Last Friday I did work on my presentation. For Shabbat dinner I went to the Egyptian family's house that I went to with the Taglit-Birthright group from Cleveland a few weeks ago. They were happy to have me over. Dinner was extravagant and delicious. I had a good time talking to the grandchildren and hearing them both compliment and criticize my Hebrew. Saturday I didn't do anything special. I worked on my presentation and final report.
Sunday I went with Ilan and Octavian again to Horvat Omrit to work with the group of students from Macalester College. We worked with them again on mortar and stone conservation of the steps of the temple. After we finished with our teaching Ilan took us to some sites that he has worked on around Tiberias and that aren't usually open to the public. First we went to the synagogue at Migdal, which dates to the time of the Second Temple. It has mosaics and frescoes, as well as a stone block that is carved with images from the Temple, including a depiction of the Menorah. Nearby the synagogue are some excellently-preserved mikveh baths. After visiting the synagogue we went to see the theater that was part of the ancient Roman town of Tiberias. We didn't stay long because we had to head back to Bet She'an, but it was cool to see parts of the region that tourists don't normally see. I have never visited Tiberias, but I really hope I can go for a weekend trip sometime.
Sunday evening I left Bet She'an and went to my aunt and uncle's house in Bet Shemesh for the night, so I could wake up early and head over to the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem for our final presentations. My presentation went very well I think. It was a short summary and explanation of the work I did at the synagogue of Maoz Haim. The presentation was a spoken conservation report. I talked about the history and importance of the site, the problems and conservation issues, and the conservation work we did. I also gave recommendations about further work that needs to be done. It was quick and painless. After the presentations we had a quick meeting with the staff to give and get feedback, and then we were done. I headed back to Bet She'an.
So there it is. My time here is finished. I survived over five months studying conservation and working with experts and professionals all over the country. I really enjoyed my time here. It was a challenge getting accustomed to the way life is here in Israel, but I loved it all the same. My Hebrew has greatly improved. I had some wonderful experiences that I will never forget. I am so glad I went on this program. Thank you to the staff, Shelley, Alison, Ornit, Michael, Kamil, Raanan, all the professionals we worked with, and everyone else that was involved in the planning and execution of the program.
Even though I am sad that the program is finished and I will be leaving next week, I think I am ready to head home. I'm ready to go back to the US and see my friends and family again, to watch bad television and eat both delicious home-made food and icky fast-food.
If you want to hear more about my experience or know anything specific, just ask! Also check out my photos, I just added some new ones!
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