Soon after lunch it was time to board the double-decker bus, two of them in fact, for the trip to Israelitische Taubstummenanstalt, the Jewish school for the Deaf they had been talking about in the lectures - known as ITA - Berlin. Many of us excitedly boarded and chatted away on what seemed like a long trip towards the East Berlin area. We noticed the drab, tall apartment buildings and even noticed some logos of Lenin still on the walls. It was a strange feeling, especially when this afternoon turned cloudy and misty. We went wow when the bus drivers expertly navigated their way on those itty bitty streets. At one navigating point Mark Zaurov got out of the bus and made a speech - he was showing us what buildings we would see very soon.

Finally we reached the building that housed ITA - Berlin - a gorgeous, red-brick four story architecture. From the bus everyone could see this beautiful red-marble plaque honoring the 146 Jewish Deaf who were murdered in camps. I wished I videotaped what happened next: many of us made a beeline for that plaque like a herd of cattle, and Deaf German Harald Weickert told wonderful stories about the plaque as well as something about the old farm across the street. Mark Zaurov rushed in, with a big smile - he told Harald we can come back, but we need to start the tour now in the back of the school.

We went around the back to see this lovely playground, grassy area and a gazebo. There were chairs and benches set up for us to sit on, and Zaurov started by introducing this nice hearing German woman, who is currently the director of a school for children who are mentally retarded and other disabilities. She started by telling us the history about ITA - Berlin, when the East German government gave her this building for her school. She did not know the building's history, but knew it was a school a long time ago. She smiled, looking at Israel Savir - she said she was so excited when Israel Savir came to visit three years ago and told her all about ITA - Berlin. She said it was like the walls came alive! She said this building serves a very important reminder, and that after Israel finishes his speech we would be allowed to tour this school.

Israel Savir stood up and came forward for his speech. He came to this school in 1927 and stayed there until 1936. He explained that the school was missing a wing, destroyed by the bombing of Berlin in 1945 - but fortunately the major part of the school was still there. It was as if Israel was there yesterday: he pointed out where the dining hall was, along with the boys and girls dorms, the classrooms, the washrooms, the principal's office, the carpentry room and so forth. When Israel talked about the carpentry room, he talked about this Deaf German who taught carpentry because he was not Jewish. The Deaf Germans got excited because they knew who Israel was talking about! Israel explained about the school so methodically: going from the basement to the very top floor, which only had three rooms. I could visualize the Deaf children going to classes, eating and playing. Israel went on about the back of the school: where they played, what they did including Physical Education. One participant asked Israel what the regular schedule was like, and Israel answered: "We'd get up at six o'clock, get ready by washing our faces and brushing our teeth. We'd make our beds, and put on our clothes. Breakfast was at eight o'clock, and our school started at nine o'clock. We had lunch break at one, and I remember our lunches were very small - just a glass of milk and a slice of bread. Then we'd play and return to classes. We'd play more, and have dinner at 6. We went to bed at 9:00 p.m." There were more questions for Israel about the school, and someone asked him how old he was - he didn't want to say, but then someone else knew his age - 85 years old! Israel added that the Deaf children who went to this school came from all over Europe, not just Germany, which was why there were so many Deaf Jewish children at this particular school.

Then Zaurov told us it was time to tour the school, but in three groups. We formed in three groups, and the first one went in. I was in the second, and we went in this narrow stairway towards the second floor. It was quite beautiful inside, and obviously the school has been renovated, but its classrooms and other rooms remain the same in size - tall ceilings as well as having wood floors. I could imagine what it was like in the past, with darker walls - the walls now were cream-colored, and the desks are all modern. It was such an odd feeling for me walking along its halls, because I suddenly realized this was where the 146 Deaf Jewish children were, all taken away by Nazis to be put in camps. I shivered.

After we finished the tour, we were now going to the Holocaust memorial, where I had gone with Jochen's group the previous Monday. This time we visited the museum beneath the blocks and the uneven sidewalks - this museum is very much like the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, but much smaller in scale. After we finished going through the museum, we came up for Zaurov's short speech explaining about the blocks, just as Jochen had explained the previous Monday. Then he gave the floor to Rabbi Fred Friedman, who said a prayer that was quite fitting for this moment.

We made it just on time, at six o'clock as there was a contract with the buses to return us by six! We only had a hour and half to get ready for the Gala, the "black tie" dinner at the Rotes Rathaus (The Red House) - we had seen this building on the way to ITA - Berlin. The Gala will be the "more to come" next in this continuing report of the DHI conference.