Thursday - Community Service, Tour and Speaker

Volunteers at the Botanical Gardens - Esther, Laurel & Joel

Thursday, January 22 
Greetings friends!  Another full CAARI day and the end of the week!  Friday and Saturday are the weekend here!  The weather continues to be lovely - sunny iwth temperatures in the 70's - cooler in early morning and evening!
We are really getting the 'knack' of the schedule and enjoying our 'jobs'.  Each is different but all rewarding - we feel like we are making some contribution.  And...no matter where we go and people ask us what we are doing here,  they say - 'Wow' and thank us!  What could be better than that?

Rosalie's Report - On Thursday, I went back to my original school (within walking distance) and the day was more productive.  We helped the English teacher complete her lesson by working with small groups of kids....I especially loved being with the students I had worked with 2 days before.....and getting their hugs as they showed how pleased they were to work with me again.

After lunch we toured the Botanical Gardens, ....not like places with similar name....as this one is associated with Tel Aviv University and is devoted to research.....the director took us through the many diverse environments in Israel, as well as in the world......They even have a tropical rain forest environment in a huge greenhouse.  I feel we are seeing so much of Israel that most people from other countries ( and even many Israelis) never get to see. We have 3 people working in the Gardens.  

Professor Uri Shalit 

Professor Uri Shalit
Enjoy pictures - great day to tour Botanical Gardens! 

In the evening, our speaker, Dr. Uri Shavit, a professor of  Islamic Studies at Tel Aviv U. spoke with us about the Muslim Brotherhood and how unpredictable the situation is when dealing with small groups within the brotherhood.  His talk was a no-nonsense approach to terrorism, and he was full of factual material which he presented very well.  He stayed until every question was answered.....and so far, the speakers have surpassed expectations.

Wishing all a Shabbat Shalom,

CAARI 2015 

famous black iris - just beginning to bloom for spring

Community Service, Haganah Museum & Yemenite Dinner

Burt & Marianne and their taxi driver

Wednesday, Jan. 20  - Day 2 of the community service.  We are getting in 'the swing' of things - breakfast, get into waiting taxis, off to work, back to hotel for lunch and off to afternoon tour.  And, today we were treated to a dinner 'out" that means outside the hotel - for a little variety.

Burt and Mark at Haganah Museum Entrance

Report from Rosalie - The afternoon was spent touring the refurbished Haganah Museum with an excellent guide, who went through the history of the Haganah in detail.  I had not known that Golumb was the Israeli who started the Haganah......and two years ago, I had spent some days working at a school named for him.  Stories about the early members of the Haganah are truly so inspirational.....another time for lumps in the throat.

Miriam, Esther, Laurel, & Rosalie at Maganda!

After the museum, we toured Tel Aviv, seeing the new plaza near the rebuilt Habima theater and the Mann Auditorium (now the Charles Bronfman Auditorium), as well as, Rabin Square and the new port area.

We enjoyed an excellent dinner at one of Tel Aviv's famous Yemenite restaurants, Maganda....from which we were able to walk home.....a good thing, considering how much we are eating.

Hugs from CAARI 2015 

See more pictures of the days activities 

Inside Haganda

Haganah with Alex, the guide

group at Haganah

waiting for our bus driver to pick us up!  

Paul and Ronda walking on Ibn Givrol - Rabin Square 

Sherry missed group picture!  

Dinner at Maganda

Dinner at Maganda

Dinner at Maganda

Our First Community Service Day and visit to Independence Hall - Tuesday, Jan 20

Ellen and Rosalie with Principal and Staff at Tel Nordau School

Report by Rosalie Whitehill - Today was our first day of community service.....and I was assigned to the school within walking distance......five short blocks away....instead of the mile + trek I had to the other school (not part of the program this year).....Met with the principal and English teacher (of upper grades) and I was delighted that they were so warm and friendly.

CAARI Group on Rothschild Street near Independence Hall 

This afternoon, we visited Independence Hall (Mayor Meir Dizengoff's old residence) where Ben Gurion declared the existence of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948......saw a fine film about the dreams to have a Jewish state, and the beginnings of Tel Aviv....then went into the room in which the Declaration was made and signed and heard a recording of Ben Gurion's speech, followed by Hatikvah......something that always leaves a lump in my throat. 

So I continue to bask in the warmth of Tel Aviv and this program......and hope you all stay well and warm!!

with love,

rosalie

Statue of Meir Dizengoff

Famous stage area in Independence Hall 

CAARI inside Independence Hall where State of Israel declared

Monday, January 19 - Train the Tutor & visit to Independence Hall

 CAARI Orientation  Program - Last night we selected our community service assignments - some of us are tutoring English in elementary schools, some working in the Ichilov Rehab Center and others in the Botanical Gardens  at Tel Aviv University.  As part of the program, past participants present 'tutoring ideas' for those that will be going to schools.  Excellent presentation by Rosalie! Great ideas and suggestions by all.  

Train the Tutor with Rosalie, Barbara, Ellen and Rhoda

Major (ret) Tiran Attia 

Today was a free afternoon to get ourselves acclimated to Tel Aviv - those of us who came from Eilat had some laundry to do.  

Rosalie Reports;"..... last nite's speaker, Major Tiran Attia, spoke on the different Islamic radical groups - where they are headquartered, and who leads the different groups, as well as their strengths and weaknesses and much more that I did not know before......much too much to write here, but I did take copious notes and will share them with anyone interested when I return
He was wonderful - surpassing,  my expectations.......and so I was very happy about that.  Things seem like they can't get much better, but they usually do when I am in Israel."

Regards, CAARI 2015

 .

Tiran, Barbara,, Mark & Marianne

Group Arrived in Tel Aviv - Welcome by Rosalie Whitehill

Rosalie welcome Ellen Charm - new CAARI participant this year

WELCOME TO TEL AVIV AND THE CITY HOTEL - The group from Eilat arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening and greeted with a warm welcome by Rosalie Whitehill, CAARI participant for 10 years!  Rosalie arrived in Israel a few days earlier, from Boston, She is one of the participants that will be taking part in the 4 week community service program.    Rosalie reports - "Yes, weather is in upper 60's and sunny.... just had my first slice of Israeli pizza....yum

Rosalie and Esther Rose 

The CAARI schedule for most of the week has been posted......"meet and greet" after dinner tonight......orientation and my presentation called "train the tutor" are tomorrow a.m.

Tomorrow night's speaker is an IDF (Israeli defense force....the army) major and the topic is "Different Islamic Groups" so I am really looking forward to that.

 And so, again I wish you all well, along with warmth...inside and out.

Meeting Barbara and Anice waiting for her hug from Rosalie 

Yes, weather is in upper 60's and sunny....right now it is about 2 p.m. and I have returned from getting my Israeli hair cut and a manicure, and picking up a few things I did not bring.(with the weather below freezing, I did not venture out to any stores the week before I came.....could not risk a slip on ice).  Also just had my first slice of Israeli pizza....yum!

The CAARI schedule for most of the week has been posted......"meet and greet" after dinner tonight......orientation and my presentation called "train the tutor" are tomorrow a.m.

Rosalie welcome Mark Weiss

Tomorrow night's speaker is an IDF (Israeli defense force....the army) major and the topic is "Different Islamic Groups" so I am really looking forward to that.

And so, again I wish you all well, along with warmth...inside and out.

Lots of love,

Rosalie

My impressions of the week in the Negev and Eilat. by Cheryl Kaplan-Hughes

My Impressions of the Negev
Cheryl Kaplan Hughes
I was very reticent about going to the desert and Eilat, only because I've seen a lot of deserts and although I haven't been to Eilat in 40 yrs.(oops), I thought it would just be another Miami Beach. Was I wrong. This part of the trip has really stirred me. To see Ben Gurion's simple dwelling, to see where he lived in the harsh Negev and to envision the work he did on the kibbutz, have made a huge impression on me. That plus our visit to two other kibbutzim, Yotvata and Ketura, have left me quite thoughtful. We met kibbutznicks who are truly pioneers, Dr. Elaine Solloway, her husband Mike Solloway and Amnon Greenberg. In my young Zionist days, I thought I could live in a kibbutz. I soon found out how wrong I was so I am particularly in awe of the huge contribution these people have made in taming the desert and thus founding the nation. They have learned how to produce red algae, medicinal plants, irrigation systems that grow the sweetest dates, methods of sustainable agriculture to benefit not only Israel, but the entire world to name just a few of their accomplishments. As Israel advances into the 21st. century, we can't forget these unsung heroes, the kibbutzniks who came in the 40's, 50s, 60's and 70's bursting with idealism and enthusiasm.They believed that if you dream it, it will happen. Although there are only 70 viable kibbutzim today; in their prime, they made an enormous impact on the country. These young idealists settled the land, fought terrorism and worked tirelessly to be self sufficient. Especially in the Negev, these kibbutzniks are carrying out Ben Gurion's prophecy that Israel will not survive if we do not conquer the desert...it's a work in progress. As for Eilat, yes it may look like Miami Beach but it's OUR Miami Beach..

CAARI DAY 7 EILAT TO TELAVIV Sunday 18 January 2015

JANUARY 18, 2015 CAARI DEPARTS EILAT FOR ZUKIM IN CENTRAL ARAVA
Our departure day went flawlessly. All 12 CAARI participants were on time for our 8:30 departure after loading up the minibus. We heard from Mark Weiss and Barbara Kuhn about their experiences in Petra on Saturday. We arrived at Zukim an exceptional community the only community that is not a Moshav in the Central Arava Regional council where there are 6 communities and about 3000 people. in the first 3 pictures we meet Shlomo Heller who is the deputy mayor of Zukim. He gave us background on the 11 years of Zukims development and the JNF KKL support.

 

This is the present artists studios that are being made in the older abandoned buildings from the IDF Nahal brigade that tried to build and settle this area in the 1980's and 1990's. Thanks to the Safir Society the Major Women Donors of the JNF of America Zukim was blessed with support that became sustainable and created the community.

 

Here is a picture of the CAARI group on the playgroud and dediction stone where the first picture was taken in 2002 that appears in American Independence Park whcih was the dedication ceremony.

 

 

Here are some pictures of the artist quarters being fixed up from the bandodned buolding from 20 years ago

 

 

Our last 3 pictures are of the original 50 houses build in Zukim taken to the north and to the south

 

 

 

Our next stop was an hour drive to Mitzpeh Ramon overlooking the Machtesh(Erosive Crater) 

Pictured below are a guitar player and singer that seranaded us while an explanation was given on the Mt Gamal overlook pictured below.