Jordan Valley Tour by Marion Landen (Feb. 13)

Shalom dear friends:

We had bright sunshine temperatures around 70 for our tour of sites around the Jordan Valley!  Our group travelled to the north of Israel; first official stop was Old Gesher  & the Naharayim Experience. The area had a splendid view of the Jordan River, the Gilad and Golan Mountain ranges. The site was witness to the struggle of the Kibbutz members during War of Independence, 1948. An audio-visual show was shown. A model demonstrates operation of the early hydroelectric power station, and introduces complex systems of dams, bridges and turbines that generated electricity.

We lunched on a terrace at lovely small town overlooking a view of the hills, and then on to Beit She'an National Park we went.

I recalled visiting this site during an earlier trip to Israel in 2006, but presented by our wonderful guide, Neil, I found it much more appealing. Major excavations which have gone on since 1986 have uncovered architectural reconstruction of buildings, installations and streets.

Following dinner back at our hotel, further introductions of 5 new caari participants was made at our little session following our eating experience (this is very common here in Israel)

Smiles and hugs from Marion Landen

 

CAARI Celebration! Feb. 10 by Rosalie Whitehill

Monday after school, a group of us walked to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.....and were rewarded for the long walk with some excellent exhibits....as well as loving again their permanent collection.  Then  another group set up a room for our special CAARI CELEBRATION......we filled the walls with colored papers on which were printed most of our activities......tutoring, gardening, hospital work, forest activity, museums, touring, dancing, listening to lectures, etc.....and between each activity were smaller papers ......one said eating and another said "sherutim" (bathrooms) as that seems to be what we do most.....we use the sherutim as soon as we get someplace and then again before we leave .........tables were set with flowers and balloons and the room looked quite festive.  We celebrated the conclusion of our Community Service Portion of the CAARI Experience.  Our favorite keyboard/singer joined us for an evening of singing, laughing and dancing.......and my group led the sing-a-long of the parodies we wrote......the evening was a super-success.....and if you watch a video that our coordinator will be posting, .....you will see our guide dancing......an absolute riot.....whether you know him or not...the evening has to be one of our special memories of this trip!!

Feb. 9 by Rosalie Whitehill - Rishon L'Zion & speaker

Shalom,

Hope this finds you all well and warm.....seems I have missed a lot of cold, snowy weather.

Today, the sun is shining again in Tel Aviv although it may be a tad cooler.....lower 60's
Yesterday afternoon was surprisingly wonderful for me.....We went to Rishon LeZion Museum (the first of Zion), the first community settled by Zionists outside of Jaffa in the late 1800's.  I had been twice before, but this time, two new places there awaited me.  We saw the old synagogue which is being used again and it was very impressive.  And they have now opened a room which was rented by the man who wrote the poem, Hatikvah, and learned how it got set to music.....the old, old folk melody which sounds so much like 'the moldau' which is also based on the same melody.  and of course, we went through two houses of the 17 original settlers.....we had great guides which always adds to the pleasure of the trip.
Last night's speaker was Rabbi Gilad Kariv, director of the \Israel movement for Reform Judaism, who was articulate and dynamic in reviewing the problems that the laws here which favor the ultra-orthodox are creating.   
Tomorrow we will be visiting Beit Shemesh which recorded more votes than they have people in the last national elections.....(that is where a large population of Haredi, ultra orthodox have settled)
Got to go......back to the great kids that I am working with.....what a joy......and to add to my happiness, I am receiving great pictures of my family with my new great grandson, Jacob....
So I remain appreciative that I am here......and hope you all stay well and warm.
love,
rosalie

Forest Day and visit to Beit Shemesh

Thusday - Feb 6 by Rosalie Whitehill

Rosalie with Elaine, Diane, Susan, Marion and Gloria

Weather was a bit cooler today, low 60's....but sunny!

Thursday at school, the kids were better than ever....enjoying my story of the Dog Center, telling me about their class trip and upcoming test...and again, the music that ends our periods always comes too soon!!

After lunch, we visited the Holon Design Museum, not far from Tel Aviv....the exhibit was on the history and design of bicycles...including a large collection of very special up=to=date bikes.  Have to say it is not one of my favorite topics, but I did catch some small videos about the architecture of the museum which were terrific.  The museum's design is really special and it is worth the trip to see it.

Later, dinner at a restaurant, at the edge of the New Tel Aviv Port, was probably one of the best we've had....and served very elegantly, too!!

So, all in all, it was a good day!!  And for me, any day in Israel is marvelous....I just breathe in the wonderful air, see the beautiful sunsets over the Mediterranean....and appreciate my good fortune in being here.

Hoping all is going well for all of you!  Stay warm and take good care of yourselves.....it's hard for me to believe I will be going home in only a week....the time seems to have flown by!

With love and hugs,

Rosalie

Arriving at Holon Design Museum

Design by Ron Arad

Design by Gloria and Mark!

Listening to guide describing architecture of building

another view

bride and groom arrived at Museum for wedding pictures

group walking through grounds

Joyce at exhibit

Cynthia not sure of this bicycle seat

Diane and group walking through exhibit

great balance by Ellie

CAARI views exhibit

Ron with guide

enjoying the comfort of the design seating

sunset view at port for dinner

Mike enjoys the lamb stew and the special presenstation