Thursday, Feb. 4 - Negev Day

The weather was perfect for our Negev Day Tour - sunny and temperatures in the 70's.  Of course, it was suggested that we bring some warmer clothes for when the sun sets. After all, we ARE in the desert!  How true, we needed those sweaters and jackets!  

We departed Tel Aviv for the Air Force Museum, a few minutes to the West of Beer Sheva. We were met there by  Almog, a 19 year old soldier in her obligatory 2 year service, that explained the history of the planes that started the IAF The Israel Air Force!   (see pictures below)

At the Air Force Museum we met Shahar, from the JNF of America who boarded the bus and explained his role and the JNF of America, as we drove to our next destination. Next on the itinerary for CAARI was a visit to the newly renovated Beer Sheva Visitor Center.
The Beer Sheva Visitors center is located on the northern bank of the Beer Sheva River Park, a park almost twice the size of Central Park, in NY City. This park is a 5 mile long project being built up by the KKL and JNF desks from around the world and many other partners like JNF of Canada and JNF of America.

Our first stop after lunch was to see the first part of this enormous river bank reclamation park which is the Montreal Oasis Park, from over 14 years ago the Canadians were the first to actually contribute to this River Reclamation project by their playground and green area located between the Pipes Bridge, A JNF of America project and a Vehicle bridge adjacent to the Beer Sheva Visitor center.
The Canadian Montreal Oasis Park was designed by the Landscape Architect Amir Miller. The Park is clean and in use by many local Beer Sheva youth at the time of our visit. Many of the CAARI participants knew the donors recognized on the signs.

Next CAARI walked over the Pipes Bridge, designed by Rami Meresh, to our waiting bus that took us to the Beit Eshel restoration and 12,000 person outdoor Amphitheater, to the East of the Pipes Bridge and Canadian Park. 

There we explained the significance of the Mitzpeh Beit Eshel and we viewed the ancient Tel of Beer Sheva from the top of the Amphitheater. 

Our final visit at the Beer Sheva River Park,  CAARI saw the empty reservoir, still under construction, and the land moving equipment  that is still working on the small lake/ reservoir that will soon be filled for recreational use. CAARI was so impressed with the contribution JNF-KKL has and is making to Beer Sheva and the southern communities.  

The last stop of the day was to visit Kibbutz Kramim, located close to the security fence,  Debbie Rulnik a member of the 80 family Kibbutz. Debbie gave us a  great tour, explaining how the kibbutz members were working together to serve both  the religious and secular members.  She hosted us in her newly built house and took us to an overlook to the north and west. And...that was our Day in the Negev!  Fabulous!

N

                         CAARI PICTURES

Wednesday, Feb. 3 - Community Service & Tour of Neve Zedek

Impressions by Rosalie:

Wednesday started with school again.....and I am loving it more each day, especially since the English teacher is starting to rotate in some students I have been with before....and I am amazed by how much they remember!!!  And they are so pleased with themselves.....as I have always thought, working with youngsters is so very rewarding!  And I am even getting cheers from the teachers who happen to be in the teachers' room while I am working with my kids......and I know I am repeating myself when I say.....all of this is priceless!! 

After lunch, we went on a walking tour of Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish community outside of the walled city of Jaffa, and we had a very special guide, an improv artist with a wonderful sense of humor and his commentary was very entertaining, and his answers to questions were witty as well as informative.  I have been to the area many times before, but each time I go, I learn a bit more and enjoy it.

After dinner, our speaker was Yael Katzir, the film maker who produced and directed "Women of the Wall"and has done many fine documentaries.......She speaks a little first and then shows her film. The film was called "What Berlin did to Tel Aviv".  

The film was in honor of her father, on OBGYN who emigrated from Berlin to Tel Aviv in 1933.......and emphasized all the cultural programs the Germans who came at that time brought to Tel Aviv. 

Roslaie