Students ‘Visit’ Sights of Israel

Without leaving Encino, the 322 students of Valley Beth Shalom Day School accomplished the seemingly impossible task of flying to Israel and touring the Middle East nation--all within a span of a mere six hours.

The tour was actually a simulated journey that took place Thursday at the school in celebration of Israel’s 50th birthday.

“This is the culmination of our yearlong celebration of the 50th birthday of Israel and today’s activity is a full day in the state of Israel,” said Tamar Raff, director of Judaic studies at the elementary day school. The students began the day by boarding a flight on El Al Israeli Airlines from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv.

During the 45-minute simulated flight, which took place at the school’s Malkin Hall, the students were treated to crackers and an in-flight movie--the Israeli version of the children’s show “Sesame Street.”

Upon arrival, the students were subjected to long lines through customs and passport checks, which added an authentic touch.

The tour included visits to a Yemenite Village, the Gadna Army Base and an open market, where the students were given 30 shekel (about $9) in spending money.

“This is fun because I’ve never been to Israel before and I’m Jewish,” said fifth-grader Jeremy Musighi, 11, of Encino.

A visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem provided an opportunity for the students to write down their prayers on paper, fold them into tiny squares and squeeze them in between the cracks of the stones.

“I wrote for my family to live a long and happy life,” said 8-year-old David Alpert of Encino.

The second-grader added: “I also wished that my parents can live long enough to see their grandchildren.”

Other sights in Jerusalem included the Chagall Windows at Hadassah Hospital, the Biblical Zoo and the Israel Museum.

After a day of touring and sightseeing, the students enjoyed falafel, a patty of ground vegetables stuffed into a pita pocket, for lunch at a restaurant on Dizengoff Street, a main route in Tel Aviv.

The day’s activities concluded with the students writing postcards home about their day in Israel.