Excursion and Dinner

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On Wednesday, June 27th, following the final session of the day, we will visit the ANZAC museum.

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"The ANZAC acronym came from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, formed in Egypt prior to the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War. The corps was the higher formation for all Australian and New Zealand soldiers. It then gave its name to ANZAC Cove, on the Gallipoli peninsula, and at first was only used to identify the men who took part in the Gallipoli landings, although it later came to mean "any Australian or New Zealand soldier of the First World War." Both the 'ANZAC' and the 'Anzac' versions of the acronym have been protected by the Commonwealth Government of Australia."

(taken from Wikipedia.com; more details here)

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"The ANZAC Memorial Center is a unique place in Israel that tells the story of the ANZAC soldiers and the conquest of Be’er Sheva in an experiential manner. Visitors to the center will journey to another continent, another time, and discover themselves in the process."

(taken from the ANZAC website; more details here)

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We will then walk in the Old City of Be'er Sheva, making various stops, including the British Cemetery and the Turkish train station (some information available here). We will also visit the site of the city's largest mosque, which Israeli authorities closed for worship in 1948. Since then, the Muslim community of the city and the region have been barred from using the mosque. We will discuss the relations between this aspect of the city's past and present and the official commemoration of Turkish and ANZAC losses and victories. Please bring comfortable shoes, and bear in mind that it is likely to be hot.

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We will end our excursion with dinner.