Today's afternoon adventure was to the newly opened Agam Museum, located in Rishon L'Zion. Our own Arline gave an introduction to Agam and kinetic art as we drove to the museum.
The Museum is very impressive with the colorful 29 columns at the entrance plaza. Once inside, we had an amazing guide Avital, who explained about Agam, the man, his works and the reasoning behind this genius of an artist.
As she was explaining one of Agam's works of art, she said, "Agam, how nice to see you"!
We all turned around, with our mouths wide open, and there he was in person! What a thrill! He spoke to the group, explaining some of his concepts. Yaacov Agam is now 90 years old and still working - restoring one of his leading works in Israel - musical and fire fountain located in Dizengoff Circle.
The one picture shows Agam intently listening to Susan, one of the CAARI Directors, as she explains our CAARI group. He was also interested in what we liked. Later as we were walking through the museum he came up to us and spoke to us and then he continued working on his project.
Who is Yaacov Agam?
Agam is known as the Father of the Kinetic Movement in Modern Art and one of the world's leading 20th century artists. He was born in Israel, Rishon LeZion, and studied in Bezalel School of Art in Jerusalem and in Zurich and Paris with well known artists. Agam's works have been displayed in important museums around the world, such as, MoMA, Guggenheim in New York and the Pompidou Center in Paris.
CAARI is full of surprises making this a wonderful way to see and be in Israel! We REALLY see - Israel's hidden gems!
CAARI - Back in Tel Aviv from our northern experience! What a four days we had! Now, we are energized for our community service for the next 10 days! Last evening 7 others joined the CAARI group.
Friday they were introduced to spring-like weather as they came from the frigid Canada and east coast. They began the day with a tour along Tel Aviv's new Independence Trail, from the 1900's to today, and time to explore the city on the own - the shuk, crafts market and a stop at a local cafe for a coffee - just like the Tel Avivians!
Wishing all a Shabbat Shalom
TREES! Thursday was our closing day in the Galilee and we ended the day with a true connection with the land of Israel! What could be better than getting you hands in the soil and planting a tree for a happy occasion or in memory of someone special? All this is possible with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the JNF in Israel known as KKL (Keren Keyemth l'Yisrael).
We see the trees, forests and other park and recreation projects, as we drive through the country. But, where do they come from? Who takes care of them? KKL-JNF cares for them!
We learned this as we toured one of the three nurseries spread throughout the country, the one in the north. Kalil, one of the KKL foresters spoke to use about the trees and JNF. This was followed by Halel, who walked us through the 'birthing' process from a seedling to a tree! We were impressed with the knowledge and dedication to their love for the trees!
CAARI Plants Trees
A CAARI Winner!
Meeting Michal Mor Melaned was a very special experience and an Israeli success story. Michal, speech therapist, was vacationing in Switzerland and it happened to be a rainy day - what to do?
It was suggested she visit a cheese making farm which peeked her interest. The rest is history - today she is now the only Israeli cheese maker that has won a super gold in international cheese competition.
Michal has become one of the world’s leading cheese maker (and an Israeli pride) and even a judge at the Global Cheese Guild. CAARI learned about her experience and the cheese making process and taste some, of course. Another 'CAARI hidden gem' Experience!
Rosh Pina, a Baron Rothschild Village
CAARI has visited cities, towns, kibbutzim, moshavim and villages as they travel through Israel. However, Rosh Pina is special. It is one of the oldest
Galilee settlements and sits on the slopes of Mt. Caanan with a view of the
scenic Golan Heights , Mt Hermon and the Hula Valley.
Fifth and sixth generation of the founders,
from Romania, still live in this charming village and we were privileged to
have Eric give us a tour – from a delightful movie, explaining the village’s beginnings,
to a tour through the cobblestone streets telling us stories of the past and the
folklore of local personalities and their accomplishments.
He also proudly showed us the JNF Canadian Lookout dedicated to a young soldier, Nimrod Segev, who was killed in the Second Lebanon War.
HaHula Lake - A bird's paradise!
The sun is setting and we are in one of the best places to see the bird migration. It
is still spring migratory season in Israel! Birds fly from their winter
home in Africa on to Europe and Russia for the spring and summer. The Upper
Galilee place to see these birds is the KKL-JNF Agmon HaHula Park, an internationally acclaimed bird watching
park.
Twice a year, over 390 species of birds pass through the
area; water fowl, birds of prey and songbirds, water buffaloes and
wildcats, unique flora and fauna. Over 500 million birds pass through
Hula Valley each year.
Hard hats on, we began with a special visit to the new Visitors Center,
which is still under construction. It is
a JNF Canada outstanding project, honoring former Prime Minister Harper.
From there, we boarded the camouflaged wagon drawn by a tractor, which allows for us to get into the crane population who were coming ‘home’ for the night. It was quite the experience! Enjoy our view of the cranes.
 |
| And one lone stork! |
We all turned around, with our mouths wide open, and there he was in person! What a thrill! He spoke to the group, explaining some of his concepts. Yaacov Agam is now 90 years old and still working - restoring one of his leading works in Israel - musical and fire fountain located in Dizengoff Circle. 
The one picture shows Agam intently listening to Susan, one of the CAARI Directors, as she explains our CAARI group. He was also interested in what we liked. Later as we were walking through the museum he came up to us and spoke to us and then he continued working on his project. 
