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.

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.

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.  

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.