The journey is under way! 40 teens who did not know each other have met in Atlanta and have begun Etgar 36 2009.

Before the staff could even begin the planned ice breakers the teens started their own getting to know you games! They have bonded really quickly and it is a really bright and interesting group.

After the staff ran the planned ice breakers we went out to a pizza and salad dinner. This was followed by watching the movie, “The Journey”. It was made by a local young Jewish filmmaker and it documents his journey across America in which he interviewed famous and successful people, asking them what advice they would give to the future generation about what is meaningful in life. The cinematographer, Kathleen Kelly, who was also a major character of the movie came and spoke to the kids too. It was a powerful night and a great way to start the journey.

Tomorrow looks to be a great day as we will go to site where Leo Frank, a transplanted Jew, was lynched in the early 1900s. We will also visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non Violence as well as the AIDS Quilt.

It was a great first day!