hesed
It has been wonderful to read all of the posts! Thanks so much for taking the time to let us "join" you on the trip. Love the pictures. Mazal Tov on jobs well done. Shabbat Shalom. Deirdre Barlaz, Raleigh, NC
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