Sunday, January 20, 2019 - Ben Gurion's Negev Dream

On Sunday,  we took a break from Community Service and spent the day in the Negev.  Ben Gurion would be proud seeing the ‘desert bloom’!  As we drove south past the sprawling cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon, we saw green crops growing  and in open fields the beautiful spring Anemone purple, red and white flowers!  Ah…a sign of spring! 

Our first destination was visiting a farm in Moshav Taimei Yosef, the Salad Trail,  located in the northern Negev. The day was perfect, sunny, warm temperatures – great to be in the outdoors for a tour.   The guide took us through several greenhouses explaining what is grown and the agricultural technologies used to increase taste and production, i.e. latest in bee bio-engineered technology.   Yes, cherry tomatoes were developed in Israel!  We picked and tasted salad  and medicinal greens, like Verbana – great in tea, which they made for us. 

We picked a variety of tomatoes, of all colors and VERY tasty. The cucumbers were crisp and yellow, white, orange and purple carrots crunchy and yummy.  It was amazing to see what can grow in such sandy soil.  It is strawberry season in Israel and we got our fill of these tasty berries.  Yes, we ATE our way through the tour.  

The tour ended with an explanation of homing pigeons which are raised on the farm.  This of course, was the earliest kind of email or Some of us held and released them as they flew BACK HOME! 

We are driving along the Israel- Gaza border and seeing what we have been hearing on the news.  Today is was all quiet and you would never know there were any issues.  We stopped at an observation site for a view of Gaza and the border area.  

 From there we went to the city of Sderot, located less than one mile from Gaza border, which has received major rockets attacks during the Gaza confrontations.  As your drive through the city and the NEW neighborhoods, you see each apartments has security rooms attached.  There are concrete security areas near ALL the bus stops and of course, in schools and buildings.  Yes, we were surprised to see so many new neighborhoods being built.

Back in 2009 JNF – USA recognized the children who lived in Sderot had to spend much of their time indoors, as it was not safe to play outdoors.  JNF build this incredible playground where children from Sderot and neighboring communities can play and feel safe without the fear of rocket attack.   Hundreds of children of all ages use this facility.  The center’s attractions include a soccer field and volleyball court, movie theater, disco, rock climbing wall, snack area, computer center, and jungle gym. Play areas double as bomb shelters, ensuring that all occupants can quickly reach safety in the event of a rocket attack.  It was a wonderful experience for us to see the smiling faces and laughter coming from these beautiful, innocent children as they played.  CAARI commends JNF for their vision and concern for the security of Israelis. 

Enjoy the pictures and our day!
CAARI 2019

Afternoon Tours - A Dance movement and working in the fields

We have had some  interesting afternoon tours this week with the Canadian & American Active Retirees in Israel program.  On Sunday, after our community service work, we went to one of the  Batsheva Dance Company’s dance studio’s in South Tel Aviv's Florantine neighborhood for a lesson on the Gaga dance movement. 

We are sure that you are VERY familiar with Lady Gaga, but do you know that in Israel, they have Mr.  Gaga!  This is actually a movie about the renowned artistic choreographer,  Ohad Naharin.  

So you are saying…What is the Gaga dance movement? Gaga is a new way of gaining 

knowledge and self-awareness throughmovement of your body through dance.  Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening your body and adding flexibility, stamina, and agility while lightening the senses and imagination. 

That is what the CAARI program is all about: gaining flexibility, with stamina, agility and imagination! 

On Tuesday afternoon we  experienced a Hashomer HaChadash Program at an Experimental Farm, not far from Tel Aviv, in an area called Zrifin near Rishon Letzion.

When we arrived there were several other groups who had come to also have their own pioneer experience.  We met with Tzofia, who explained this special organization. that focuses on agriculture and  safekeeping the land of Israel through education and participation.Thousands of youth groups, students, tourists and families volunteer in a variety of programs.  

 Our job today was to pick off the fruit from trees that were used in an agriculture experiment.    It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed clearing the trees of rotted fruit and we completed the task in no time.  

We also got to pick some fruit for us - nothing like a orange or clementine right off the tree!    

Tu Bishvat - The New Year for Trees – January 18, 2019

The National Tu Bishvat,Event is synonymous with KKL-JNF and for the past 20+ years has been a major activity of the CAARI (Canadian & American Active Retirees in Israel)  group.  It is one of our major volunteer experiences.    

Here, in Israel it is a festival of renewal, a celebration of nature and a holiday of the environment.  It is an event for all ages. 

Thousands of Israelis from all over the country visit KKL-JNF forests to plant trees over the next few days.  It is lovely to see families young and old,  with saplings in hand, walking to the planting sites to plant the green pine sapling, gather the earth around it and say the planter’s prayer.  Many of the children make their own signs and proudly tag their sapling!  With time these saplings will grow and develop into trees that will provide fresh green areas for Israel’s residents and help to combat global warming and preserve the environment.   

 CAARI boarded the buses around 7:30 driving  toward Jerusalem to Mishmar Mishmar Ayalon, located near the area of Latrun.  It was quite a site to see the hillside dotted with the KKL-JNF flags, which located the dug holes to plant the saplings.  Buses brought the people to the site and over the day.   CAARI handed out over 4000 saplings to the happy planters, young and old.  It also gave us a chance to meet and speak with Israelis, help them plants, take pictures of the families and enjoy the festive day!   

Shabbat Shalom,

CAARI 2019 

Community Service, trip to the Tel Aviv Safari and Yemenite Dinner - Jan. 17

The Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan (commonly known as the Safari Ramat Gan) is the largest collection of wildlife in human care in the Middle East and established in 1974. The 250-acre site consists of both a drive-through African safari area and a modern outdoor zoo. Our very knowledgeable guide,  Arad,  guided us through the park, describing the animals and personal stories about them.  Did you know that Yossi, the elephant,  is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the largest elephant in the world?  Too much good Israeli zoo cooking?!  

We also toured the  Israeli Wildlife Hospital, located at the Safari and saw the staff operating on a wounded owl that had been brought to the zoo for treatment.  

Dr. Horowitz, the veterinarian spoke to us about the condition of the owl.    Israelis  listen to Dr. Horowitz daily on radio, giving reports about the animals from the Safari. Only in Israel would you get this.  In addition, in Friday’s paper there was an article on the 29^th birthday of one of the giraffes.  CAARI takes us to the most interesting places. 

By Pearl: Thursday we went to the Ramat Gan Safari where animals roam free including hippos, zebras. ostrich, and Thompson gazelles. There are 13 rhinos here the most of any zoo in the world. We saw the most magnificent Sumatran tiger and beautiful giraffes as well as the largest elephant in the world who weighs 71/2 tons. Chickens and roosters wander the grounds as well. For me, great fun. 

Dinner at the Yemenite Restaurant, Maganda! 

WARMEST regards,

CAARI 2019

Pictures  by Susan,  Pearl and Marcia