Message from CAARI's Guide serving in the IDF

MESSAGE FROM NEIL EISENSTADT
Dear CAARI Participants,
Thank you for coming on the 26th continuous CAARI program - the only program for Active Retirees in Israel. It is heart warming to see so many of you that chose to show your support by visiting and contributing to Israel in Israel.
You may have noticed that there is another guide named Rafi that is filling in for me? I serve in a reserve Paratroop Brigade that was called up during the night of 3 January a short while after the IDF began a ground offensive in wake of a surprise bombing that killed over 300 Hamas military officers in the central stadium in Gaza.

Since I have been called up we have entered a period of training. It is winter and very cold. Many items have been donated like warm polyester thermal undershirts and sox and underwear, as well as heating for the tents that we are sleeping in.
We have had several visits by well know public figures, President Shimon Peres visited us on Monday and yesterday the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Amer visited us, as well as a number of generals. The defense minister was present at one of our exercises and this past Shabbat, Parashat VaYehi, the Chief IDF Rabbi was with us for a special Friday night meal in a tent that housed the entire Battalion about 400 soldiers. Since a brigade is made up of 4 battalions we had 4 different dinner times so that the Rabbi could speak at every soldier’s dinner.

We have had a very interesting training period where we train with soldiers in their obligatory service as well. Two of the four battalions are already inside Gaza and have been photographed in the Israeli newspapers.
There are a few characteristics that have defined this was: (1) total deception. The Hamas was totally surprised at the timing of the attack. The Israeli newspapers spoke of a cabinet meeting on 28 December to decide what to do and on Saturday morning the IAF went into action and began this carefully planned operation. Another deceptive (2) move was the use of ground troops. The newspapers were talking about the government decision whether to use ground forces or not and the Hamas was surprised by the tremendous intensity of the firepower. Everybody was afraid that putting IDF troops in Gaza would not be effective but the exact opposite seems to be true. The launching areas are the periphery not in the middle of the cities. The IDF has also moved against the tunnels to try and stop the flow of Iranian weapons into the Gaza strip and there are rumors which have proven to be false so far that Shalit, the POW has been found.

What is sure is not what is in the paper but that the Iranians see the massive use of firepower AND bombs dropping from planes over Gaza that will be their fate as well. This is something that after the Lebanon war in 2006 was something that the enemy did not think Israel would resort to. This is the IDF's attempt to reestablish a deterrent.

I do not know when this will end. But when it does I will be back as the guide for CAARI and the assistant director together with Susan.

Warmest Regards,

Nahum (Neil) Eisenstadt

Bruchim Habaim - Welcome

CAARI arrives in Israel
Tuesday evening, January 13, the first group of CAARI participants arrived in Israel for CAARI 2009 - in its 26th continuous year. This year 35 participants will be participating in the program over the 7-week period. It is a pretty even split between Canadians and Americans who came from New York, New Jersey, California, Oregan, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Montreal to enjoy the warmer temperatures (we see the temperatures in Canada and the East Coast) and sunny blue skies. The CAARI family has been here – through the Gulf War, Intifada and now the Gaza Situation. Israelis, from the hotel staff to the local shop owners to school administrators, students and community workers, have warmly welcomed CAARI and thanked them for being here at this time.

These are difficult days for Israel. The country and CAARI feels the pain of those who live in the south that face the reality and possibility of daily (hourly) rocket attacks. And…for our soldiers who are risking their lives to protect Israel for all of us – here and in the Diaspora – we thank you. One of these soldiers is our guide – Neil Eisenstadt. See his story below as he reports from his training center in the Negev. Susan Stock, spoke to a friend in Arad told her yesterday – this is the time to be in Israel – you see the country united. So…may I present CAARI 2009 and their travel log over the next few weeks.

CAARI 2009

Experience Israel with CAARI

---

Please follow along with our CAARI program beginning January 14! We will be traveling throughout the country from the Galilee to Eilat. Enjoy our travel log!

CAARI 2008 Blog

Purim 2008 - Tel Aviv

by Susan Horwitz

Fantastic, amazing, incredible, terrific and FUN!!! I had been looking forward to this day all week. Once I saw the signs that Ben Yehuda Street would be closed from Thursday evening at 8:00 to Friday night at 7:00 I knew that Tel Aviv was in for a big treat. I just didn’t know how big or how great! So…all week, I watched, read and spoke to my friends about this great event. Thursday evening, on my way from the Megillah reading, I saw the vibrant colored banners going up - hung from light poles and strung across the street – oh so festive! The street was now closed from Frishman to Alozorov Street. Workers lined the street building stages, kiosks, and decorating – what a production! Security was everywhere and the street was bustling from night to the next morning. I was like a little kid – up early to go swimming (at 5:00 AM) and to check out what was accomplished during the night. I couldn’t believe – Ben Yehuda Street had been transformed into a magical fair!!! Oh this was going to be a spectacular day! At 10:00 AM, I left my apartment – camera around my neck and water bottle flung over my shoulder. The weather was like a summer day – sunny with temperatures in the 80’s. I knew that I needed to keep myself hydrated – Neil’s warning was ringing in my ear. I already could hear the music coming from the loudspeakers! First, I had to go through security as each entrance to Ben Yehuda Street had 4 –5 police and security staff checking everything. (This you may turn some of you off – but here we feel it reassuring). Then I saw the spirit of this holiday! So many children – all dressed is colorful costumes – from small babies – to aging adults – wigs, painted faces, hats, streamers, balloons, you name it – they were dressed in it! Even the dogs were dressed for occasion! The streets were jammed with people, walking, strutting and gawking at what they were seeing. Of course, there were some who I didn’t know if that were in their normal dress or was it a Purim outfit? Every block had at least three stages with all sorts of entertainment – bands, storytelling, drumming, mimes, gymnasts and even acrobats hanging from a trapeze, ropes and streamers. I watched in amazement as they swung from the heights of the buildings. Guess it has been a long time since I have been to a circus! Music filled the air! All were merry! Hats off to those that organized this special event. On my way home – thinking about Purim and all the beautiful young children who should only know this kind of happiness, I thought of the prayer that we said in synagogue at the end of the reading the Megillah. With all the festivities and happiness may we not loose site of the true meaning of Purim! Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who dost champion our cause and vindicate our rights, taking revenge for us, repaying all our mortal enemies as they deserve and punishing our oppressors. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who dealest out punishment to the oppressors of Israel they people, O thou, redeeming G-d. Hag Sameah and Shabbat Shalom to all!
PS - I think the grape costume won the award for the most creative!! Susan Horwitz

L’hitraot to CAARI 2008 in song!

The CAARI Song
CAARI has some very talented people who have written songs describing our experience. One of them is Noami Halpern, a long time CAARI participant, wrote these verses toasting CAARI's 25th anniversary!


It is sung to the tune of Od’ Lo Ahavti Dai by Noami Shemer



So let us stand together
Let’s raise our glasses high!
We have something to celebrate
The number “twenty five”
For CAARI has a birthday
We’ve lived to see the day
So say “Shehahianu”
We’re 25 to-day!

The time for us to say “good-bye”
is drawing very near.
We’ve been through many ups and downs
To get from there to here.
We’ve climbed some hills and valleys
We’ve seen some wondrous sights
We’ve had some sunny mornings
We’ve had some rainy nights.

We’ll say “good-bye”, give a hug
And wish each other cheer
Stay strong and well and happy
So you’ll be back next year,
Tell all you friends about your
Adventures in this, land
About the wondrous things you’ve done
So they will understand.

Chorus:
Ay Ay Ay C-A-A-R-I
Susan is our leader
On whom we can rely.

Ay Ay Ay C-A-A-R-I
Let’s all join hands in friendship,
Hold them up high.

To all the CAARI participants,
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to Israel. Your participation in CAARI is heart warming and greatly appreciated by all those who have been touched by you. Hope to see you next year – with CAARI in Israel!
Warmest Regards,
Susan and Neil

CAARI Celebrates 25!

Our special celebration was held at the lovely Beit Shalom House - once the private residence of Mr. Shalom Horowitz, an affluent attorney who built this house in the 1930’s. CAARI began the evening with a tour of this elegant house and it’s impressive art collection of Israel’s finest artists from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Dinner was “elegantly prepared” by Itzak Feingold, caretaker of the house. The food was a real treat after so many days of hotel dinners. Shuli Natan, the famous Israeli singer best known for singing “Jerusalem of Gold” in 1967, entertained CAARI. We all enjoyed her lovely voice and stories about the songs she sang giving us a history of Israel in songs - with a few in Yiddish! “It was a night to remember and a wonderful way to conclude CAARI 2008 – good food, good friends and wonderful music in our beloved Land of Israel. Who could ask for more!” Happy 25 CAARI and a salute to Israel at 60! Shalom to all!

Last Touring days of CAARI - Jerusalem

Sunday, 2 March
CAARI 2008 is coming to a close, but we are still on the go! We began our tour at one of Israel’s most impressive buildings – the Supreme Court. The building, designed by two outstanding architects under the direction of the Rothschild Family, combines design elements such as lines, curves and light with old and new - using Jerusalem stone to interpret old and new, justice and truth, and a passage from the Psalms….“He will lead me in the circles of justice”. One has a special feeling as you walk along the corridors, visiting courtrooms and viewing Israel’s justice system at work.
Our next visit was another place of we can all be proud of – Hadassah Hospital – Ein Kerem. There are several Hadassah members on the trip and Hadassah also sits on JNF – USA’s board. So many new facilities to treat all people! And…..of course, the Chagall Windows are not to be missed.
Our visit to Yad Vashem included a visit to the Museum. There are no words to describe the feelings as one enters this building. We began our tour with a special presentation by the Director of Shoah Victims’ Names Recovery Project. Several of the CAARI participants are victims and seemed eager to assist in this project.

4 March

We are packed and ready for our flights back to the USA and Canada. The sun is shining here with temperatures in the high 60’s. Finally, the weather is warming up. We began our final touring day with a visit to Ammunition Hill. It was here that our young soldiers courageously fought the battle for Jerusalem in 1967. This place is a battlefield and a memorial to those brave soldiers. We are quite proud to see that JNF from the USA, Canada and Australia are part of this important site. Said Joe Fried, “I didn’t know that JNF was anything but trees. It is so impressive to tour the country and see the many projects that involve JNF.”