Afternoon Tours - A Dance movement and working in the fields

We have had some  interesting afternoon tours this week with the Canadian & American Active Retirees in Israel program.  On Sunday, after our community service work, we went to one of the  Batsheva Dance Company’s dance studio’s in South Tel Aviv's Florantine neighborhood for a lesson on the Gaga dance movement. 

We are sure that you are VERY familiar with Lady Gaga, but do you know that in Israel, they have Mr.  Gaga!  This is actually a movie about the renowned artistic choreographer,  Ohad Naharin.  

So you are saying…What is the Gaga dance movement? Gaga is a new way of gaining 

knowledge and self-awareness throughmovement of your body through dance.  Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening your body and adding flexibility, stamina, and agility while lightening the senses and imagination. 

That is what the CAARI program is all about: gaining flexibility, with stamina, agility and imagination! 

On Tuesday afternoon we  experienced a Hashomer HaChadash Program at an Experimental Farm, not far from Tel Aviv, in an area called Zrifin near Rishon Letzion.

When we arrived there were several other groups who had come to also have their own pioneer experience.  We met with Tzofia, who explained this special organization. that focuses on agriculture and  safekeeping the land of Israel through education and participation.Thousands of youth groups, students, tourists and families volunteer in a variety of programs.  

 Our job today was to pick off the fruit from trees that were used in an agriculture experiment.    It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed clearing the trees of rotted fruit and we completed the task in no time.  

We also got to pick some fruit for us - nothing like a orange or clementine right off the tree!