Breakfast started with a lot of stress: Everybody was very busy trying to figure out which tour through Berlin one should take. Quite a challenge after one week of personal and group interaction in the set framework of the program! This is what we did:
The Berliners among us volunteered to show us “their” Berlin. For the first time we had the opportunity to get a flavor of the city.
But before heading off we met the Israeli Ambassador in Berlin who tried to give us an inside look into current German-Israeli relations.
Session with the Israeli Ambassador to Berlin (left)
The Ambassador pointed out that the relationship between the two countries is still a very special one. He emphasized the strength of the German-Israeli friendship. The Ambassador pointed out that the Iranian issue should be of great concern for the entire western world and not only for the Israelis. He stressed the need of open discussions between Germany and Israel putting all crucial topics on the table. He admitted that it is sometimes difficult to explain the Israeli position to the German public being absorbed by its own concerns.
The ambassador’s punctuality and a tight schedule allows an early departure of the individual groups. The ‘Berlin exploration’ can start: boat tour, East / Western Berlin, Berlin-Mitte, Kreuzberg, Alexanderplatz, Ku-Damm, ….
A few representative impressions of the day
Amir: “Ich bin ein Berliner”
Keren: ‘there was a drop with no shop’
Lior: Berlin is a beautiful city especially by boat but it is the people not the sights I am going to miss’
Yael: Berlin is one of the most beautiful cities – breathtaking’
Anja: I realized today that the Berlin Wall was only build 15 years after war.
Haya: ‘The police officer was very tall – social worker …’ Thank you, Bilkay.
Rene: After being away for two days, you cannot imagine how quickly you miss the tribe
Christian: A lot of intellectual back-rubbing today about art
Gilad: Thank God, Volker’s wife is an architect
The bus doors close and we drive off to Schloss Golm – the picture will tell the stories of one week and a memorable closing evening.
Good night – see you all back in December.
(Uri, Carl)
