Visit to the Jewish Synagogue
For a Family Home Evening activity with the YSA, we visited the Neu Synagogue in Berlin. It was originally built in the mid 1800's as the main synagogue for the large Jewish community there. It is an example of beautiful, Moorish style architecture capped with one of the most spectacular domes in Berlin. It was the largest synagogue in Europe with seating for 3,200 people.
This synagogue was damaged but survived (due to an anti-Natzi police officer) the Nov. 9, 1938 "Kristallnacht" when Nazi looters rampaged across Germany. It was badly damaged during WWII and reconstructed in the mid 1980's. Today, Jewish services are once again held here - however, most of the building houses offices and a museum.
Our YSA Student Council had arranged for a Jewish guide to take us through the synagogue and museum. She gave much interesting information about the Jewish religion and answered the many questions our group asked. I think that she was a bit surprised at how much our YSA knew about the history of the Jews and the interesting questions that they posed to her.
We gathered after our tour for some pictures.
Our Group
This plaque gives a brief history of the synagogue.
A truly beautiful building
Hebrew writing on the building's facade
Another group photo
Our friend Susan joined our group for the tour and was kind enough to interpret the information from German into English for me.
ZTM - Zone Training Meeting
We met on Tuesday for Zone Training Meeting with our Berlin North Zone. This gave us an opportunity to hear President Kosak speak and to have an interview with him. He is a great mission president and always has a spiritual and uplifting message for his missionaries!
Goodbyes
Missions bring many goodbyes. First of all when you leave home for the mission field and then as missionaries that you work with and come to love and appreciate finish their missions and return home. Elder Ruckower was one of those missionaries that we were privileged to serve with. He was our District Leader for 4 1/2 months and an outstanding young man. He returned home to Freiburg, Germany this week.
We enjoyed a pizza lunch with him and other missionaries and friends.
I think I remember seeing that Jewish Synagogue. How neat that you got to tour it with your YSA and Susan. You'll be saying your goodbyes in not too long :)
ReplyDeletePS I love the bear at the top of your blog!
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful building. I think they should make a necklace replica. That's me- always thinking jewelry. I bet the guide was surprised that your group knew so much Jewish history. That kind of gives me chills - a Mormon group touring a Jewish synagogue.
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