TuB'Shvat - Friday, January 22 - Community Tree Planting Event & 'My Experience by R. Whitehill

Friday, 22 January, was the JNF/KKL National Tree Planting Event that took place in the Zorah forest located between Shimshon Junction and Nachshon Junctions on road to Jerusalem, from Tel Aviv. The area had a bad fire last summer so KKL chose this site to plant this year.
The CAARI Group, dressed in KKL sweatshirts and green ...hats, departed promptly at 7:30 am and was welcomed by


Asa El, the KKL Staff that briefed the group.  
The CAARI  received saplings from the JNF/KKL foresters to hand out to the public at large that flocked to the site until 2:30 PM..  Nursery schools with parents and teachers, as well as organizations, individuals and families made a day of the event and it was great interacting with the Israeli public at large. There was music and lots of TuBshvat songs. A warm sunny day of TuBShavat celebration was enjoyed by all. CAARI returned to welcome in the Shabbat.




 Candle lighting took place in the lobby, some went to Friday services at near by synagogues. The group enjoyed  a wonderful Friday night meal that began with the traditional Kiddush that all recited together and then we met for an Oneg Shabbat led Gloria Kaufman and the Oneg Shabbat Committee.








By Rosalie Whitehill:

Yesterday, Friday, we were out early to go to a forest where they offered tree planting.  Since Tishe B'Av (Jewish Arbor Day when everyone plants a tree) is Monday, they had this planting...mainly for preschool children on Friday...when dads could come with their youngsters (Israel is now closing many business on Friday.....giving a two day weekend).....and it was so wonderful to see so many fathers with their families.  Our CAARI group gave out the seedlings (about a foot high with about a foot of soil) so that the children can plant them in holes already dug and marked with flags.....and when the seedling is planted, the child takes the flag.....Of course, we Chag Sameach, (Happy Holiday) (Happy Holiday) and Shabbat Shalom ( welcome the Sabbath....as it was Friday)....and the kids and their parents respond.....some of the kids come with small shovels or handles of about 2 feet.....and we did not get quite the 1000 people we expected, we were close......and this is a day and activity that always fills my heart with special love for Israel, where trees are so important.  We were at the forest, near Jerusalem, which had experienced a fire last year, from 8:30 a.m ubtil 3:30......and were very tired when we got back.


However, I did not rest, as I wanted to go to the charming little synagogue where the rabbi dances around and the services include so much of what I know in Kabbalat Shabbat....I walked there and back.....and we had wine with dinner, welcoming the Shabbat with songs and prayers.....always special here.  Our Oneg (after dinner get-together) included some inspirational poetry, readings of Rev Abraham Joshua Heschel,, as well as songs and dances........and to say I was exhausted, would be a  BIG understatement......and so I went right to bed and awoke around 8:00 this morning.....10  hours of much needed sleep!!!


I love Israel......my trip is my yearly gift from Ralph, making it extra special. I am so blessed to have you and Israel in my life!!


love, and peace,
rosalie












































































































Elliott - that's all folks!  No more saplings!

Visit to IDC - by Rosalie Whitehill

Today, 21 January,  CAARI went to community service in the morning, following lunch toured the IDC, in Herzlia, one of Israel's private colleges. Our dinner was  a middle eastern culinary experience with dinner at Maganda, a Yemenite restaurant in Kerem HaTemanim in Tel Aviv.

by Rosalie Whitehill

Rosalie on right hand side with Nancy, Joan & Bart

The afternoon was truly one of our most awesome visits.  We went to the IDC....Interdisciplinary Center....a not-for-profit college in Herzliya, a suburb of Tel Aviv, which has about 7,000 students, a fourth of whom are from other countries.  

Our guide was a lawyer, daughter of Irwin Cutler, former Justice Minister of Canada, and I am now sure, I will never hear from a better guide.(perfect, intelligent English)  Please google the Center, as it is so special, and everyone should know about it.......started by a professor who did not like the government

interference at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

They completely ignore SAT and other tests that many colleges rely on for admissions....(Warner Slack would love this place).....and have lots of students on complete scholarship........I don't have my paper with notes with me, and so I cannot give numbers.  

Just about all students have a double major....and studying includes lots of internships.  The cost of the school is $12,500 per year, particularly attractive for American students.  Then we met with the Dean of International Studies, who the absolutely best part.  We heard from 3 different

students whose families had come to Israel from Ethiopia..walking for four months to get to Sudan and then waiting to get into Israel...2 of the girls had been born in Israel.....and they were all Jewish and loved Israel....and were asked about apartheid here.....and while there is still some prejudice that they have felt, things are getting better all the time.  The young women were really inspirational....and it was a treat to listen to them.

spoke with us about admissions and how they look into what kids have done in the past.  In Israel, they go to college after 3 years in the army, so their army experience counts a lot.  He was charming and funny and he joined our guide to stay with us the rest of the afternoon.  Next we went into a beautiful lecture hall to listen to a lecture on Turkey......interesting,   After the lecture, was

After that, we toured the IDC"s radio station and heard from other students  who were in charge of the station....You might be able to find out more, if you google IDC .  Since someone noted that this

school hosts an AIPAC chapter (later found out, the only one in Israel), The dean was asked about Obama and Netanyahu......He declined to get into the personality issues, but told us than in the past 8 years the military support from U.S. has been forthcoming more quickly than ever and that now Israel's relationship regarding military support is the best it has been in the 8 years.....that we do not know what is going on behind closed doors....He mentioned one piece of equipment that people thought was under discussion, but was already in the hands of the Israeli soldiers.

The school is 13 years old, but we had never been before....and I LOVED the visit.

At night, we ate in a Yemenite restaurant in Tel Aviv......where getting served lots of salads and pita....family style was fun....followed by skewered lamb, chicken, and kebobs....and then we had about an ten block walk back to our hotel...

Regards to ALL!

Rosalie