Greetings from CAARI 2012!
The reccurent theme at the hospital has been "
You mean that you pay to come here to volunteer?" This year is the 5th year that I've come to Ichilov Hospitals Rehab dept. What has struck me the most and what keeps me from coming back year after year is
how much they appreciate us.What exactly is it that we do? The patients are there for rehab following orhtopedic surgery or other orthopedic problems. They are either in a wheelchair or use walkers. They come to a central dinning room for their meals.We don't know who serves them breakfast when we are not there but when we are there we are it. The food comes up in bulk and our job is to dish it out, either scrambled eggs (chavita ) or hard boiled eggs, salad, olives ,hot cereal (usually too cold and needs to be rewarmed in micro) bread (women like it toasted) and a slice of cheese. Coffee or tea.
Word was out that Clare and I have spoiled them, because we actually ask them what they want before we give them the tray. We communicate in sign language, some kitchen Hebrew, Yiddish, German, Spanish and even English.
A smile, a thank you or even a kiss on the hand is the best. Miriam, a very heavy set Israeli -Arab woman, is the dishwasher and over the month she became our friend and tried to learn a few English words. After breakfast and the clean up we help the staff by changing the bed linen.The floor holds 34 patients and some days wemade as many as 9-12 beds each. Then of course is coffee break time.
Nitza the secretary a wonderful sweet young woman who has been there for 12 years bought us new mugs for our own use in anticipation of our arrival. In the staff coffee room they still have a picture on the bulletin board that I took 5 years ago with Nettie and Maish.
Today, our last day there and Nitza's birthday was a celebration. Nitza baked a cake, and all the staff and doctors came in to thank us for coming and hoping we would come again and for a longer period of time. We exchanged emails.
It's good to be apreciated.Love,
Joan
(Port Washington, NY)
Comment by Clare Figler (Boston):
To all the recipients of this wonderful email from Joan, my hospital mentor and friend, I could not have said anything better than how Joan has put it. Any friend of Joan's is a friend of mine. How lucky I am to be here (now my second year) in Israel. Never has so little honest work in the serving, kibbutzing, bed-making, setting up, getting this little or that little thing or need met given soooo much pleasure. Beyond being appreciated, I am re-born each day with pure enjoyment of this little community service.
Pay to volunteer? A pittance.
Clare Figler
When asked, I often say that when I visit Israel, each step uncovers another century. For example, today we began in the twenty-first century, listening to the story of the heroic firefighters in the Birya Forest combating the fires of the 2006 Lebanese War and the ensuing reforestation by the JNF and dedicated volunteers. Our next stop was the twentieth century story of Josef Trumpeldor and the seven hehitzim who died in the defense of their settlement of Tel Hai. Their sacrifice inspired the heroism of those who defend the land to this very day. The day finished at Tel Dan with a hike through the history from twentieth century (CE), illegal Jewish immigration, back to the tenth century (BCE) evidence of the northern kingdom's biblical transgressions. Every CAARI day reveals more of the State and every revelation binds me more deeply to the Land. My personal connection includes my dad's stories as a helutz in teh 1920's and my maternal uncle's family history spanning ten generations. Yet, I have never felt as close to the land as these last few weeks in CAARI:teaching eager children, listening to dynamic speakers and touring unique sites. Each day and every step draws me to my own story, to the depths of my feelings forging on ever stronger bond to Israel and to the Land. 
What could be more lovely than the sun coming up over the Kinneret? Today we spent the day in the Golan. Our drive was so picturesque - driving up, up and up with views of the green lush valley, the blue Lake Kinneret, flowering trees and colorful wild flowers along the roadside. Our first stop was at a moshav with Shimon, the shofar maker. He told us how he became a shofar maker and the 'fine' art of shofar making beginning with how he gets the horn and the different types of shofars. Now, he could blow a shofar! Both Susan and Neil did a pretty good job, but they didn't quite have Shimon's technique. A few of us bought shofars and we will all remember this special visit. From there we visited a small Golan artist community. In the afternoon, we stopped at the ancient restored village of Korazin before the special tour of JNF's Agmon Hula. This is the area where millions birds, including the cranes stop to 'refuel' on their way to Russia, Europe and Scandinavia for their summer stay! All of us boarded a wagon for a drive through the fields to get a close view of the cranes - not just a view, but you could also hear them! it was quite the site especially with the backdrop of the snow-capped Mt. Hermon. Dinner was at the charming Dborvin Farm followed by a overview of the "Northern Situation" the IDF Liaison. What a day! 
Today, CAARI said goodbye to our City Hotel Staff and began our journey north. Our first challenge of the day was to load the bus with all the luggage - amazing it all fit! The weather has changed again and the sun began 'peeping' through with some blue sky! Temperatures were quite chilly, but we were happy to see the sun. We arrived at Beit She'an for our tour - one of our favorite archeology sites. Next, lunch in a nearby mall and on to Gan Garu - an Australian Park with native foilage and animals. See the pictures of us feeding the kangeroos and birds. 
Dear Bernie,
Greetings from CAARI 2012!
Shalom,
