Shabbat Shalom from CAARI

Just enjoying the sunshine and lovely weather on this Shabbat.  Thinking of our friends and relatives in snowy Canada and the North East!

By Anice Stark

Well, another Shabbat has come and gone, for some it is their last Shabbat in Israel.  Now, they have to make sure all their shopping is done.  I am sure the craft market at Nachalot Benyamin will miss them.  We will miss them too!

Shabbat is so special here in Israel.  Some go to shul as they do back home.  some just relax and, on a nice sunny warm day, go the beach. Many times at our hotel, people with their extended families come and spend the weekend, Usually with lots of cute children and lovely babies, usually a little noisy, but that is what children do. their weekend consists of Friday night dinner, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and they leave after Shabbat is over.  That's when peace descends the hotel!  But that is ok, when in Israel we do as Israelis do. 

As for the CAARI group, we have our Shabbat Dinner together, then an Oneg Shabbat where we sing some songs, talk about our experiences, or we might have a topic for discussions.  They are never dull as we have as many opinions as we have participants. 

Shavua tov - which means - good week!  So, we go on.  

CAARI 2013

'Violins at Wartime' film by Yael Katzir

One of CAARI's favorite speakers over the years is documentary filmmaker, Yael Katzir.  This year she presented a new film, "Violins at Wartime" which is against the backdrop of the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006. The film portrays the perseverance of a remarkable group of musicians  who continue teaching and practicing violin in spite of the war. The music is beautiful and we highly recommend viewing the film as well as others by Yael.  it. You can see the trailer on youtube!  Yael discussed why she made the film and her personal feelings about the film.  It was a very special evening for the CAARI group.

 

Mikvah Yisrael - Embassy Speaker - Feb. 7

After community service and lunch we headed to a place about 15 minutes outside Tel Aviv  - to Israel's first agriculture school, Mikvah Yisrael from 1870.  The school is still in existence today as vocational agriculture school.  This historic site is on the list of heritage sites of the Society for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites which is supported by JNF of America.  One of the highlights  was the lovely synagogue built in a French style.   In the time preceding the establishment of the State this place served as the training center for the Hagana and was the place where many weapons, including the Davidka were discovered -  a bit of Israel's history 'off the beaten' path.  

Following the tour, we met with the US Embassy's Political Counselor who spoke about the relationship between the USA and Israel and the ongoing issues.  She reaffirmed the visit of President Obama in March and perhaps the upcoming visit by the new Secretary of State, John Kerry.  

 

Walking Tour on Bialik Street by Rosalie Whitehill

The weather forecast was "iffy" but CAARI carried on and walked from the hotel to Bialik Street (about 5 blocks), one of Tel Aviv's famous streets from the early 1900's.  It was home to the national poet, Haim Bialik, Reuben Rubin, painter, and numerous intellectuals of the time.  Half the group toured Tel Aviv's first municipality where Meir Dizengoff was Mayor and the other to the home of Bialik.  We then switched and enjoyed the stories of the history of the city and its people.  After the museum visits we continued our walk through the Yemenite Quarter to one of CAARI's favorite restaurants - Maganda!

from Rosalie....Wednesday after lunch, we visited the Reuven Rubin house......he was Israel's #1 artist, and he lived two doors from Chaim Bialik.....Israel's most beloved poet, whose home we visited next was the cultural center of Tel Aviv.....and I loved both houses....Although Rubin's work was not on display at his house, the architect whose work we saw is represented by shops, hotels and much more in Israel......can't remember his name right now....but it was no-one with whom I was familiar.  And after dinner at a Yemenite restaurant, I participated in helping start a Purim shpiel (although I won't be here, brainstorming stuff is lots of fun)

Community Service - notes from Rosalie Whitehill

Shalom,

Wednesday and today (Thursday), I was again at the school where I am happier each day, and today I started getting love notes from some of the kids.....lots of smiles, laughs, and hugs.....just beautiful......and I forgot to mention that I usually go outside during recess (more hugs)....but the best part is the line of girls on the steps doing a kind of line dancing to the music.....and I joined them.....what fun....and my Hebrew is showing some improvement as I am able to have a bit of conversation with some of the taxi drivers who speak less English than I speak Hebrew.....and trying to understand each other is a fun  challenge.

Rosalie