"Our Thoughts" by Marion and Paul Silberman (New York)
How delightful it is to be in Israel again. We feel perfectly safe in Tel Aviv. We’ve already walked on the Tayelet (Promenade) along side the beautiful sea. The is sunny and balmy. We have a most intense and emotional experience re-visiting Independence Hall. A Birthright group was there, joining with our group, and we enjoyed talking to the young people and were moved by their very positive response to the presentation and to Israel On our way out a Christian group was entering and we expressed our appreciation for their love and advocacy on Israel’s behalf. We then toured a historic part of Tel Aviv and Rabin Square. We ended the day being treated to delicious “low calorie” yogurt enhanced by hot fudge! YUM!! In the evening, Amotz Asa El, a journalist and former editor of the Jerusalem Post, presented a most informative and interesting analyses of the situation in Gaza, as well as the political outlook in Israel with the upcoming elections. We feel very fortunate to be here at this time.
Enjoy some pictures of our day!
Love to all our family and friends.
Paul and Marion

Message from CAARI's Guide serving in the IDF

MESSAGE FROM NEIL EISENSTADT
Dear CAARI Participants,
Thank you for coming on the 26th continuous CAARI program - the only program for Active Retirees in Israel. It is heart warming to see so many of you that chose to show your support by visiting and contributing to Israel in Israel.
You may have noticed that there is another guide named Rafi that is filling in for me? I serve in a reserve Paratroop Brigade that was called up during the night of 3 January a short while after the IDF began a ground offensive in wake of a surprise bombing that killed over 300 Hamas military officers in the central stadium in Gaza.

Since I have been called up we have entered a period of training. It is winter and very cold. Many items have been donated like warm polyester thermal undershirts and sox and underwear, as well as heating for the tents that we are sleeping in.
We have had several visits by well know public figures, President Shimon Peres visited us on Monday and yesterday the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Amer visited us, as well as a number of generals. The defense minister was present at one of our exercises and this past Shabbat, Parashat VaYehi, the Chief IDF Rabbi was with us for a special Friday night meal in a tent that housed the entire Battalion about 400 soldiers. Since a brigade is made up of 4 battalions we had 4 different dinner times so that the Rabbi could speak at every soldier’s dinner.

We have had a very interesting training period where we train with soldiers in their obligatory service as well. Two of the four battalions are already inside Gaza and have been photographed in the Israeli newspapers.
There are a few characteristics that have defined this was: (1) total deception. The Hamas was totally surprised at the timing of the attack. The Israeli newspapers spoke of a cabinet meeting on 28 December to decide what to do and on Saturday morning the IAF went into action and began this carefully planned operation. Another deceptive (2) move was the use of ground troops. The newspapers were talking about the government decision whether to use ground forces or not and the Hamas was surprised by the tremendous intensity of the firepower. Everybody was afraid that putting IDF troops in Gaza would not be effective but the exact opposite seems to be true. The launching areas are the periphery not in the middle of the cities. The IDF has also moved against the tunnels to try and stop the flow of Iranian weapons into the Gaza strip and there are rumors which have proven to be false so far that Shalit, the POW has been found.

What is sure is not what is in the paper but that the Iranians see the massive use of firepower AND bombs dropping from planes over Gaza that will be their fate as well. This is something that after the Lebanon war in 2006 was something that the enemy did not think Israel would resort to. This is the IDF's attempt to reestablish a deterrent.

I do not know when this will end. But when it does I will be back as the guide for CAARI and the assistant director together with Susan.

Warmest Regards,

Nahum (Neil) Eisenstadt

Bruchim Habaim - Welcome

CAARI arrives in Israel
Tuesday evening, January 13, the first group of CAARI participants arrived in Israel for CAARI 2009 - in its 26th continuous year. This year 35 participants will be participating in the program over the 7-week period. It is a pretty even split between Canadians and Americans who came from New York, New Jersey, California, Oregan, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Montreal to enjoy the warmer temperatures (we see the temperatures in Canada and the East Coast) and sunny blue skies. The CAARI family has been here – through the Gulf War, Intifada and now the Gaza Situation. Israelis, from the hotel staff to the local shop owners to school administrators, students and community workers, have warmly welcomed CAARI and thanked them for being here at this time.

These are difficult days for Israel. The country and CAARI feels the pain of those who live in the south that face the reality and possibility of daily (hourly) rocket attacks. And…for our soldiers who are risking their lives to protect Israel for all of us – here and in the Diaspora – we thank you. One of these soldiers is our guide – Neil Eisenstadt. See his story below as he reports from his training center in the Negev. Susan Stock, spoke to a friend in Arad told her yesterday – this is the time to be in Israel – you see the country united. So…may I present CAARI 2009 and their travel log over the next few weeks.