CAARI 2010 is now history! It was a terrific year with an energetic group. We traveled from Metula to the Negev, learned about Israel from ancient to modern times, volunteered in schools, hospitals, worked in the JNF forests, picked fruit for food banks, packed some food boxes and handed out over 8000 trees on TuBshvat! We danced to the tunes of Gil on TuBshvat, hiked the Ramon Crater, took long walks (or short walks as Neil would say), shopped, shlepped, enjoyed the sunshine, warm temperatures and even the rain for few days. Our Speakers' Forum informed us on the many facets of Israel society - from journalist to artists to underwater archeology, professors and political activists ! And...we had fun!
People asked - what are you doing here? We would explain and Israelis would say -kol'akvod and thank you for being here with us!
We (Neil and Susan) want to thank each one of your for coming to Israel and being part of the CAARI Program. You are an inspiration!
The Petra Buddies summed up the experience with a new song - very clever, very catchy! Hit 'play' on the video! The words are below if you want to sing along. Thank you Sue Gitter for capturing this performance!
Wishing you a Peaceful and Happy Pesach with Family and Friends,
Warmest Regards,
Susan and Neil
"We Don't Want to go Home" by Roberta Jacobs, Karen Barnett, Karen Knoll and Sheila Raskin
Tune of : "I Don't Want No More of Army Life"
We are the Petra Buddies
Who cocktail every night!
and, while we were imbibing
We thought that we could write!
Arriving in jerusalem
our group was mighty small.
We bonded all together,
Especially at the Wall.
REFRAIN
Oh, we don't want to leave our Caari friends.
Gee Sue, we want to stay;
Oh, Neil, we want to stay;
We just don't want to go home.
The ramparts that we climbed on
The caves and tunnels, too
We walked in all 4 quarters
With all the other Jews!
Shwarma and falafel
We ate our fill of those.
Before we hardly knew it,
We couldn't zip our clothes!
REFRAIN
The road to Herodian
Neil said was not too far.
But, when we staggered to the top,
We could have touched the stars.
We're up at dawn most mornings
C-r-a-w-l-i-n-g out of bed;
students need our guidance
and patients need be fed.
REFRAIN
Our Hebrew is improving;
we sure are quite a team.
Now we know the difference
'tween sherute and sherotim.
We've travelled this whole country;
North, south and east and west.
We're heading home on Sunday.
Thank G-d, we need a REST!
Oh, sorry to have to leave our Caari friends Gee Neil, Shalom to you; Oh Sue, a fond a'dieu We're just so glad to go home!
