A Very Special Day - Feb. 21

Shalom,
Wish you could have been with us today - it was indeed very special. Our first stop was at Yad LaKashish, located near Jerusalem City Hall - an extraordinary place.

This is a non-profit organization that empowers and supports over 300 seniors and disabled Jerusalem residents on a daily basis by providing a creative work environment for them. We toured their workshops and watched as they diligently worked to make lovely gifts that they sell in the gift shop – yes, we did shop. They made cards, jewelry, tallit, embroidered tablecloths, challah covers, worked in wood, metal, paper mache and more. They spoke all languages and some of us spoke to them in Yiddish. Oy! Their website is http://lifeline.org.il/
Highly recommend a visit to this fanastic workshop.

Back on the bus to Mt. Herzl where Neil spoke about Theodore Herzl. We visited the graves of our fallen leaders - always a moving experience.

Our tour of Yad Vashem was indeed special. Most of us had been there before, but never had any of us had the experience that we had on this day. Our own CAARI 2011 participant, Nat Leipciger, a survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp spoke to us. He began speaking to us at the site of the railroad car, on the grounds of Yad Vashem. He said that this was where it all began it began for him some 60 years ago - at a railroad car as the Nazis forced him and his family to board the train. From there we slowly and thoughtfully walked to the auditorium where for the next hour or so we sat and listened – silently. We were mesmerized as he shared his ‘story’ - we felt his pain and suffering as he told his story. Nate gave all of us a new meaning to the word ‘Holocaust’ and one we will never forget.
Later that evening we met with Chuck Kanafi, from the Foreign Ministry, who spoke on Israel and Turkey relations – all so relevant to what is going on in the news! What a Speakers Forum we have had these past 7 weeks!
Our CAARI 2011 days are coming to close – 3 more days. Wow – where did it go! We still have interesting places to visit.
CAARI 2011