Cooper R.: Yom HaAtzmaut Service

Yesterday we went to the synagogue in Florence, and it was an amazing experience. We watched and participated in the service. It was really cool to see how other countries do their services. The rabbi read very fast and by the time I figured out what prayer he was doing, he already finished. At the end of the service he blew the shofar, and we all sang Hatikvah.

Ian W.: Basketball and Soccer at the Park

Yesterday we went to the park next to the synagogue. It was a really cool and interesting experience because we got to play soccer with kids our age and join a pickup game of basketball. Palmer and I played in the first pickup game of basketball. It was really fun and competitive and the guys were super nice. I was surprised how fun it was and how cool it was.

Noah C.: Houses of a Bridge

One cool thing we saw was downtown Florence. We saw some cool statues and a very cool bridge with houses on it. I thought it was interesting to see how older Florence was made.

Lila S.: Jewish Connections - The Synagogue in Florence:

The outside of the synagogue looked like a palace. It was the biggest synagogue I had ever seen. Not only is it the biggest synagogue in Florence, but it is also the only one in Florence. When we stepped inside, it felt magical, and it was so crazy to me how large the synagogue was. We then listened to the tour guide describe the synagogue in great detail before we went upstairs to see a miniature museum. In conclusion, I thought that the synagogue was very interesting and beautiful. I also thought that the museum taught us a lot about the history of the synagogue and Italian Jews in the Holocaust.