FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 65
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Jerusalem was about an hour’s
drive from Tel Aviv, where
we would hold my grandson
Blake’s bar mitzvah — the real
reason for our journey and to get
to know the historic city.
We checked into the Herbert
Samuel Hotel in the center of
town and found comfortable
rooms, and the hotel had a rooftop
restaurant for breakfast only
that off ered a huge buff et, and an
indoor pool. Th e friendly staff
helped me navigate the rooms
for our group.
Our fi rst stop of the day was to
a remarkable place that I had not
seen on my three prior visits to
Jerusalem: the premiere Caliber
3 training center for counter-terrorism.
We got an insiders’ tour.
First, we met with
a unique group of
injured Israeli soldiers
who created
the Brothers for Life,
a nonprofi t organization
that supports
on many levels the
soldiers who must
transition to life outside
the army, many
who still suff er from
their physical injuries
and mental
trauma.
I got to hear Motty
Gruvin tell his story,
and it particularly
touched me because
I could relate to how
he handled what happened to
him.
He told us that, at age 21, he
was ambushed and hurt so badly
that he didn’t want to live, and
was in a terrible state of depression.
He believed his life was
over. But he came under the protection
and care of the Brothers
for Life.
It’s made up of injured soldiers
like him, and slowly, with their
support, he recovered his mental
and physical strength and decided
to join the group, which he
candidly said “gave me a calling,
a purpose to live.”
Today, he’s an instructor for
Brothers for Life, helping former
Israeli Defense Force (IDF)
fi ghters. He recently got married
and is happily expecting his fi rst
child. Th e group helped him get
his life back!
Motty became our guide for
the day, walking us through the
counter-terrorism training center,
where Israeli soldiers and
people from around the world
come to learn and train.
Th ey brought us to the shooting
range where we actually got to
fi re rifl es with real bullets! Th en, it
was on to Krav maga (Israeli martial
arts training), showing us how
to handle a personal attack. I’m
sure I need more than one training
session, but it was a powerful
opportunity to see and hear military
training at its best!
We bid goodbye to our new
friend from Brothers for Life and
rode to the inspirational Western
Wall, the Kotel, the place where
Christian, Muslim and Jewish
worlds meet.
We went to a small section of
the western retaining wall of the
Temple Mount, which in ancient
times housed the fi rst and second
Temples of the Jewish people.
For 2,000 years, this wall was
the closest Jews could get to the
place where the Holy of Holies
stood, and Jews have been praying
there since. My grandson’s
bar mitzvah will take place at the
Western Wall.
We toured the remarkable network
of tunnels under the temple,
walking through and exploring.
It is an ongoing archeological
site, with diggings going
on daily, and researchers continually
fi nding ancient artifi ces
and paths that lead through the
ancient temple area.
Th anks to my friend, Eric
Gertler, who oversees the
Zuckerman Foundation in
Jerusalem, we had a private guide
to give us the history of the tunnels
and archeological fi ndings.
Oro Fisher guided us through
the winding narrow passages
where people walked thousands
of years ago.
From there, we made our way
to Luciana, an Italian restaurant
overlooking the walls of the
ancient city. I can tell you that
their pizza was thin-crusted and
loaded with cheese and spices.
Delicious!
But the day was not over. W
went to the Tower of David in the
old city by the Jaff a gate, where
were dazzled by a light show.
Th ere before our eyes, playing
out on the ancient walls, were
projected images and music, telling
a three-dimensional story of
the history of Jerusalem. I felt
like I could touch the fi gures on
the wall.
We were exhausted, but we
joyously made our way back to
the hotel, right in the center of
town. Outside our door were
musicians and singers entertaining
in the middle of the
square.
Stay tuned for more next week!
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
tweet me @vschneps
Walking in the footsteps of the ancients
Spencer Sohner learning krav
maga, Israeli martial arts
Learning about the tunnels of
Jerusalem with our guide
Oro Fisher guided us
on a tour of the old
city of Jerusalem
Jonah, Elizabeth
and Addy received
certifi cates from the
Brothers for Life
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