"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.