Monday, December 31, 2012

Experiencing Tel Aviv


December 27 - December 30

What a contrast between the holiness of Jerusalem, the lush beauty of the north, and the energy of Tel Aviv!

In Our Streets
What better way to experience Tel Aviv than doing a family scavenger hunt.  This game divided us into five family groups, each with our own colored bandanas, a camera and clues that took us from place to place in Tel Aviv. Along the way we collected signatures on a petition, took photos of street performers and pizza delivery men, and had a chance to ask Tel Avivians (?!) lots of crazy questions.  The goal was to collect the most clues and get to the last site as quickly as possible.  Coming in third was  the Orbach/Leonides family, second we the Liebmans and in first place the (Ron and Kathy) Fishman family.   Over two hours we (sometimes) ran through the city watching the hustle and bustle of this sprawling city that is just over 100 years old.








Thursday, December 27, 2012

Stories from the Creation of the State of Israel

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Stories from the Creation of the State of Israel
We left the Galilee and headed for Tel Aviv.  Our first stop on the way was at the Atlit National Monument, the site of the British detention camp in which thousands of illegal Jewish immigrants were held from 1939-1948.  It was hard to imagine the shock and dismay that Jews fleeing nazi death and persecution must have felt upon arriving in British controlled Palestine, only to be incarcerated in camps similar in appearance to the nazi camps of Europe.  In 1946, similar detention camps camps were established in Cyprus.

A vintage ship, similar in appearance and size to the ones used to transport many of the immigrants was moved to Atlit, and is used to tell their stories.   In October 1945, a daring military operation headed by Nahum Sarig and the young Yitzhak Rabin, later Israel's Prime Minister, broke into the camp and freed the 208 detainees.  The camp continued to operate as a detention site until the end of the British mandate period in1948.

Our next stop was at the Tishbi Winery.  After a wonderful lunch, the adults tasted wines and the kids tasted chocolate.

We arrived in Tel Aviv, checked into our hotel and proceeded to enjoy a free evening in  the first modern Hebrew city.







Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Beautiful North of Israel

Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012

The Kinneret, also known as the Sea of Galilee is Israel's largest fresh water reservoir and the country's main source of drinking water.  Hadar, our guide, told us that throughout the winter, Israelis pay very careful attention to the water level in the Kinneret more carefully than watching the stock market!

Above the Kinneret are the Golan Heights, the beautiful, lush, mountainous region that boasts nature reserves, historic and archaeological sites and many recreational facilities.

After awaking at the kibbutz guest house in Ein-Gev and seeing the Sea of Galilee for the first time (we arrived later the night before) we headed out for our Jeep rides.  The perspectives from the Jeeps riding over bumpy terrain was enhanced when we went up to Mount Bental, the bunker providing a 360 view of the entire Golan.  We learned about the strategic importance of this region, which was captured from the Syrians after they attacked Israel in the 1967 Six Day War.  It was hard to imagine Israelis living in the valley from 1948-1967 in constant fear of missiles being fired from the other side of the border.

At the bottom of the Kinneret we stopped at Kibbutz Hamat Gadar, the site of Israel's largest and oldest spa complex.    This 40 tropical park includes a variety of hot mineral baths and pools that were enjoyed by (almost) everyone in the group.  The hot water with high mineral and sulfur content is supposed to ease pains and cure a variety of maladies.  We certainly felt great and relaxed when we left!

Hamat Gader also boasts one of the largest Crocodile farm in the Middle East with approximately 200 crocodiles of various species.  By the time we got out and it began to get dark, we didn't see very many of them.

Our next stop was a cruise on the Kinneret on our very own boat.  How great to all dance the hora together (and of course the other hot dances of the day) as we cruised up and down this beautiful place.  We pulled into Decks Restaurant for dinner, feasting on steak, chicken and fish all grilled over fires of citrus wood, olive wood and American Hickory that is imported from Georgia.


Hartford's Partnership Region - Afula Gilboa

Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012

Our first stop in our Partnership Region was Bet Singer, a place of hope and healing for 100 children from ages 4 to 18 who come from home environments that are unsafe. Under the careful supervision of a team of educators, psychologists and social workers, these children and their families receive care and support, with the goal of reuniting them with their families in a healthier and safer environment.

The little children we met were excited to show us their rooms, cafeteria and especially their zoo. Our kids connected with their kids to do art projects, cook, and play some raucous basketball and soccer.  The program is located in Kibbutz Kfar Yehezkel and the children in Bet Singer participate fully in children's programs on the kibbutz.  We saw first-hand the  kinds of projects our community supports through our support of the Federation and the Partnership.

We arrived for dinner to Moshav Moledet in our Partnerhip region of Afula Gilboa.
This settlement was first established as a kibbutz in 1937 by immigrants to Palestine.  It became a moshav two years later and functioned mainly in the traditional agricultural areas (livestock and crops).  Later they opened a metal factory.

Today the community numbers 300 families with over 350 children.  We learned that the community is challenged by continued growth and economic development while at the same time preserving the heritage of Moledet.

Our kids immediately matched up with the kids on the kibbutz for an evening of conversation, tours and pizzas.  The adults broke up and each couple had dinner at the home of one of the moshav members.

The whole day was so meaningful.  Everyone felt terrific about the experience of meeting our peers.

Plant for the Sake of Your Children

Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012

While walking along a road, a sage saw a man planting a carob tree. He asked him: "How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?" "Seventy years," replied the man. The sage then asked: "Are you so healthy a man that you expect to live that length of time and eat its fruit?" The man answered: "I found a fruitful world, because my ancestors planted it for me. Likewise I am planting for my children." (Babylonian Talmud  Ta'anit 23a)

We stopped on our way north in Neot Kedumim, a Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel, is located halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, where we all planted trees.  











Monday, December 24, 2012

It Wouldn't be a Trip to Israel without the Camel Rides!




The B'nai Mitzvah of Ben and Ellie

Monday, Dec. 24, 2012
By one of the B'nai Mitzvah Mothers


This was an amazing day. This was the most unique Bar Mitzvah experience Icould ever imagine. Today was the day we celebrated our son Ben's Bar Mitzvah on Masada, aside Ellie who celebrated her Bat Mitzvah.  Our families are traveling together on the Mandell JCC's Family trip to Israel. With our families, including grandparents on both sides, and new friends from our group, we sat together in one of the Masada structures, facing north to Jerusalem, with the Torah, prayerbooks and Rabbi.  It only took watching Ellie and Ben, both absorbed in their blessings and Torah portion readings, and the huge smiles on their faces, to feel the holiness and spirituality that Masada provides.    I dreamt of being here for my  child's Bar Mitzvah, and Herzl did say "if you will, it is no dream."   So here we are. In my grateful state of being on this sacred mountain in Israel, I could only say "thank you" to those who made this so special for all of us.  

We ended the evening at Genesis, a replica of Abraham's Biblical tent for a festive dinner complete with sparklers and cake to commemorate this special day.





Sunday, December 23, 2012

A Day of Remembering


Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012
By a member of the Mandell JCC Israel Trip

This was a day of remembering.  We began at the JCC Association offices in Jerusalem, a ten minute walk from the hotel.  This lovely old building has been JCCA's Israel headquarters for over 50 years.  Working with JCCs across North America to develop programs in Israel is just one of the many things they do.   While there, we met with Rachel Korazin, a Jewish educator who specializes in teaching out the Holocaust.   She asked to try to leave Yad Vashem later in the day remembering the name of one person.

It is not possible to accurately describe the experience of being at Yad Vashem.

"And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (a "yad vashem")... that shall not be cut off."    (Isaiah, chapter 56, verse 5)

From their website....As the Jewish peoples living memorial to the Holocaust, Yad Vashem safeguards the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations. Established in 1953, as the world center for documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is today a dynamic and vital place of intergenerational and international encounter.   For over half a century, Yad Vashem has been committed to four pillars of remembrance:   Commemoration, Documentation, Research and Education

We toured through the exhibition with our own guide who understood how important it was for the kids - ages 13-20 - to have their own context in which to learn about the Holocaust.  The new Yad Vashem  is an architectural masterpiece with great symbolism.    The exhibit begins with a beautiful film montage of Jewish life in Europe before the war and ends on an outdoor terrace with an expansive view of Jerusalem.   In the middle, it tells the story of the Shoah, in great detail through exhaustive research and powerful testimonies, of the greatest of horrors to befall the Jewish people.

Our guide, Deborah, a child of survivors, ended the tour by telling us of her face-to-face meeting with Miep Gies, the Dutch woman who helped to hide Anne Frank and her family in the attic in Amsterdam.   Miep was 100 years old and Deborah asked her why she continued to speak and lecture about her experience.   She wanted people to know that by standing up to racism, cruelty and prejudice we can perhaps prevent tragedies such as the Shoah from happening again.  Alas, said Meip, the world has not learned the lesson. 







Saturday, December 22, 2012

Shabbat in Jerusalem


Saturday, December 22, 2012
By one of the Mothers on the Mandell JCC Family Israel Trip

Last week as we were leaving a Bat Mitzvah in New Jersey I announced "Next week in Jerusalem" mimicking the words we say each Passover.  And here we are one week later really in Jerusalem awaiting the arrival of Shabbat. 

As I sit in a circle with my new  Israel family, especially looking at my own immediate family, with their new kippa on their heads, I could feel the Sabbath as never before. I can't really describe to anyone in words right now what a feeling this is, and the happiness and cohesiveness that is permeating in this room full of fellow Jews. 

I had to experience it myself having others tell me of their own experiences didn't do it justice.  Being in Israel to see my family experience it with me is a dream come true. I've wanted to come here with my family for very long time and it's finally happened. I'm here with my husband, my three teenage children, and my parents. And in these days my son will have his Bar Mitzvah on Masada. This is a dream come true. This is true love.















Friday, December 21, 2012

Arrival


Friday, December 21
By David 

After long delays due to bad weather in Europe, our final family arrived at 3 this morning.  The weather followed them to Israel and we woke up to wind and rain. But our spirits were high, so we made a few adjustments in our schedule and started the day at the Time Elevator. There, in a multimedia show, we experienced the 3000 year old story of Jerusalem. A great introduction to this holy city that has meant so much to so many.

Visiting the renovated Israel Museum was special to each of us in different ways.  Some of us felt the reconstructed synagogues from Suriname, India, Germany, and Italy, while so different, they all shared common aspects: pulpit, eternal light (Ner Tamid), seating for woman, and the ark for the Torah.

Everyone was interested in how a special cloth was given to newborn Jewish children, embroidered with the Torah portion at the time of their birth, that follows them throughout their lives:  it is sewn onto the tallit, it is made part of the wedding chuppah and it is part of the burial.

We saw the Dead Sea Scrolls and thought it was remarkable that the scrolls and the Aleppo Codex came to Israel at the same time.

Nothing is as busy as the Market when Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat (the Sabbath).  Armed with a list of questions we had to answer in a scavenger hunt and 10 shekelsl with which each family was to buy something special for the group's Shabbat, we entered the mass of people in the market.  People from all walks of life in Jerusalem all jostling together and rushing through to pick up the necessities for Shabbat.  We sampled from among the variety of halvah, the fruits and nuts, cheeses and breads. And many of us filled up on the greatest street food:  pitas stuffed with falafel, salad, pickles and chips (French fries).

We returned to the hotel to dry off, warm up and prepare for the Sabbath.









Friday, December 14, 2012

Israel Family Trip

The Journey Begins

The Mandell JCC's Family Israel Trip will officially begin in Jerusalem on Thursday, December 20.  This much-anticipated adventure has been in the works for almost a year.  Some of us are departing as early as this weekend with others arriving in Israel the night before.  We are 28 individuals, ranging from 10 years old to 72.  Seventeen of us are going to Israel for the first time.  One of us will be celebrating her Bat Mitzvah and one his Bar Mitzvah on Masada.  We go to Israel with our own individual expectations and together we will experience many dimensions and perspectives of life in Israel.   And we will look forward to sharing our thoughts, our photos and experiences on our POSTCARD blog.  Stay tuned and Happy Sixth Chanukah Candle!