Diaspora museum

On Thursday we had a planned ICC class, to got to Tel Aviv and tour around the diaspora museum and Neve Tzedek.  It ended up being a very rainy day.  We still went to the diaspora museum, just not to Neve tzedek. The diaspora museum was very interesting, from the time of the times of 4,000 years ago.... to the modern days. 

Quote near the end of the exhibit

Synoguge in Alexandria, Egypt

Synagogue in Alexandria, Egypt

Synagogue in Cochin, India

One of the sections of the exhibit that I went to was one all about our personal history. They had computers set out in order for us to research our geneology. I was so excited to be able to do this, especially at a place like the 'Diaspora Museum', where the whole emphasis on the museum is on the history of the Jewish people and to connect people back to their roots. 

I got out all the family history documents that I had on my phone, and I typed in a bunch of different family last names. Last names that had been changed in the past, and that are still in the family. I found a bunch of results, not ones that I personally recognize, but I think my grandparents recognized some of them.  Everyone from my group was so excited about the chance to look up their family's history. Mainly because we are going to Poland in a few weeks, and we are preparing family history and names to bring with us to Poland.  Below are pictures that I took on all of the results that came up. 

Chodirker family

Kaplun family

On the way to the staircase on the second floor is a caged light that is pictured below. We were asked to fill in a sheet for our ICC class. One of the questions was 'what do you think this caged light symbolizes?'  After seeing all the tough times in our history, throughout the museum.  We often find a way to bring negativity into positivity. I think the caged light symbolizes that throughout all the tough times, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Something or someone is always looking out for us, after all the hardship. 

'Caged light' in the museum

Menorah at the end of the exhibit 

I felt that this museum had a great message. Although, they were very keen on advertising throughout the exhibition that all the Jewish people should be living in Israel to make the story complete.  In truth, the reason that we are such a unified and participatory religion and culture is because we are all spread out around the world. I think that this is an integral part of the Jewish religion. We will most likely always be spread out, but 

Israel will always be my (our) home and one that I (we) will always come back to!!