I and the group arrived at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv this afternoon, where we were greeted by our wonderful guide, Lyana. Lyana is from Jerusalem, and she will be leading us all week. On our bus ride towards Jerusalem, Lyana provided a comprehensive overview of Israel's history, the land, and its people.
As we got closer to the incredible scenery of Jerusalem's hills, we saw the village of Ramat Shlomo, which you may recall became widely-known following Joe Biden's visit in March.
We met and chatted with Jerusalem Post journalist Khaled Abu Toameh during dinner. Mr. Toameh is an Israeli Muslim Arab, he is extraordinarily knowledgeable on Israeli-Palestinian issues, and his opinions are widely respected.
Following a vigorous and enlightening discussion with Mr. Toameh, I walked to Jerusalem's famous Ben Yehuda Street. Along the way, I had a chance to speak with a group of ultra-orthodox Jewish men, who brought me over to the beautiful Jerusalem Great Synagogue. We then talked with Rabbi Finklestein, who is the synagogue's executive director.
It has been an exciting Day One, with more great things to follow. Check back tomorrow for video and highlights of our day exploring the geopolitics of Jerusalem.
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