Today TWJ Bus 1 and 2 went to a food bank in Los Angeles in order to prepare different foods for those who are less fortunate and cannot afford to put 3 meals a day on their tables. We went through different food items that were sent to the food bank and we had to differentiate which foods were suitable to give to those who need the food and which weren’t. Seeing the different food that I was packing truly gave me a different perspective on those who are not fortune enough to have meals every single day. I saw many food items that I would find on my table at home. This truly allowed me to realize that I take the food that I receive every day for granted. Those people who go hungry every single day do not have the same luxuries that I have and would do anything in this world to have those luxuries so that allowed me to realize how thankful I am.
After this, we went to shop for a bit and enjoyed the rest of the day. The Hollywood walk of fame, the grove and many other scenic areas of LA were quite the treat to see. We got back to hotel and ate our final meal before the fast of Tisha Be’Av. We got into spirit of Tisha Be’Av by sitting on the floor with candles lit up all around the room. We listened to stories and history of the Jews during the tough times of Tisha Be’Av. This really shifted the mood for everyone and we transitioned from a happy and funny trip to a temporary period of sorrow and mourning. Although it may not be pleasant to take a pause during this extremely fun trip, it is necessary to realize how fortunate we are to be in Los Angeles enjoying our vacation with all our friends. We are going to visit the Museum of Tolerance tomorrow and I, along with all my friends, are very intrigued to experience a part of our Jewish history. On a side note, I love all the people on the trip along with the amazing madrichim. (D. Kramer and Hillel)
In conclusion, today was a very interesting and interactive way to truly comprehend the sorrows of people from our past and present. I say its interactive due to the fact that we participated in these activities today and saw we could help prevent pain in the future. By remembering those who suffered for us from the past and helping people today at the volunteer center, it was a good feeling to see that we could make a difference and help bring smiles to people’s faces. It was a humbling, educational and incredible day in TWJ.

peace and love,
Ronel, Zack and Ariel