Holy Landing: WBC team on tour of Israel

JERUSALEM — The sun has set in Jerusalem, issuing in the Sabbath, or Shabbat. It seemed a perfect time to pause and reflect on the action-packed 48 hours the American Jewish baseball players have had since arriving in Israel on Wednesday.

Here to help grow the game of baseball, represent Team Israel — as they will in South Korea in March in the World Baseball Classic — as well as explore their own connections to being Jewish and this country, the 10 players on this trip have had two days of a whirlwind tour thus far. Here are the highlights, many of which will be included in a documentary about the trip and Team Israel called “Heading Home,” by Ironbound Films.

• ‘A huge honor’: Players embark on Israel tour

Arrival and Jaffo

After arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, the players got a quick tour of Jaffo, the ancient city adjacent to Tel Aviv. There, they were greeted by members of the Breslov community and danced in the streets. 

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— HeadingHome (@HeadingHomeDoc) January 4, 2017

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• World Baseball Classic schedule, tickets

A dinner at a Georgian restaurant (as in the European nation, not the American South), involved both a belly dancer and a visit from former ambassador and current Knesset member Michael Oren, were the highlights. 

Day 1: Independence Hall, Graffiti art, bike tour, Baptist Village

Players started the day visiting Independence Hall, the site where David Ben Gurion, the country’s first prime minister, announced the …

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