I had been waiting for the trip to Baltimore since last March when BT students and teachers had visited our country. The date of the trip finally came and it is unbelievable how fast the time went by and the trip is already over.
Many people asked me about how it was. My answer is that it was phenomenal. But this word cannot describe how I feel. It is impossible to express in words how magical this week was to me.
Some people asked me what I had enjoyed the most during the trip. Honestly, I cannot answer this question, because I cannot choose only one from the thousands of unbelievable moments. When I think about the days we spent in Baltimore memories are continuously popping up in my head: the corridors of the school, the lessons, the synagogues in Baltimore, the view of Washington, jumping in Sky Zone, the conversations, laughing a lot, the games we played and of course the highlight of the week, the Shabbaton.
During the trip, we both learned from each other. We learned from BT teachers and students, but also from our students, who taught me that if I pushed myself and step out of my comfort zone I could achieve goals that first might seem impossible.
I’m extremely happy that I experienced this memorable week with my colleagues. Preparation for the lessons was really good. Our hard work was worth it because our lessons were successful. All the participants enjoyed it, even the ones who were just looking from outside.
During the week in Baltimore (just as during their visit in March) I noticed the happiness of togetherness. It was heart-warming to see that the connection was getting stronger and stronger between us.
The last part of the trip was the amazing Shabbaton at a beautiful place surrounded by nature. During the weekend our Jewish identity got stronger by praying a lot and singing together as one community. We played different games and had many amazing conversations. At the end of the Shabbat meal, each and everyone got a book written by Rabbi Soskil.
Last but not least I would like to say thank you for SOS International: Enriching Jewish Identities for the opportunity and also to BT for the warm welcome and the cooperation. I’m extremely excited about the upcoming journey. I also want to say thank you to Glynis Smith and Alan Reinitz who put all their heart and soul into the program and without them, this unforgettable adventure could not come true.
We are looking forward to seeing you again in March. ~ Zita Bauer, SSG Educator, Elementary School Teacher, Sciences
