Galilee Tour

CAARI Galilee Touring Program in Review by Ron and Marilyn Nevsky, Sheila Fedder, Frances Dvorchik and Susan Horwitz (Director CAARI Program)
The days are flying by – it seems that there is no time to write. We know that friends and family are watching the blog – waiting to see what is happening. So… tonight we will try and give you a brief overview of what we have been doing. We must say that the weather (we don’t want to say this too loud so read this in a whisper) has greatly improved – we now have blue skies, sun and warmer temperatures. We had a few days of real winter weather – cold, rain, wind - but the spirit of the group never dampened and every day we set out for our destinations! We dressed in many layers – wore jackets, sweaters, turtlenecks, hats, gloves and raincoats – umbrellas worked sometimes. So…here goes!

Sunday, we left Tel Aviv for our journey north – first stop Ein Shemer. This is a Kibbutz in the middle of the Country. They have restored a portion of the kibbutz so that you understand what kibbutz life was like – back then! We had a wonderful guide - we baked bread (which turned out to be delicious – we were all so amazed with our creations) – had a tractor ride through the kibbutz so we could see what the kibbutz is like today. Times have changed and so has the kibbutz life-style.
From there we visited Haifa – viewing city and port from various lookouts – including a view from the Bahai Gardens – magnificent! On to Nahariya and our home for the next week.

Monday – Ted and Harriet Fredman wrote about our visit to Rosh Hanikra under stormy conditions.

Tuesday – Our first stop was the Ghetto Fighters Museum, located on a kibbutz. This is an outstanding facility and was the first Holocaust Museum in Israel – before Yad Vashem. Today they have the most modern visuals – all hi-tech, which tell the story of the resistance and personal stories of the survivors – many still live and/or lived on the kibbutz. One of the highlights, although not hi-tech by 21C standards, was a most incredible replica of Treblinka. This was re-created by one of the prisoners, and because he was a carpenter , and useful to the Germans, he actually survived. He was meticulous in recording the details, including measurements of the barracks, pits, etc., and then recreated the camp for the Museum, as well as evidence in the Adolph Eichman Trial. There were many death camps, in Poland, and Treblinka was one that operated for only one year and was responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths! The CAARI Canadians were proud of JNF Canada’s contribution to this wonderful Museum.
After the sobering visit we traveled to upper Nazareth to the Elite Chocolate Factory. Sorry to say that we don’t have pictures of this visit – as we were not allowed to photograph the tour – guess they were afraid we would show the pictures to Hershey Chocolate! If we had had a camera – you would have seen the 47 of us – dressed in red jackets and hats – we had to be sanitary! We loved the smell of the chocolate – with mouths watering we watched the conveyor belts filled with chocolate bars, cookies and cakes! We all wanted to sample some of the “rejects” but we had to wait until the end of the tour to sample – all that we could eat – and we can eat!! They gave us bags of candy and we were very happy campers!

Wednesday – The weather is looking better and better. Our first stop was at Bar’am Synagogue, which was from the Roman period. The site was truly beautiful and there was an abundance of arches and columns, with the corner stones still in place. We continued our journey along the northern border road – looking into Lebanon, and once again, everyone was impressed with the work of JNF, who constructed the new security road, for the protection of residents of kibbutzim and moshavim who live and travel in the area. It was the first time that many of the CAARI participants had been to the border. We were given an explanation of the second Lebanon War and the positions held by Hezbollah and the IDF. One of the local fruit farmers told us of their experiences on the kibbutz during the War, and his feelings about the situation, in general. This type of program is part of what makes CAARI so unique! After lunch in Kiryat Shmona (of course, we don’t miss a meal!), we went to the fantastic Agmon Hula Bird Migration Center, another JNF reclamation project. It has finally registered that JNF does so much more in Israel than planting trees.
The area was originally wetlands and swamp which was a devastating source of the malaria mosquito. It was drained in the 1950s, and a number of years later it was realized that this not ecologically sound. JNF once again undertook the project of re-flooding, and today it provides farmland and a major migration route for birds traveling back and forth between Europe and Africa.
We were treated to an amazing ride on a vehicle designed almost, one might say, in theater style to accommodate over 50 people. It was pulled by a tractor which took us through an area with approximately 24,000 cranes. Another tractor pulled a spreader that sprayed corn to feed them so that they wouldn’t attack the fields of crops in the valley. It was an amazing sight to watch the feeding frenzy! Watch and enjoy what we saw and heard!
After dinner we were treated to one of our regular speakers, Hadassah Bat Haim, a long time resident of Nahariya, who regaled us with her personal stories of her early days in Israel, told with her usual wry English wit.
was

Thursday, Feb.21
Hiking shoes, hats and water bottles (not empty!) we headed out for our picnic and northern hike. On our way, we stopped in the charming village of Rosh Pina. It was a glorious day, and the setting was truly representative of how things were built in the 1880s, with a fine example of a synagogue that is still in use today. The scenery really the icing on the cake – the flowering almond trees and spring flowers were beginning to show themselves to us. We had a very knowledgeable local guide who described the hardships experienced by the early settlers, and related a lot of folklore. We must admire their tenacity and determination to create a community of thriving farmers. The village is now comprised of many artists, quaint shops and cafes, including a marvelous chocolatier … it goes without saying, that some of the group managed to spend a few shekels too!
Back on the bus, and to our luncheon destination – the Banias! So, after revitalizing our bodies for the 2 hour hike, most of the group set off on the trail, through woods, waterfalls and ancient ruins. It was a perfect day for a hike, and so many tourists thought so too … people from far and wide came to view the Temple of Pan and enjoy the calm spring waters and general serenity of the area.

On Friday, we began the day at a lookout over the Biriya Forest, where we helped to plant trees last year when the hills were black with burnt debris. This area had terrible forest fires caused by Katusha rockets during the war with Lebanon. It was wonderful to see the saplings already making their difference to the hills. Then we traveled on to Safed and visited a very special cheese factory that has been functioning for 160 years of a family’s home in Safed. Araf , the great great grandson gave us the family history and explained the process was 6th generation. The cheeses are very special (and tasty too, as we got sample their specialities) and only sold in small stores in Israel.. Later we spent some time wandering around Safed before returning to the hotel to relax and get ready for Shabbat

Tomorrow we leave for the Dead Sea - stayed tuned for our next adventure.

Warm Regards,

Frances, Sheila, Ron and Marilyn and Susan

Galilee - Rosh Hanikra

Rosh Hanikra - by Ted and Harriet Fredman, Silver Springs, Maryland
The day started off partly sunny and cool, but our fearless leaders, Susan and Neil warned us that the weather could turn much cooler and rainy by the next two hours, and they even gave us five minutes to get warmer gear. Then, off we went! Our first stop was the reservoir at Kibbutz Rosh Hanikra, located on the Lebanese border, where were met by a kibbutz member – one of the most interesting aspects of our trip is meeting the people. This man was originally from New Zealand. He first came to Israel as part of Habonim your group with people from Australia and New Zealand and it was on this trip that he met his wife who was from Melbourne. They married and had three sons in Melbourne and then made Aliya. The rest is history – as he said. The reservoir, made by JNF about 12 years ago, was dug and covered with heavy duty plastic so that the water doesn’t go back to the ground and is distributed to the fields as needed. As we passed olive and banana groves – we admired the determination and dedication of this kibbutz. They now have two reservoirs, fed by the local springs and rain, and are now able to increase their field production.
We continued our journey, under the threatening skies. Our bus arrived at cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. As one of our leaders, Neil, completed providing some general information, many of us left the bus for the shiratim (rest rooms) below. We always make the best of a situation! We walked up the hill and took some striking pictures at the Sea below. It started to drizzle. I (Ted) went back to the bus and got an umbrella for wife Harriet and to my rain jacket. I found Harriet waiting for me to board a cable car. Once we all arrived below – we entered the grottos. There was a handrail to hold onto as the rock area was slippery from the seawater that sprays the floors and the waves crash against the rocks. There are openings in the rocks where the sea roared in so loud you couldn’t hear one speak. We made our way through path – stopping to take pictures and watch the crashing waves. After traveling through the grotto we emerged outside to find that the weather had drastically changed – it was now raining with heavy winds. Harriet and I remained fairly dry because of our umbrellas – others, without hats, looked like they had just washed their hair. Many participants were soaked and were quite happy that we returned to the hotel to so that they could change into dry clothes. Harriet and I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure. We love the closeness to the raging sea and riding in the cable cars down and back. I think others, who got wet, even shared our enthusiasm – maybe some didn’t – but it was a lot of fun and breathtaking scenery! Our leaders were right – it did rain! So...in the afternoon some of us played scrabble, bridge and rummy cube! In the evening Zev Kedem, from KKL, spoke to us about settlement in the Galilee.
Another CAARI adventure!
Warm Regards,
Ted and Harriet

by Selma Colbert
I loved visiting Rosh Hanikra and the reservoir near the Lebanon border. The reservoir was man-made to catch rainwater and water from a local spring. Black plastic lines the bottom of the reservoir – specially made to prevent evaporation. The views reminded me of my summers at a lake in New Hampshire.
I have not seen the grottos since 1985 and I was thrilled to see them again. We were caught in a rainstorm but it did not spoil it for me. I had a wonderful time and happy to see such progress in Israel.

"Community Service Appreciation Dinner

Appreciation Dinner

Each year we have a dinner to thank the principals, school administrators, teachers, hospital staff and all those that helped make the CAARI community service a success - including a salute to CAARI participants. The CAARI Choral sang original songs, Marilyn and Ron Nefsky wer the MC's, Rosalie Whitehill spoke about her CAARI experience and all enjoy a festive evening. This year Frances Dvorchik, from Canada, was selected the "Volunteer of CAARi 2008. Frances has tutored at Goloumb School for the past four years - and even on her days off she volunteers at the school! Arnold and Anice Stark were recognized for their volunteer efforts to bring CAARI to Canada - 36 Canadians were part of the CAARI program. Enjoy the pictures and video!

Enclosed is a letter from Lea Zaide, Head of Elementary Education in Tel Aviv thanking CAARI.

Letter to CAARI from the Tel Aviv Municipal Department of Education
February 11, 2008
On behalf of the Tel Aviv Municipal Department of Education, I would like to thank you personally for your invaluable assistance in the teaching and support of our pupils at Tel Aviv city schools. Your significant contribution has made considerable inpact, and we believe it is the beginning of what can become a wonderful tradition.
From speaking to the children, and from what we have seen ourselves, it is clear that they have greatly benefited from your educational reinforcement while driving great pleasure from your presence. Of special note are the personal, warm and significant relationships that have been build during your time with them.

We look forward to your next visit.
With our deep appreciation,
Sincerely yours,
Lea Zaide
Head of Elementary Education Department

Community Service

‘A “Our Thoughts” By Henry Olshin

We came back home to Israel – to old and new friends and to old and new smells and tastes. This year Sophie and I tutored English in Balfour Elementary school with 5 other CAARI participants. We were fortunate to be invited to have dinner with a your Israeli family of our of our students. They wanted to meet us and thank us for working with their son. The food was great and conversation ranged from family history to world politics. One of the many highs of our stay was chopping weeds around the olive trees in the JNF forest and helping the foresters to clear this brush. (President Bush should try this on his next trip to Israel). Visiting new museums, art galleries and parks is part of the charm and enjoyment of coming here year after year. L’Hitraot Sophie and Henry

'A Day at Koach L’tet’ by Anice Stark, Nettie Steinman, Joe Fried and Meish Falk
A small group of us work at Koach L’tet. It is our equivalent of Goodwill Industries. This place is one of the many depots for the collection of clothes, furniture, TV’s, computers, etc. Most our work has been in the toy department and shoes.
The other day one of the local volunteers dropped a (literally) mountain of shoes for us to pair – ladies, means, children – shoes, boots, slippers, summer sandals, dress shoes, sneakers – all colors, shapes, and sizes. It took us 3 visit to sort, pair and put into carons. We hope that on our last visit there they won’t be back on the “mountain”. We hope that we have helped sort this merchandise for the needy families that will fill these shoes.
L’hitroat
Anice

Week of Feb. 10 - 15

“Reunion” by Susan Stock, New Jersey
My spirits soared as I spotted the two 13-year-old girls coming into the Hotel Metropolitan lobby. Ketia and Sapir were my students at Tel Nordau Elementary School where I did my CAARI community service two years ago. When I returned to New Jersey, we exchanged letters, greeting cards and small gifts. Now, part of CAARI 2008, I tried to get in touch with them. I had a hard time making telephone contact, but eventually I did! When we got together, we chatted about current activities and future possibilities. Then we said “good night”, but not good-bye.

Week in Review

By Joan and Bernie Hulkower
Week in review – Feb. 3 - 9
Another wonderful week!!
Starting out with our community work, where we’ve become regular participants. When we arrive to our various work assignments (hospitals, schools for a community organization) we are treated as if we have always been there.

The afternoon and evening that we spent with Meir Malka, the original guiding force of CAARI and now the Director of Beit Shemesh Fund, was a most interesting and informative. Meir took us to the center where nursery school children up to teens come to for after school activities and a hot supper in order that their parents can work and support their families. We also visited a sculpture garden donated by the parents of a soldier killed in the Golan. The highlight of the our visit was the Beti Shemesh conservatory, where we were treated to a wonderful concert by 9, 11, 14 & 15 year old students, playing the violin, flute and piano. What talent! The evening was topped off in a Kosher Chinese restaurant.
Another first was our day pruning and clearing olive trees on biblical terraces and a JNF forest called Sataf. What a great job we did pruning, cutting, clearing weeds to help the trees from having their energy taken up by weeds. This was followed by a visit to the Babylonian Museum where we learned about the Iraqi culture and aliyah to Israel.
On another day we visited the Negev community of Sansana where young Israeli families are building homes to settle the Negev in much the same way that their pioneer forefathers did in pre-statehood time. That day we also had a wonderful tour of the Air Force Museum, near Beersheva. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and many of us were delighted to be able to walk around, unlike a previous visit - in a Negev sandstorm. It was really walking through history as we walked around the display of all the old planes used to fight and protect the State of Israel. We were not only amazed, but proud at the success that the Israelis had in winning wars with such equipment.
We have had many wonderful speakers who have given us much insight into the political situation, the Palestinian conflict, the Winograd Report, plus situation in Gaza with Hamas. We also enjoyed a special talk by the son of a CAARI participant, an American – Israeli soldier, who was in the Second Lebanon War - a visit to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. And ….of course, we are always treated to great knowledge and information by Neil, our guide.
There is so much more to say -…but you have to be here. Enjoy the pictures of the week.
Love,
Joan and Bernie

Negev Day

"Our day in the Negev" by Marcia and Ron Bercov - Edmonton, Canada

Dear Family and Friends,

Shalom, from Tel Aviv. Ron and I wanted to share with you our experience with CAARI's day in the Negev. First stop - Haruvit (Carob) Park, has been designed as a park for those that are physically challenged - known as an "inclusive" Park. JNF has been renovating many of its parks and forest area for all to enjoy - whether you are blind, in a wheel chair or have some other physical challenge. Hadassah dedicated this park several years ago to soldiers.
Carob trees, fill the park area - you may know this fruit as 'boxer". The park has paths especially designed for the physically challenged.

From the Park we continued driving south through the Negev. The Negev comprises 60%
of the land of Israel, with a relatively small but growing population. Only in recent years has it become an area for development when the problem of supplying water was solved. Our group toured a new community called Sansana, settled by young families who are in the process of building new homes to replace the trailers they started out with.
The Jewish National Fund's Blueprint Negev project plans to develop this area, bringing people and facilities to the desert area. With rail transportation, people can work in Tel Aviv and live
in Beersheva, in the heart of the Negev, making the trip in an hour, not much different from some city commutes.
What more, you ask? Well, with 12 minutes left at this computer, only the Air Force Museum and a Yemenite dinner! We saw bombs, missiles and planes, each with its own special story, and watched a film about the Israeli Air Force while seated (in economy class) in a huge plane.
And as for the dinner, it was authentic and delicious, homecooked, with flat bread just out of the oven.
So, this is all for the moment. But stay tuned for
more...
Hoping this finds you well.
Shalom and best wishes,
Marcia and Ron

CAARI's Super Tuesday

CAARI’s Super Tuesday by Rosalie Whitehill
Tuesday is our program's Forest Day...when we do something related to JNF forestry in Israel, not really one of my favorite activities, but I am always interested in what JNF is doing...as it is so much more than trees and so very inspiring. Well, weather wise, things couldn't be better.... short sleeves again for most of the day...it felt like 70.... and even though we went to the Sataf forest near Jerusalem...it was just as warm there. I walked with the group about a mile down to where they would prune olive trees, and clear weeds from around the base of the trees, but because getting to the trees required walking on rocky, hilly ground, I opted just to wait while the real work was done...but it was pleasant and I was happy...especially when a group of school kids came by. The group must have pruned over 50 olive trees located on the biblical terraces – they couldn’t have been happier and so was the JNF forester who worked with us. He kept thanking the group for their help. I don’t think he thought they were capable of doing so much work!
We had a really fine picnic lunch...bagels.... with whatever salad you chose...and cookies home-made by our coordinator, Susan, and the best clementines ever...and the weather was perfect...we ate at some tables on a hill looking out toward other hills around Jerusalem.... you can just imagine what a happy time that was for me!!
After the picnic, we headed to a town called Or Yehuda... located between Lod (Ben Gurion airport)...to a museum that was listed in our activity schedule as “Babylonian Museum”...I had no idea what to expect...and it turned out to be a GEM...completely exceeding any expectation I might have had...and we had a guide whose knowledge and charm made our visit even more enjoyable.........you know I love Israeli museums. And this one did NOT disappoint...it depicts in huge dioramas and displays the Babylonian culture from the time of the Diaspora through the time when the country became part of Iraq and the huge wave of immigration back to Israel in 1951-2...it is meant to give young people of Iraqi descent a sense of their history and culture. As someone whose experiences are limited to mostly Ashkenazi customs, I found the materials and information ...about the culture with Muslim influence so fascinating. I felt like I wanted to hang on to every word she said, and wanted more, more, and more. I loved seeing how they celebrated the Jewish holidays, the important events in a Jewish life...and the museum even contained a small reconstruction of the main synagogue of Baghdad. It was truly one of the most interesting places I have visited here, and part of the CAARI group's attempt to take us to unusual places...it was incredible to find this little treasure located in a small town of which I had never heard.
And so it was really a SUPER Tuesday for me...and I hope I will still feel happy when I see the primary results.
Tomorrow, we are heading south to the Negev. I checked the weather and it is scheduled to be another glorious day...I am almost bursting with happiness, being here ...and each day gets better.... or have I said that before.
Stay well,
Love you all
Rosalie

My view - by Bev Fluxgold

Bev Fluxgold - Toronto, Canada
It has taken me a while to be able to put my thoughts into words. It was always a given that I loved Israel unreservedly. But it just came to me that I feel safe here. This may seem strange because my head tells me there are dangers, but safe is what I feel..
A sense of pride swells within me when I see all the accomplishments that have been made by my fellow Jews. This is something I can not feel anywhere else in this world.
Yesterday it all came to a head when we visited Bet Shemesh. A town of about 80,000 situated between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We viewed the ruins of the ancient city and then went to an after school program for children whose ages run from preschool to teens. This program enables their parents to work while their children are being well looked after.
The teens have a nutritious meal that they have learned to prepare themselves. They are given help with their homework, and the attention they may lack at home.
There is an equipped computer room and they are in the midst of setting up a library.
From there we went to a sculpture garden that was tucked away in the middle of a residential district. This garden was the on a piece of property donated to Bet Shemesh by the husband and wife sculptures. In the centre of the garden was a sculpture depicting a ladder (like Jacob ascending to heaven.) The garden was dedicated to the memory of their son who had died in the Lebanon war. Not 27 virgins, but the beauty that came from their hands.
We'll I thought this must be it, but from there we were taken to a conservatory of music. What a treat. The children put on a concert for us. The culmination was a brother and sister team. She on violin he on piano. Someday I'm sure we will see them in our concert halls.
As we observed Bet Shemish is very diverse. Ethiopians.Russians, Orthodox, Ultra Orthodox. I'm sure it isn't perfect, but a great effort is going into making it work.