Friday, January 13 - A 2000 year old Boat!

The day began with the sumptuous Israeli breakfast and they serve some breakfast here at the Dan Carmel.   The group boarded with bus and began the journey to the ancient port city of Dor, located at Kibbutz Nacshalim to meet Kurt Raveh an underwater archaeologist who was our guide for the day.  Some of us knew Kurt from past CAARI programs and always impressed with his knowledge, experiences and his love for Israel - his adopted home.   Kurt was instrumental in assisting with the recovery of the 2000 year old boat found in the Sea of Galilee, near Nof Ginosauer.  He described the amazing story of how the boat was found and recovered.  We were all impressed with how they overcame the problems in the recovery of the ship and more impressive was the ship itself.   We were told the story of how the boat was secured and the foam applied to protect the wood (that under water for all those years) the boat was put in water and slowly added wax.  One problem -  worms began attacking the wood.  So...what they did they do...used goldfish to eat the worms.   Back to the hotel for a quick rest before the traditional Shabbat Dinner.    The group was impressed with the number of your families who came to celebrate Shabbat, the camaraderie of families, the children and singing and the variety of foods.   For us, it was a joyful introduction to Israel.  We were also impressed with the warmth, humor and friendliness of the group.  Looking forward to the coming days! 

Shabbat Shalom,

CAARI 2013

CAARI Arrives in Israel

We landed in Israel and so-so happy to be here.  It was a very long flight for some of us with extra 5 hour delay in departing Toronto and Philadelphia...for others the flight was on schedule.  It was a wonderful reunion to see familiar faces and to be introduced to new 'CAARI' friends.  We have 13 'returnees' and  13 new participants for the first part of the program.   Off the plane and on a bus to drive to Haifa where we will be for the next 6 days. The staff at the Dan Carmel warmly greeted us when we arrived at the hotel.   A quick look at our lovely accommodations, dinner  and a good night's sleep so we will be ready to begin CAARI 2013!  The weather is still a bit stormy and cool, but who cares - we are in Israel!    Glad that to see that all green and the Kinneret is RISING.

Warmest Regards,Anice Stark
Toronto

Welcome to Israel - CAARI 2013

CAARI participants from Edmonton, Toronto, California, Texas, New York, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland are busy packing their bags, checking their tickets and last minute lists as they prepare for their flight to Israel! 

CAARI 2013, the 30th Anniversary year, begins January 10 through February 28!  Our journey begins in Haifa and the Galilee, on to Tel Aviv,  the Negev, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. 

Follow along with us on the CAARI blog as we travel through the country and  experience Israel through community service, working in JNF forests, visiting historical sites, museums, hearing about "what's happening" from a variety of speakers, meeting and working with Israelis, enjoying Israeli hospitality and of course the cup of "cafe afouch' at the local cafes!   And....so much more!

Wishing our participants a safe journey and looking forward to meeting you in Israel! 

Our best,
Neil Eisenstat and Susan Horwitz
 CAARI Program Directors

CAARI 2012 - Our last day!

What a last day we had! All through our trip the weather had not been the best, but our spirit never wavered - although it was 'tested’ on the last day. We began in somewhat sunny skies, but cool temperatures - even for Jerusalem. After breakfast we had a short walk to the North African Heritage Museum - a relatively new museum located off of King David Street. Our guide began our tour with a discussion about the North African Jewry their customs and traditions. There were lovely works of art, costumes, furniture, etc and we learned much about their lifestyle. We also the saw the beautiful antique Moroccan doors that Gloria Kaufman dedicated to the Musuem in memory of her wonderful husband, Arnie.
From there the group walked through the Mamila Mall to the Jaffa Gate and the Jewish Quarter for lunch followed by a tour of the Temple Institute. The sun was still shining, but very chilly! We made our way to the Hurva Synagogue for a tour. This synagogue was desecrated during the War of Independence and recently restored - just beautiful. While inside the synagogue we began to hear the sound of rain and by the time we got outside - it was really coming down. Umbrellas didn't work as the wind blew them inside out. I guess you get the picture as it was raining too hard for us to get one.
Made it back to the hotel to finish packing, change into dry clothes and departed for our Closing Dinner at the Israel Museum - some were flying back to the States in the evening. Our dinner was superb and all was forgotten about the weather. What we remembered was the wonderful CAARI year -the smiles and laughter of the children that we tutored, the simple 'toda' from the patients in the hospitals, the unforgettable tours and sites we visited from the north to the south, the speakers who enlightened us and most of all the camaraderie of our fellow CAARI friends.

Lihitraot - CAARI 2012

Join us  in 2013 for the 30th CAARI Anniversary Celebration!
January 9 - February 28, 2013 with program options
Email : caarivolunteers@gmail.com

view from 3rd floor  - Museum

Gloria and the antique doors

Bev viewing silver craftsmanship

Al and Frances

viewing photos

Dick and Judith

Brrrrrrrrrr.  Joyce and Marion - Jaffa Gate

The Hersts leading the way! 

 Diane Abrams - enjoys the warmth of cafe afuk!

Joel - demonstrating strength at Temple Institute

Hurva Synagogue

CAARI 2012 Celebrates at Closing dinner

CAARI 2012 Celebrates at Closing dinner

Celebration!

CAARI 2012 Celebrates at Closing dinner

CAARI 2012 Celebrates at Closing dinner



LiHitraot CAARI! 

Jerusalem - Herodian

Herodian – King Herod’s Fortress

Yes, this is another of King Herod’s palaces and one of my favorites. It is located outside Jerusalem, near Bethlehem. The view is breathtaking and the construction and architecture is truly amazing even if it was built today and not in 40 BC. Can you imagine that the Palace is built on a man-made mountain? It is mind boggling to imagine how this was done. We climbed up the mountain to view the fortress. Then down through the tunnels, back to the bottom of the mountain. A site in Israel not to be missed! 

View from top of mountain

View of Bethlehem from top of mountain

Yes, it was cold, but sunny!

walking the ancient steps up to the fortress

  

We climbed Herodian!

Marilyn - thinking about all this!

Diane and Joe

Back out through the tunnel - do we see some light?  At last!

Jerusalem - AIP and Supreme Court

Diane and Sig Amster at Dedication Wall

Today we traveled to American Independence Park – the JNF of America’s Park in Jerusalem and met with Avinoam Binder, from KKL and JNF. He explained the role of the Park and the various JNF projects including the outstanding Bar Mitzvah Wall. We all walked around the area and recognized some of the donors from throughout the years. On to the magnificent Supreme Court for a tour. What a structure – not only for what it stands for, but for how it was designed and constructed. Our guide took us to several of the court rooms. The afternoon was spent in Yad Vashem. What can one say about this place? 

Marion Landen and group viewing the dedicaton plaques

Diane Abrams leads walk through park

Joel, Bernie and Ron

Avinoam Binder explaining Bar Mitzvah Wall

CAARI on steps inside Supreme Court

Anita, Diane and other arriving at Supreme Court

"This is the way you take a picture'!" Marion, Maria, Diane and Frances

Sara and Al  in courtyard of Suprem Court

CAARI's Team of Attorneys - Mort, Al, Bernie and Joe