Beginning of the academy

The first two days of the academy have been great!  It has been so wonderful reconnect with friends from last summer and to make new friends this summer!  I especially loved going back to the New (Neu) Synagogue on day 1 of the academy.  For me, this place means a lot because it is the first reform/liberal synagogue  in Germany, and the first female rabbi (ever!) worked there, even though she only played a small role.  Today, day 2 of the academy, we saw the last remaining piece of the Berlin Wall that has no graffiti.  Listening to what it was like to be in East Berlin and wanting to leave  was amazing.  The area of no man's land divding East and West was so small, but yet the two sides were world's apart in so many ways.  This afternoon, presentations by fellow Centropa educators were also great!  Everyone on the trip is doing such creative work -- it is inspiring to learn both from and with them.  We had a good start on the Kindertransport elective line, of which I am the coordinator.   We have a lot to do, but are ready to go!  More to come...