Arriving in Israel CAARI 2022 - February 4

 

CAARI 2022

Welcome CAARI 2022 participants – we are delighted that you have arrived in Israel.  It has been a long a difficult year,  but here you are.  Your enthusiasm, energy and love for Israel is so appreciated by all who met you.  ‘Thank you for coming to Israel’ is a welcome comment for all who meet you. 

The first day began with a walking tour with Neil, our guide.  We walked from our hotel, the Metropolitan Hotel, to one of the historic neighborhoods, site of Tel Aviv’s first City Hall, at the time Meir Dizengoff. 

The street is special, not only for who lived there,  Israel’s national poet, Chaim Bialik,  and Reuben Reuben, painter and sculpture.    But, also for the style of architecture, from eclectic to Bauhaus,  which was prevalent in the 1920's.

From there we walked to the bustling marketplace and crafts market.   We had time to shop, look, eat and enjoy the spirit of Israel on a Friday afternoon.  Shabbat was special, beginning with candle lighting and Shabbat dinner.  

Stay tuned for our adventures for our first week of volunteering.  

Shabbat Shalom

 

Sunday, January 20, 2019 - Ben Gurion's Negev Dream

On Sunday,  we took a break from Community Service and spent the day in the Negev.  Ben Gurion would be proud seeing the ‘desert bloom’!  As we drove south past the sprawling cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon, we saw green crops growing  and in open fields the beautiful spring Anemone purple, red and white flowers!  Ah…a sign of spring! 

Our first destination was visiting a farm in Moshav Taimei Yosef, the Salad Trail,  located in the northern Negev. The day was perfect, sunny, warm temperatures – great to be in the outdoors for a tour.   The guide took us through several greenhouses explaining what is grown and the agricultural technologies used to increase taste and production, i.e. latest in bee bio-engineered technology.   Yes, cherry tomatoes were developed in Israel!  We picked and tasted salad  and medicinal greens, like Verbana – great in tea, which they made for us. 

We picked a variety of tomatoes, of all colors and VERY tasty. The cucumbers were crisp and yellow, white, orange and purple carrots crunchy and yummy.  It was amazing to see what can grow in such sandy soil.  It is strawberry season in Israel and we got our fill of these tasty berries.  Yes, we ATE our way through the tour.  

The tour ended with an explanation of homing pigeons which are raised on the farm.  This of course, was the earliest kind of email or Some of us held and released them as they flew BACK HOME! 

We are driving along the Israel- Gaza border and seeing what we have been hearing on the news.  Today is was all quiet and you would never know there were any issues.  We stopped at an observation site for a view of Gaza and the border area.  

 From there we went to the city of Sderot, located less than one mile from Gaza border, which has received major rockets attacks during the Gaza confrontations.  As your drive through the city and the NEW neighborhoods, you see each apartments has security rooms attached.  There are concrete security areas near ALL the bus stops and of course, in schools and buildings.  Yes, we were surprised to see so many new neighborhoods being built.

Back in 2009 JNF – USA recognized the children who lived in Sderot had to spend much of their time indoors, as it was not safe to play outdoors.  JNF build this incredible playground where children from Sderot and neighboring communities can play and feel safe without the fear of rocket attack.   Hundreds of children of all ages use this facility.  The center’s attractions include a soccer field and volleyball court, movie theater, disco, rock climbing wall, snack area, computer center, and jungle gym. Play areas double as bomb shelters, ensuring that all occupants can quickly reach safety in the event of a rocket attack.  It was a wonderful experience for us to see the smiling faces and laughter coming from these beautiful, innocent children as they played.  CAARI commends JNF for their vision and concern for the security of Israelis. 

Enjoy the pictures and our day!
CAARI 2019

The Dolphin Reef - amazing place

Today, we did not swim with the dolphins, but we learned a lot about the them at this relaxing refuge for dolphins ad people.  The Dolphin Reef in Eilat, on the shores of the Red Sea offered CAARI a unique way to observe some of nature’s most magnificent sea creatures.  And, even some peacocks!

The Reef, established over 20 years ago,  is home to a colorful array of tropical fish, beautiful coral and, most significantly, a school of bottle-nosed dolphins including babies born on the site.It brings humans closer to animals in a sensitive and respectful way.  The dolphins are not kept captive! They live in their natural habitat and have free access to the open sea should they choose to leave.  Amazing.  A must see!  Way to go CAARI another exciting site to visit!