Tu Bishvat - The New Year for Trees – January 18, 2019

The National Tu Bishvat,Event is synonymous with KKL-JNF and for the past 20+ years has been a major activity of the CAARI (Canadian & American Active Retirees in Israel)  group.  It is one of our major volunteer experiences.    

Here, in Israel it is a festival of renewal, a celebration of nature and a holiday of the environment.  It is an event for all ages. 

Thousands of Israelis from all over the country visit KKL-JNF forests to plant trees over the next few days.  It is lovely to see families young and old,  with saplings in hand, walking to the planting sites to plant the green pine sapling, gather the earth around it and say the planter’s prayer.  Many of the children make their own signs and proudly tag their sapling!  With time these saplings will grow and develop into trees that will provide fresh green areas for Israel’s residents and help to combat global warming and preserve the environment.   

 CAARI boarded the buses around 7:30 driving  toward Jerusalem to Mishmar Mishmar Ayalon, located near the area of Latrun.  It was quite a site to see the hillside dotted with the KKL-JNF flags, which located the dug holes to plant the saplings.  Buses brought the people to the site and over the day.   CAARI handed out over 4000 saplings to the happy planters, young and old.  It also gave us a chance to meet and speak with Israelis, help them plants, take pictures of the families and enjoy the festive day!   

Shabbat Shalom,

CAARI 2019 

Community Service, trip to the Tel Aviv Safari and Yemenite Dinner - Jan. 17

The Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan (commonly known as the Safari Ramat Gan) is the largest collection of wildlife in human care in the Middle East and established in 1974. The 250-acre site consists of both a drive-through African safari area and a modern outdoor zoo. Our very knowledgeable guide,  Arad,  guided us through the park, describing the animals and personal stories about them.  Did you know that Yossi, the elephant,  is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the largest elephant in the world?  Too much good Israeli zoo cooking?!  

We also toured the  Israeli Wildlife Hospital, located at the Safari and saw the staff operating on a wounded owl that had been brought to the zoo for treatment.  

Dr. Horowitz, the veterinarian spoke to us about the condition of the owl.    Israelis  listen to Dr. Horowitz daily on radio, giving reports about the animals from the Safari. Only in Israel would you get this.  In addition, in Friday’s paper there was an article on the 29^th birthday of one of the giraffes.  CAARI takes us to the most interesting places. 

By Pearl: Thursday we went to the Ramat Gan Safari where animals roam free including hippos, zebras. ostrich, and Thompson gazelles. There are 13 rhinos here the most of any zoo in the world. We saw the most magnificent Sumatran tiger and beautiful giraffes as well as the largest elephant in the world who weighs 71/2 tons. Chickens and roosters wander the grounds as well. For me, great fun. 

Dinner at the Yemenite Restaurant, Maganda! 

WARMEST regards,

CAARI 2019

Pictures  by Susan,  Pearl and Marcia

Community Service, tour i24NEWS Station and Speaker - Jan. 16. 2019

Well, it is winter here so we expect a bit of rain, wind and cooler temperatures.  That is the weather report today.  

CAARI marches on – the taxis pick us up for our morning community service, back for lunch and off to an afternoon tour.  Today’s tour is i24 News,  a 24 hour TV news station and broadcasts in French, English and Arabic.  Bob Wheelock,  Vice President, Content, spoke to us about the station with great enthusiasm.  He formerly worked for various news USA news stations and now happy to be working at i24 News.

 

By Pearl: This is a remarkable TV station located in the port of Jaffa. It was the brainchild of a man called Frank Melloul And Patrick Drahi who wanted to create a news channel which was impartial and apolitical and accurate.  I have had their APP on my iPhone since last year.  Get the latest international download the APP news i24news. 

After dinner, Miri Eisin, a favorite CAARI lecturer, began her career in the IDF as part of the Israeli intelligence community. She spoke to us about the regional geopolitics. 

Another great day! 

CAARI 2019

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