Finding Falafel - Fairmount Temple Trip to Israel

Goodbyes - Shabbat in Jerusalem

2010-08-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Shabbat, July 30th in Jerusalem

Our last day began with much needed sleep. After breakfast we decided to venture into the Arab Shuk. Eva joined us for our shopping adventure. Wheeling and dealing was the name of the game. Bruce and Eva were in their element. Our visit to the Shuk was going great until I was confronted by a young shop owner who when I said, “I am not interested in looking at his shop” he verbally attacked me. Saying that “ all Americans hate Arabs and that is why I avoided his shop”. I became quite upset but quickly realized anything I had to say was falling on deaf ears. It was perplexing to think that if I hated all Arabs why would I be shopping in the Shuk. I touched him as we were talking and he flinched in disgust. Eva calmed me down and we moved on.

After what was to be a 45-minute shopping experience that lasted 3 ½ hours, we returned to the hotel only to remember that we forgot about Bruce’s massage. Oops! Money saved, money lost!

Jill and Bruce cooled off in the pool while I packed.

Our trip was sadly coming to an end. Later I met with a small group and David to walk to the 1st neighborhood built outside the Old City walls, Yemin Moshe, named after philanthropist, Sir Moses Montfiore. On the site stands the Moses Montefiore Windmill built to provide cheap flour for poor Jews. The homes are lovely but something or should I say someone was missing. The residents! They are vacation homes.

Dan Utley and his wife Rachael led our Havdalah service. The service ended and the majority of the group loaded the bus for the airport. Hugs, kisses and goodbyes! A few families stayed behind. The Leibovich’s were off to Eliat and Petra. The Krantz’s were visiting relatives. Our family and the Fineberg’s had flights the next day. So what did Jill and I do? We went shopping, this time my kind of shopping, meeting the artists and buying their art. The streets of Jerusalem were still buzzing as we headed back to the hotel at midnight!!! I finished packing and as I drifted off to sleep my mind was filled with thoughts of Israel & the new friendships we all made.

Before this trip I felt no personal connection with Israel even though my mother’s & father’s families were true Zionists in Europe during the 1930’s. Until you visit Israel everything is just a story. Now I have a better understanding of the complexity of life there. I am left with mixed emotions that will be with me for the rest of my life. We hope that in our lifetime peace will come to Israel.

Love,

Ruth, Bruce & Jill Klotzman

Yad Va-Shem and Machane Yehuda Market

2010-07-31T06:19:00.000-07:00

Day 10 (as observed by Herm and Eve Leibovich)

Today we went to the Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel’s central memorial to the victim’s of the Holocaust. The younger children went with Sruli to the Children’s Memorial. Before going into the historical Museum, we walked along the Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles, honoring Christians who risked their lives to help Jews. The exhibits in the Museum were especially moving because they included actual movie footage, photography, videos of interviews with survivors, and diaries of victims and survivors. We went from room to room, recalling the historical events leading up to Hitler’s rise to power, and how the Nazis, step by step, increasingly persecuted the Jews, until the final solution of the death camps. We were moved to tears several times during the visit. Outside, we all gathered together and Rabbi Caruso led us in the Kaddish prayer for the six million Jews who were murdered.

[Editor's Note: By happenstance, the group ran into Jennifer Gertman, Cantor Sager's daughter, at Yad Va-Shem. Rabbi Gertman (Jennifer was ordained this past May) was leading a group of teenagers through Israel What a treat!]

After such a down feeling of the Yad Vashem, we went to the open-air Machane Yehuda market, where bustling crowds were eating, shopping and hurrying to get ready for Shabbat. We had lunch there on our own and enjoyed seeing the vibrancy of life in Israel, which was a strong demonstration that “Am Yisrael Chai,” The Nation of Israel Lives.

In the early evening, we went to Shabbat services at Kehilat Kol HaNeshamah, one of the few Reform Synagogues in Israel. In Reform Synagogues, services are in the vernacular, the native language. In the U.S., we pray mostly in English, but in Israel, the native language is Hebrew, so all of the Service was in Hebrew. The synagogue was packed and they did a lot of singing.

[Editor's Note: We were fortunate enough to meet up with Fairmount Temple's own Edith Paller, who recently made aliyah to Israel. It was wonderful to pray with her, and top share dinner with her back at the hotel].

After services, we walked back to the hotel and had a delicious Shabbat dinner.
This trip to Israel was so special for us because we experienced it with our son, daughter-in-law and our three beautiful grandchildren.

If You Will It, It Is Not a Dream

2010-07-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

Day 9 (as observed by the Katz family)

My family and I woke to the noises of the bustling street just below our room and were happily greeted by the morning Jerusalem sun peeking through our window shades. We try to get up and get dressed to no avail, but were happily pleased when we went down to breakfast to find that we were not the only family to sleep in and take an extra half hour to get ready. So one could say that our day started off a little late. We then quickly loaded the bus and hightailed it out of there to the Jewish National Fund Forest to plant trees. On our hike down the path David was telling us that in the 60 some years since the first tree was planted, the forest now boasted a whopping 244 million trees, making Israel that much greener. Planting the trees was probably one of the most rewarding experiences on this trip. Everyone was really able to dig their hands into the very land of Israel and plant a piece of themselves that will be with the country for years to come; so everyone will have left a piece of themselves behind.

Since our whole day started off a half hour late we had to quickly get back on the bus and head to our next destination, leaving behind our baby trees to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. We drove another 20 minutes down the winding roads and made our way to the Herzl Museum. The museum was a fun and interactive experience that really brought the essence of Herzl to life. Although the actors in the movie were somewhat comical, the character of Herzl came across loud and clear. He was a man who persevered and went above and beyond the limits of any one man to help find a home in Israel for all his ridiculed people living in Europe. It was sad to know that he would not live to see the day that Israel would announce its independence; yet also comforting to know that at least he wouldn’t have to learn that instead of talking to leaders of countries to get the land, that instead it took killing 6 million Jews to finally send the message across to be able to get a homeland in Israel. But I would like to believe that Herzl would be proud of what has become of Israel, the land he sought after for his entire life. After a quick trip up to see the grave site, we were whisked off to the tunnels of the Western Wall

Though I would like to say that the highlight of the trip was either going to the Western Wall to pray or seeing the old city, the highlight for some namely the boys was being able to track down Amare Stotlmyer of the New York Nicks and get a picture with him. It’s not every day you see a famous basketball player in Israel, especially one who is there to learn Hebrew due to the fact that his mother just realized she was Jewish. Go figure. Anyways after a sandwich lunch we made our way down into the tunnels of the Western Wall. It was heartwarming to know that there was a part of the wall that both men and women could pray at together instead of being separated, as if the tunnels were the only place where the laws of equality really shined through. It was also interesting to learn about the history of the wall and the Great Temple. It was humbling to know that a wall could hold so much power over a vast group of people. At the end of the tunnel tour we made our way through the back streets of Jerusalem to get to our bus. But on the way there, in one of the alleyways, we came across some momentous and important holy christian sites like the Fountain of Bethesda where Jesus was said to have healed the blind, and the place where the Virgin Mary was born.

After finally making it to the bus and one hour later we found ourselves sitting in a circle listening to the stories of the Ethiopian Jews who made the aliyah from their native Ethiopian Villages to the city of Jerusalem. It was humbling to hear of their struggles to reach their holy city, the place they had been dreaming about for years, and the hardships they had to face; like the one woman who got married at 13 and had her first baby at 17 three weeks into the trip to Sudan and how she only got 30 minutes before they had to keep on walking. After listening to the stories and asking our questions, we went upstairs to where the kids were singing and dancing, and started handing out all the presents. It was invigorating to watch the children’s faces light up with each new gift they were handed, and it was a rewarding experience overall. Then we all went out to watch them play soccer, where we cheered on Matt in the goal, and Nate, Aiden, Daniel, Ben, Claude, and Lev as they tried to score while they played alongside the other Ethiopian children.

Then it was time to say our goodbyes as we boarded the bus to dinner, and then somehow cart ourselves off to bed, with the words of Herzl still fresh in our minds. “If you will it, it is not a dream”.

Mitch, Yitah, Sydney, and Evan

Jerusalem's Old City

2010-07-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

Day 8 (As reported by David, Carolyn, and Steve)

Dateline Jerusalem. 28-7-10 (as our guide David said, the whole world does their calendar as day/month/year except for those Americans!). We decided to be "slow moving" Americans today. After our exciting action packed 18 hour day yesterday, the entire group was late for breakfast. The huge buffet at the hotel had everyone going up for seconds--just the thing to get us going for our first full day in Jerusalem.

We started off by going to see a 3-D movie about the City of David, the original Jerusalem. Afterwards we entered the 2700 year old water tunnels under the city. They are dark and still have the spring water running in them. One enters the tunnels in water shoes and shorts so that you can Wade through the cold and up to 75 cm (30 inch) deep water. It is very cool literally and figuratively. The kids each carried a light stick to light the way and enjoyed the 1000 meter walk--especially watching their parents having to crouch through the low sections as they scooted right through.

The group entered the Old City and had lunch on their own. Afterwards our guide took us to the courtyard of his home-a 500 year old place. He was surprised by his four year old son as he spoke--the boy was very cute. We then did the ancient Jewish custom- shopping in the Cardo. Then the main highlight--the Kotel (Western Wall). It was a moving experience for the first timers and for those who have been there before. We all put our notes in the wall in this beautiful and Holy setting.

Afterwards we listened to a talk by Rabbi Stacy Nolish Blank, who grew up attending Fairmount and is now a rabbi at Congregation Darchei Noam in Tel Aviv. She spoke about the Reform movement, and issues in Israel.

In the evening, we heard from Rabbi Richard Kirschen, director of the Anita Saltz International Education Center in Jerusalem. Rabbi Kirschen is an old friend of particpant, Liz Krantz, and a colleague of Rabbi Caruso. He spoke about the challenges and joys of living in the State of Israel.

Another exciting day in Israel!

Your correspondents David, Carolyn and Steve

Masada, Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea in 112 Degree Heat!

2010-07-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

Day 7 - Tuesday July 27, 2010 (as observed by Debbie Singer, and the Breitenbach and Utley families)

We started the day with a 4 am wake up call and a 5:30 am arrival at Masada to trek up to the top. Complete with huffing and puffing, we all arrived at the historical sight in one piece and watched the breathtaking sunrise. After an emotionally moving prayer service, we all stood in a circle and each shared one word to describe what we were feeling at the moment. Some of the words that came to mind were “speechless, historical, beautiful, breathtaking, spiritual…hot and sweaty.” After our time on top of the mountain, we arrived at the Masada guest house and were treated with a well deserved meal that we got to share with many different groups, such as birthright trips and groups from England, USA and Canada.

After our trip to Masada, we got on the bus to head to Ein Gedi Nature reserve for a short hike and a dip in the natural pools, with the chance to stand under a beautiful waterfall to cool off.

Once we left the Nature reserve, we had a short drive to the Ein Gedi Dead Sea Spa, where the group immediately headed to the restaurant for a tasty lunch with choices like Schnitzel, fried fish, peas, pasta and massive amounts of hummus and pita. Shortly after, the group changed into our swimsuits and covered ourselves in a fancy exfoliate, native to Israel called…mud. We headed out to the dead sea and finally got to experience what we have all been hearing about for years. We waded through the shallow edge that felt like boiling hot water, eventually reaching a more bearable temperature. Carefully trying to avoid getting saltwater in our eyes, we floated on our backs for minutes and got a great ab-workout trying to keep our legs down. This was an experience none of us will ever forget, as it was something so special that can’t be compared to anything else. We spent the next couple of hours splashing around in a pool, and got on the bus to head through the West Bank on our way to Jerusalem.

After a few hours we emerged from a tunnel to a beautiful view of the city of Jerusalem. We stopped for a few minutes and got out of the bus in front of Hebrew University and did the Shehechiyanu as a group, drinking grape juice while welcoming ourselves to Jerusalem. No longer “next year in Jerusalem,” it’s NOW!

We arrived at the Vaqueiro Restaurant and while eating an extravagant dinner, the Utleys were surprised by their son Dan and his wife Rachel who are celebrating their one month anniversary. We got back on the bus and finally reached our final destination for the day, The Dan Panorama hotel where we were greeted by Marcel, husband of Rachama(former owner of the café at the JCC) a Clevelander who moved his family to Jerusalem to work for the beautiful hotel. The phrase of the day that most applied to us today, was ‘Ani Gamor,’ which means “I’m so tired.” We had a great day filled with lots of adventure and little relaxing, but it was all worth it. It took a lot to get through the 112 degree desert, but we conquered it with few complaints. We’re looking forward to the 7:00 am wakeup call tomorrow, as it will be 3 more hours of sleep than we had today!

Love,
Susan, Matt & Mila Breitenbach
Debbie Singer
Suzanne & Bill Utley

Let's Swim, Dig, and Ride a Camel!

2010-07-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Monday July 26, 2010 - Day 6 (as observed by Malia Lewis and Margot Damaser)

The day began with loading the bus at 7:30am before breakfast at the Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi dining hall. A wonderful Israeli-American breakfast with fresh salads, fried eggs, cheeses, tuna, and granola. We boarded the bus and Steve took over the microphone for a few minutes to announce his suggestion of the word of the day: “liberal.” He even provided his own creative translation in Hebrew.

We then headed to the natural pools at Sachneh National Park in the Beit Shean Valley, not far from the kibbutz. We swam in fresh water so clear you could see the bottom even in the deep parts. There was a natural cave to swim into, a waterfall to stand under, shallow parts, and deep parts. It was a welcoming spot for a variety of Israeli families to escape the heat of summer, including Muslim families with the women wearing full body swim suits, Orthodox Jewish families, and secular families of all sorts. The water was cool but not cold and just about everyone went for a dip.

After driving off we made our way northwest to pick up Highway 6, Israel’s only toll road, to head south for our archeological dig. It is the fastest road in the country and took us within a few hundred feet of the West Bank, including the city of Qalkilya and the Jewish settlement just next to it. David explained to us about the wall alongside the highway, separating the highway from the West Bank. The drive to the archeological dig was long, giving us all time to relax and nap and get to know each other some more.

We had brought bag lunches along and so needed only a short stop for lunch and bathrooms near the site of Tel Maresha where Archeological Seminars runs their program for amateur archeologists such as us. Arriving at Tel Maresha, we were met by our guide, Avi, who proceeded to use several baseball caps placed on top of each other on Benjamin’s head to explain that a Tel is the mound that results from several different civilizations building on top of each other. Avi continued his entertaining style of guiding throughout our visit to Tel Maresha, ensuring that even the most skeptical and the most distracted among us both had fun and learned something.

The most significant civilization at this site were Edomites at the time of the Chanukah story, approximately 2500 years go. The ground is made of soft rock covered by a shell of a hard rock. So, the Edomites dug through the hard rock and dug out the soft rock to create caverns that they used for work and storage. They even kept doves and pigeons underground by digging out crevices in the wall for them to build their nests and providing holes to bring light in. We got to see the graffiti they left behind on the cavern walls but were strictly advised not to leave our own. When the Edomites fled the Maccabean army, they destroyed the houses they had built on top of the caverns and shoved the debris into the caverns to destroy those as well. Archeological Seminars is funded by groups such as ours who come in to experience an afternoon of archeological work and occasionally find something of importance.
We began by digging in the dirt in one of the rooms of a cavern and found shards of pottery, shells, and animal bones. Avi estimated they need to dig through about 10 feet of dirt and artifacts to get to bedrock and that this takes approximately 10 years. After a half hour or so, the schlepping part of the afternoon began, during which we each brought a bucket of dirt up the steps. We then sifted the dirt to find smaller finds than we were able to identify while digging. All the finds we made today will be cleaned and processed to determine if they are significant. If not, they will be given to future visitors to Archeological Seminars.

After we had gone through all the dirt, we had the choice of seeing a new cavern just as it is when first discovered or seeing a cavern that is fully dug out, down to bedrock. Most of us chose to experience the new cavern and proceeded to lower ourselves through grain silo holes and squeeze through nearly filled up passageways on our knees and our backs, lit only by Shabbat candles placed along the route. At the end Avi described the best finds they had discovered at Tel Maresha and allowed us to take a few processed pottery shards home as souvenirs from the time of Judah Maccabee.

Afterward we got back on the bus for a couple of hours to go to Kfar HaNokdim Bedouin Ranch for a camel ride and Bedouin dinner. The camel rides were very exciting, especially while the camel gets up and down. Some also rode donkeys. After the ride and a little wash we had Bedouin tea and coffee with our guide who told us about Bedouin culture, both traditional and modern. Each Bedouin man is allowed, by Bedouin tradition, to have up to 4 wives! This was followed by a Bedouin style dinner with communal dishes for the table that everyone takes from. It was not so different from an Ethiopian dinner in which the food is served on top of Injira bread. In this case the food was served on a flat pita bread.

After our dinner and family photos with the sun setting behind the desert dunes, we got back on the bus to go to Arad and our hotel for a brief rest before our early rise tomorrow to climb Masada.

Tel Dan, IDF Soldiers, and Kibbutz Life

2010-07-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Day 5 (as observed by the Fineberg Family)

We were on our way! With Tzfat in the rear view mirror, Shlomo, our amazing driver had us on our way to our next adventures.

First, we headed to the Tel Dan Nature Reserve for a walk where we saw olive trees, the headwaters of the ‘mighty” Jordan River and amazing ruins. City gates that once marked the entrance to a Canaanite city were discovered in the 1990’s and unearthed for all to visit . It is incredible to see these 3000 year old structures and be able to walk through them. Our family walked where our ancestors once did.

Next, we met with a man named Eitan from Kibbutz Malkiya that is right on the border with Lebanon! We saw the remnants of a rocket lobbed at the kibbutz in 2006! It was a real attention-getter! While at the kibbutz, we were taken to a kiwi orchard and recent b’nai mitzvah kids on the trip planted a kiwi plant in the ground. All together, we stood in the orchard, in a show of solidarity and spoke the words of our ancestors for all to hear! From the kibbutz, we went to an IDF post and met the incredibly brave and charming soldiers stationed there. They were so happy to see us and vice-versa. They were embraced and showered with gifts and we thanked them for their service. Several of them signed Benjamin’s IDF cap! It was “way cool”!

And there was more…

From the border with Lebanon, we headed to Beit Shean, our Partnership 2000 city. We walked the Roman ruins that were unearthed in the 1990’s. As one of the group said, it was like being in Pompeii!. Only 10% has been uncovered and it is enormous! We sat in the ancient theater and walked the colonnade where shops once stood. There were mosaics in the floor. History is alive in a setting like that!

On to our kibbutz experience. We were invited to spend time with a young couple who are “renters”. They live on the kibbutz with their young daughter. The husband, Eitan, works there and Sarah is a nurse and works at a hospital. It seemed to me that they had the best of both worlds; Family, friends, a sense of community as well as things that they own. They were very modern, which was different from what I anticipated. Community dinner was very “Hamish” and the soup was delicious. Then to bed with dreams of ruins and sounds of peacocks in our heads!

2010-07-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

July 14, 2010 - Day 4 (as observed by Brett and Liz Krantz)

Shabbat greetings! Today was a relaxing day when each family (and each person within a family) could choose to spend the day in whatever manner they believed appropriate. For one group the day began with an outdoor Torah study led by Rabbi Caruso. An awesome place to have such a talk.

When everyone finished their breakfasts, a group of intrepid explorers made their ways up the hills of Tzfat (or Safed if you prefer) to the ruins of the Crusader Citadel that sits on top of the mountain around which the city has grown. The Citadel was over 10 acres and is generally believed to have been the largest Eastern Crusader Citadel. At the top of the Citadel stood a monument to the Jews of the city who fought for their freedom after independence was declared. Though the streets of the city were mainly empty, except those praying outside or apparently heading to pray, at the monument was a group of soldiers (or as we call them teenagers). The soldiers were fully armed, looking out over the Golan Heights towards Syria and were being told the story of the struggle for Tzfat during the war of independence. So what was happening was a group of Jewish soldiers were standing in a Christian Citadel, which the Muslims leaders had allowed the Crusaders to build as part of a treaty, followed by another group of Muslim leaders who chased the Crusaders from the Citadel and then pulled it down. In a way, this was a tiny microcosm of the history, dilemma and struggle that has pervaded this part of the world for 2000 years.

In the afternoon the group could choose to do whatever they fancied. Remember though, all the stores are closed today. Coffee shops and ice cream stores will open at 9 P.M. for the "evening". Many decided that a perfect place to recharge in the hot sun was the beautiful pool "underneath" the hill where the hotel sits. Adults and kids all enjoyed the respite and got a wonderful chance to know each other better. Others figured that a trip to the spa for a massage was a perfect solution to the sore back which happened rafting down the mighty Jordan yesterday. And finally, certain teenagers choose to take the "day of rest" to heart and managed to wake-up only for mealtimes.

This evening we will have a discussion and a Havdalah service. Altogether a truly pleasant day for all of us to look at the way Shabbat is spent by some Israelis and to spend it ourselves with family as well as friends - both old and new.

Sefat and Rafting on the Jordan River

2010-07-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Day 3 - As Reported by Rick Leibovich and Ellen Halfon

We began day 3 in Israel in Tzfat, one of the four holy cities in Israel, famous for ancient Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) and a modern-day art colony. We began the day with a delicious buffet breakfast of smoked fish, omelets, breads, yogurts, oatmeal, cereal, grilled tomatoes, olives, and homous. We then strolled the streets of Tzfat passing dozens of beautiful art galleries with the constant refrain from David Solomon (our guide) saying "Don't worry, we'll have lots of time later to explore the art galleries at your leisure."

We saw the ancient synagogue of Rabbi Joseph Caro, the author of the famous Shulchan Aruch (which translates to "The Set Table") the definitive resource book that serves as a "how-to manual" for performing mitzvot. Both this synagogue and another we visited were very colorfully decorated and welcoming, with the traditional style of the bima in the center rather than on a stage, with seating all around. David explained that this creates a very communal feeling since the people can look up and see faces instead of the backs of the other congregants.

David told us about the battles that were fought in Tzfat just before and during the '48 war. We saw the holes in a building from the mortar shells. David does a wonderful job of recreating the history and helping us to picture and experience all that has happened here. Tzfat is also very colorful and much of the city is painted sky blue. The four holy cities, Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberius and Tzfat represent the four element, and Tzfat is "air". So, the blue is supposed to create the feeling of being in the heavens.

The winding streets and beautiful galleries made for a wonderful experience. Everyone seemed to find something they loved. Jill found an amazing ring, several of us bought prints from a special artist, Sondra Weiss, Rabbi Caruso's mother, found a very original bracelet that "spoke to her." Rick's mom found some great earrings, and many of us bought kippot and other judaica. All of us would have loved a little more time (sigh), but every family took away a little bit of Tzfat, both in the material and spiritual. We went to one gallery where the owner is 18th generation in Tzfat (!); his children are 19th generation. How many places in the worlds can one say that?

After the streets of Tzvat, we got on the bus and drove to the Jordan River. Not so "mighty" anymore, it is still beautiful. We all slathered on sunscreen and donned our hats and hopped into rafts and kayaks to go down the river. What a lazy, wonderful day. It is just so amazing to be on the river we have all read about in the Bible! A group of cows grazing and drinking by the water watched as we floated by. Everyone made it, some a little more or less gracefully than others, and then we headed back to the hotel to freshen up and prepare for Shabbat. Some of the men went to the traditional and historical mikvah, while the rest of us rinsed off the river water and mud.

We are headed off to two synagogues to enjoy a Tzfat Shabbat with lots of singing and dancing, that often literally spills into the streets with joyous "ruach" (spirit) and then we'll return to our hotel for a leisurely Shabbat feast.

Shabbat Shalom!

The Halfon Leibovich family (Rick, Ellen, Shaina, Adin, and Mira)

Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Tzfat

2010-07-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Day 2 Anshe Chesed Israel Trip, July 22, 2010 by Theresa and Mitchell Lapin

After being rudely awakened by a mandatory 6:30 a.m. wake-up call, we were mollified with a breakfast buffet that could probably feed an entire Bedouin tribe and their camels. I don’t even know what to call this “spread”—it was breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, dessert and dinner all in one. This made me very happy as one of the main tenets of any of my travels is to be nourished often and well; after all, world travel takes a lot out of a person.

We all boarded the bus at the designated time to make our way to our appointment at the Palmach Museum which depicts the development of the State of Israel as an independent nation and homeland for the Jewish people in the most extraordinary way. It focuses on the enormous efforts and sacrifices made by the military starting with assisting the British forces during World War II with the development of the Haganah and the creation of the special forces, the Palmach, after the war. It showed not only the struggle for independence, but the harrowing crusade to bring all of the refugees from the Holocaust to their new home. The museum took us through different rooms and told the story through the eyes of an actual Haganah troop interactively through sights, sounds and even smells. It is amazing what these young volunteers accomplished with the very limited weaponry and resources, often sharing one rifle between the 12 men and women in the troop.
The museum was powerful and, for me, brought all the bits and pieces of information that I had heard about into one comprehensive story. There was everything from action to romance to drama; something for everyone. I got caught up in the comraderie and passion for a united cause, and it had me wondering if I would have been brave enough to sign up had I lived during that time.

Time to eat again! Falafel, shwarma, salads, oh my! After lunch, the group had two options of what to do in Haifa.

In our family, Nathan and I visited the Wadi Nis Nas neighborhood and the Beit Hagefen Arab Jewish center. We learned about the center’s efforts to promote partnership and understanding between Jews, Arabs and Christians and the different cultural and political conflicts that make the cooperation so difficult. The center uses the arts—music, plays, writings—to cross some of the boundaries. As we strolled through the narrow, meandering streets, our guide pointed out beautiful works of art that were randomly installed right onto the buildings and homes, many carrying meaningful messages about this struggle to live better together.

My other half chose Option B, a tour of the Technion. Technion could be considered the MIT or CalTech of Israel. A sophisticated, high energy school devoted to electrical engineering and aerospace, process and industrial design, architecture and civil engineering. The quick tour was reminiscent (for any of you who have done the college circuit) of a campus tour although without the dorm or food questions invariably asked. Technion also has a separate section of the school called “Rafael” that concentrates on government defense and security issues, designs and planning. In the Yom Kippur war, with missiles raining down on Israel, this group went onto the battle field, collected parts of exploded rockets, figured out how they were guided and developed jamming systems to stop the enemy from using the rockets with any accuracy. At this point, the adults and kids split up and while we went on a short tour, the kids played games with Reut and Sruli…definitely a good choice! We walked through one of the computer “farms” with cubicles set up and students working on all sorts of…G-d only knows what. Fortunately for them, Steve saw a flaw in one of the more complex formulas. Fortunately for us, he kept quiet about it until we left! When attempting to leave the cubicle area, we were locked in since no one’s key card would unlock the door. Go figure, we are in a high tech, secure area devoted to engineering and electronics and the electronic lock doesn’t work. Later, we noticed that they had a high tech door hold open (otherwise known as a chair) which had been pushed out of the way. Fortunately someone came from the outside and opened the door to let us out. It could not have been the design in such a high tech space, blame it on the contractor!

We all joined as one and relaxed on the bus ride from Haifa to Tzfat witnessing the changing scenery from the coast, through farmland and up into the mountains. This is one of the most amazing things about Israel. One can see ocean, dessert, forests, mountains and seas in a span of about nine hours from North to South. Heck, it takes five hours just to drive across Ohio. On our first evening in Tzfat, we visited with an artist who taught us a little bit about Kabbalism and his spiritual journey. It was an awwwww-sommme day.

Even rabbis have to nap sometimes!

And now....Lev Aryeh Caruso's Thought of the Day:
if you are ever in Israel and you get to choose one attraction in Tel Aviv, choose the Palmach museum.

Tel Aviv

2010-07-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Day 1 Blog Post by Christine Weiss

After the necessary “sleep-less” night flight into Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv we were happy to be greeted by traditional sunny hot Israeli weather. We spent just a few moments orienting, freshening up, changing money and boarding our bus for the quick trip to Old Jaffe where we stood on the tel to toast our freedom and the fact that we can just hop on a plane and come here. We remembered that was not always the case and still is not for some. We had a glimpse of Tel Aviv, down the coast line, and learned the beginning of its history.

We joined together again to observe the place that Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated on November 4, 1995 and continued on to Rabin Square.

Sprite in Hebrew

Then the search for falafel began in earnest on the streets of Tel Aviv where we found everything from Shwarma, to falafel to Buddah Burgers, and even pizza for a few pickier eaters!

The weather was hot and jet lag was prevalent but we managed a short stop at Independence Hall to learn a more complete history of Tel Aviv. We sat in the very room where Ben Gurion declared Israel a state on 1948.

Soon we headed to the hotel for a much needed rejuvenating swim in the clear and very warm Mediterranean Sea. The day ended with a welcome meal in the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv where we were served, among other things, falafel!

Welcome to Israel/To Be Free in Our Own Land...

2010-07-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

On the airplane...The Leibovitch kids and Lapin family where all smiles when the plane took off, but we were all conked out after a 10 hour flight.

Super Exciting

2010-07-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

We have almost made it to the Promised Land. My son, Lev, and I cannot wait to get to Israel and share a post with you once we are there.

The 2010 Tour Group Gets Ready

2010-07-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

On July 20, 44 members of the Fairmount Temple community, representing 13 families and three generations, will embark on an 11-day trip of Israel, led by Rabbi Joshua Caruso and congregant Rick Leibovich.

Rabbi Joshua Caruso's Thoughts Before Departure

2010-07-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Jewish novelist Anne Roiphe wrote, “We do have a contribution to make, and to do that we must hold on to our identity, to our place, to our Jewish souls from generation to generation. Israel is where the story began, and we need Israel, the central pillar of our house now.”

Our beloved land of Israel has played a significant and central role in the evolution of the Jewish people. Even when Jews did not inhabit the land of Israel, our people regarded it as a touchstone. It was more than simply a physical space; it was a spiritual oasis during times of oppression and exile. No Jewish text typifies this sentiment more than the Passover Haggadah, which concludes with a message of hope: Next Year in Jerusalem. As a Jew and a rabbi, I believe it is incumbent upon every Jew to make the sacred pilgrimage to our eternal homeland. My first trip to Israel opened my eyes and my heart to how Judaism could impact me as a person of the world. My commitment to social justice was inspired by the example our people set when they journeyed across the desert in hopes of reaching the Promised Land. The State of Israel was created so Jews did not have to live under foreign oppression – so we didn’t have to feel like strangers anymore.

This summer, more than 40 participants will join me in a life-changing journey to the State of Israel – many will arrive as strangers, all will return home with a transformative love for the Promised Land. We will walk the same land our ancestors traversed thousands of years ago, and come to know Israel as a living museum of the Jewish people. In the process, each of us will deepen our connection to the Jewish faith.

Rick Leibovich's Thoughts Before Departure

2010-07-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Israel is finally going to happen! We have been waiting a long time for this special family trip. My wife, Ellen Halfon, and I have both been to Israel before, most recently in the summer of 2008 with the Fairmount Temple Israel trip. We went without our kids, while they were at summer camp. Throughout the experience, Ellen and I would comment to each other that we wished the kids were with us. We wondered how they would respond to different things we saw. We knew that we wanted them to experience Israel; in fact we began saving for this trip over 10 years ago, when our oldest daughter, Shaina, was in kindergarten. Now she is 15, and Adin and Mira are 13 and 11. We feel this summer is the window of opportunity when all three are the right age to appreciate the significance of what they will see in Israel.

We are also excited about the other families who will be joining us on the trip, with children of a broad age range. This will give our children the chance to share this experience with their peers. My parents will also be joining us for their first Israel adventure. We are grateful that we were able to participate in the Gift of Israel program, which allowed us to save a significant portion of the trip cost for our children. The Gift of Israel is a matching funds program; the family puts money into a savings account every year, which is then matched with funds from Fairmount Temple and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Now the time is right. Although this is my fifth trip to Israel, including a yearlong experience after college, I imagine that, in some ways, it will feel like the first time, as I experience the trip through the eyes of my children.

Summer 2010 Temple Trip Now Being Planned

2009-03-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

The 2008 trip was so memorable, some of us are considering attending the next trip already being planned for Summer 2010! If you are interested in that trip, contact Hedy (HSilber@fairmounttemple.org) to be officially added to the informational e-mail list.

If you have any questions about the 2008 trip, appropriateness for children, and the like, feel free to contact Bruce Newburger (Bruce@DynamicsUS.com) or Rick Leibovich (Leiboman@ameritech.net). We were both on the 2008 trip.

Tracing Israel Independence

2008-06-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

I am not sure that we realized the fight involved in Israel becoming a state. Before and after the 1948 declaration, a covert and overt war raged between various Jewish forces and the British colonial government (sound familiar?) and various Arab interests. We learned about the fight for independence at Independence Hall and the Palmach Museum, dedicated to an elite fighting force.

Independence Hall, site of David Ben Gurion's declaration.

Serena and Ethan Newburger find buys at Nachalat Binyamin craft fair.

The Tel Aviv beach scene.

The Newburger family at sunset (Shabbat) overlooking the Mediterranean.

Making our Way to Tel Aviv

2008-06-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

Our Thursday included a few nice stops on the way to Tel Aviv.

We took a dip in the natural spring pools at Sachneh National Park...did Rabbi Caruso add this stop to our itinerary?

The Wexberg/Rothschild family above a waterfall.

The scene at the Sachneh pools.

Next we visited The Jaffa Institute, a social service agency in Jaffa/Tel Aviv serving poorer school children and their families. We helped with a mitzvah project and also visited one of their after school facilities and met some lively children!

Our group at The Jaffa Institute.

Rabbi Caruso and others help to back food boxes for the needy.

On our way to Tel Aviv, we took a few moments of reflection on an Old Jaffa hillside overlooking the Tel Aviv beach...let's get there already!

The view of Tel Aviv from Old Jaffa.

The Bonder family finds falafel at Jacky's on Ben Yehuda Street.

Visiting the Heights

2008-06-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

A brief summary of our Wednesday activity:

We spent the morning in the Old City of Tzfat. (There are many old cities in the Holy Land!) Tzfat is built on a hill (cliff) with many winding alleys and archways made of stone.

The Old City of Tzfat has many shops and historic synagogues.

The women pose in front of Falafel Queen.

We took a nature hike in Tel Dan, one of the headwaters of the Jordan River. This was similar to a hike in one of our Metroparks, but also very beautiful, oh, and surrounded by ruins from the Caananite period, the biblical period as worship center of the Dan tribe, and also from the Byzantine period. Pretty cool!

Our tour guide David Solomon at Tel Dan

Israel is not all desert!

Next we drove to one of the peaks of the Golan Heights called Mt. Bental, which overlooks Syrian territory on one side and Israel's Galilee valley on the other. One visit gives you an idea of how important this area is for Israel's security. It is mostly home to military bases and one city, with a mall and food court...like home!

Military memorial on Mt. Bental.

Our touring day ended with a visit to the Golan Heights Winery, which was educational and fun. What happened after that is a little fuzzy...

Ellen Halfon and Rick Leibovich oversee barrel aging.

Wine tasting with winery guide Shalom in the Golan Heights.

Our last two nights will be spent in Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast. Hard to believe our trip is almost over. Start shopping!

Visiting Old Ruins, Preventing Future Ruins

2008-06-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Our first stop on Tuesday was to the ancient Roman ruins of Beit Shean, excavated between 1986 and 1996. The town featured a large semicircle theater and streets lined with columns. After Roman control, the town served many other masters, but was abandoned after a large earthquake in the year 749 AD.

Adam Bonder reverses the effects of a large earthquake on the ruins of Beit Shean.

Next we embarked on a family rafting trip down the “mighty” upper Jordan River, which was very similar to canoeing down the Mohican or similar river…more relaxing than adventurous.

A long drive up mountains took us to a kibbutz on the northern border with Lebanon for a lesson from the kibbutz’s security director. He then took us to their outer orchards overlooking the actual borderline, where we stopped a military envoy for a long discussion about their mission and the need for heightened security, considering the war with Lebanon in 2006. Most soldiers are fairly young, since military service is required after high school. (Men serve 3 years and women serve 2 years.) Our conversation was watched by UN observers across the border. Rabbi Caruso read a prayer for the soldiers and literally stood in solidarity with them.

Rabbi Caruso meets IDF troops at the Lebanon border.

United Nations observers keep an eye on our border meeting from the Lebanon border.

Our day ended visiting a Kabbalistic artist studio in the mystical city of Tzfat.

It's Getting Hot In Here: Climbing Masada, Exploring the Desert

2008-06-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Please forgive us…it has been two days since we last blogged. We have been through the desert and Jordan River valley, with brief one-night stops at hotels.

We had no trouble with the 4 am wakeup call on Monday morning to board the bus for the ride down winding roads to the desert floor, below sea level. It was hot, but not too hot, as we started the climb to Masada, taking the easier Roman ramp path, following the crowd to the top. In about 20 minutes we reached the top and joined in brief prayer, then toured the somewhat restored ruins of Roman structures that served as a defensive outpost in the Jewish resistance to Roman rule in the year 70 AD. We took the cable car ride down for breakfast and gift shopping.

The climb up Masada draws a crowd.

Dan and Joanne Bonder climbing Masada.

A brief prayer on Masada.

Restored ruins on top of Masada.

By now, we were hot as can be, so hiked up the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to a lush waterfall to cool off.

Ein Gedi waterfall (above) is enjoyed by Ethan Newburger (below).

Our last stop in the desert was a dip in the Dead Sea. The sea is shrinking due to interrupted water flow, light rainfall and evaporation, so we had a long walk to the shore. And yes, we floated! This stop also included a chance to rub Dead Sea mud all over ourselves, apparently for some cosmetic benefit.

Aden Wexberg applies Dead Sea mud to his mother, Anita Rothschild.

Serena Newburger floats in the Dead Sea.

We then took a long ride north through the Jordan River valley to the sister city of Cleveland called Beit Shean. We learned about a Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland project called Partnership 2000 that links residents in both communities, followed by dinner in private homes.

The Newburger family enjoyed an interesting visit to a kibbutz family.

Big Day, Big Dig...Can You Dig It?

2008-06-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we visited with Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Ms. Hoffman explained that there is no Hebrew word for "pluralism", which speaks to Israel's parochial views on religious and civil matters. There is no separation between "church" and state here, and religious matters are governed by Orthodox officials. The IRAC works to advocate for non-Orthodox Jews in Israel, as well as for gays and lesbians.

Our next and last stop in Jerusalem was the Theodore Herzl Museum, which is a multimedia experience that puts visitors in Herzl's place in late 1800s Vienna, where we felt the anti-Semitism he did. We then traced his steps in establishing the World Zionist Congress that led to the State of Israel 50 years later.

We file in among World Zionist Congress participants.

We left Jerusalem behind, on winding roads down mountain passes, and saw the millions of trees planted by JNF over many years. Still, the central and southern parts of Israel are stony and arid. Next was the "big dig," and hands-on opportunity to explore underground rooms holding many artifacts from the ancient city of Maresha, from the Hellenistic (Hanukah) era 2,200 years ago. Like a good day fishing, we quickly came up on broken vessels and hards of pottery, followed by a tunneling adventure.

Serena Newburger digs for ancient artifacts.

Ellen Halfon (above) and husband Rick Leibovich (below) climb through underground tunnels in the Maresha archaeological dig.

We discovered that Sally the Camel has one hump, when we alighted these biblical vehicles at Kfar Ha-Nokdim in the Judean Desert. Later, we learned about the Bedouin lifestyle, and feasted on a delicious communal meal sans silverware!

Steve Wexberg and Anita Rothschild ride a camel.

Dinner, Bedouin style.

Off to bed, as we will wake up at 4:00am, when we make our way to a sunrise climb up Masada.

A Jerusalem moment

2008-06-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

We marked the end of Shabbat with Havdalah in a courtyard at our hotel. As Rick Leibovich and I were searching for wine, spices, and a candle for the service, a young Israeli woman, Racheli, asked me in Hebrew if she could join us (she hadn't yet made havdalah for herself). Racheli had no idea who we were, and probably assumed we were Israelis. We made a circle, and Racheli was surprised when we shared highlights of the trip (in English!) between the singing of the blessings for Havdalah. When it came time for Racheli to share, she told us (in broken English) how it "warmed her heart" to hear our stories, and invited us to visit at her home in Ma'ale Adumim.

There is no better example that symbolizes the phrase "am echad im lev echad" (we are one people with one heart).

A Quiet Shabbat, Then Adventure

2008-06-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

It has been a few days now since our last falafel and it shows.

Yesterday we all spent a quiet Shabbat at the hotel, by the pool, and staying at the lunch table until 4 pm getting to know each other. We ended the afternoon with a walking tour past a few government buildings and through a newer (1880s) neighborhood (Kiryat Moshe/Nachlaot) constructed in a similar fashion as the old city. It looked somewhat run-down but quaint, and apparently very trendy and expensive. Some older houses have been replaced with new, modern versions.

After dinner, we took the bus back to the Old City for a nighttime visit to the Kotel (Western Wall), mainly for a tour of the Kotel Tunnel, a fairly recent (since 1980) excavation of the base of the entire length of the Western Wall, heading north from the well-known exposed portion. Did you know that the Western Wall was not part of the temple itself, but a retaining wall for the temple mount that held up a flat platform for the second temple and plaza? The experience was like exploring rooms in an Indiana Jones movie. Hardest to believe is that workers were able to move such large blocks of stone into place. The oldest (lowest) stones are the largest.

Rabbi Caruso inside of the Kotel tunnel.

Eric Bonder, Bryan Bonder, Rabbi Caruso, and Adam Bonder at the Kotel.

From Holocaust to Modern Day Life

2008-06-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

Our day started solemnly with a visit to Yad Vashem, the newly rebuilt Holocaust museum that juts out of a dramatic mountaintop near Jerusalem. Our guide, David Solomon, led a very moving tour of the museum. Even though David has led this same tour dozens of times, we all felt strong emotions when got choked up retelling stories of how families were separated upon arrival at the death camps.

Entrance gate to Yah Vashem.

Yad Vashem's main corridor, photographed from outside the building.

Next our tour bus drove us out of the State of Israel proper and just into the West Bank to a very modern town called Ma'aleh Adumim to visit the home of Adina, an Ethiopian immigrant to Israel. We heard her stories, translated from Hebrew to English, of her family's decision to leave their village life in Ethiopia to participate in the 1985 airlift to Israel. Did they leave because of famine or persecution? Not at all, but because they felt the calling from G-d. We learned of Adina's struggles to learn Hebrew and fit in with modern Israeli life.

Adina shows an image of a typical Ethiopian village. At left is our guide and transalor, David Solomon. At right is Rick Leibovich.

Ma'aleh Adumim is a lush and modern West Bank settlement.

Our next stop was Macheneh Yehuda, Jerusalem's outdoor market (shuk)...very chaotic on the afternoon before Shabbat. In this sea of faces was one familiar one, Ruchama, the former JCC caterer, who is now retired and living in Israel. She was also shopping there.

Serena, Ethan and Lisa Newburger visit a shop at Macheneh Yehuda.

Former Clevelander Ruchama (center) is reunited with the Newburger family.

We greeted Shabbat with early services at congregation Kol HaNeshamah, a reform congregation that welcomes visitng groups from around the world. Here we found a very familiar face, former Fairmount Temple congregant, Edith Paller, now living in Israel.

Tracing the Roots of Jerusalem, Underground and Above

2008-06-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

The rabbi will comment soon, but I am providing some details in the meantime. Bruce Newburger

Thursday (not sure exactly what day it is!) was our first full day in Israel, and we spent the entire time exploring ancient Jerusalem, starting the the City of David, a city that preceded the walled city of Jerusalem as we think about it now. This city was built by King David 3,000 years ago and preceded the first temple. After watching a very cool 3D movie, we trekked through a 600 yard water tunnel (in very shallow water) that was more like being in a very narrow cave. It was built by Hezekiah 2,700 years ago to protect the city's water supply from invaders. This gave us a great perspective on how Jerusalem evolved over time.

Our entire group at City of David.

We descend into Hezekiah's water tunnel.

We then entered the walled Old City, we finally ate delicious falafel in an outdoor food court. Ordering your falafel was not unlike a certain Seinfeld episode you are likely familiar with.

Rabbi Caruso finds a falafel!

Bryan Bonder, Steve Wexberg, Aden Wexberg and Joanne Bonder also find falafel!

Typical alley in the Old City.

It seems that the entire Old City is populated by tour groups of teens and adults from every country. One very interesting moment happened when we were leaving an ancient reservoir after our tour guide explained its importance in Jewish history of 3,000 years ago. We passed another tour group whose guide was telling them of the exploits of Jesus at this same spot 1,000 years later. (Giving sight to the blind, I believe.)

Our touring day ended with our first visit to the Kotel (Western Wall), which is actually a retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and is the closest most Jews will ever get to the location of the first and second temples, which is now covered with the Dome of the Rock. The Kotel area was very crowded with soldiers preparing for a swearing-in ceremony, aggressive tzedukah hounds, and even a bride. We all placed into the wall's cracks prayers written by Iris Edelman's temple preschool class.

The Kotel from a distance.

Ethan Newburger inserts a prayer into a crack in the Kotel.

Our entire group in front of the Kotel.

Our Arrival in Jerusalem

2008-06-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Our group of 14 (will be 15 on Friday) arrived in Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday late afternoon, after a very long flight of 11 hours with very little sleep. We each had a personal TV screen and many choices of movies and TV shows. No time for sleep! Oh and we lost 7 hours in the process, so long day (or two) required to get there.

The tour guide and bus arrived and took us to the Jerusalem area up very steep and winding roads, to our first stop at a very scenic kibbutz that served us a buffet dinner.

Dan and Joanne Bonder enjoy the kibbutz buffet after a long trip.

After dinner we drove to Mt. Scopus for a night time view of Jerusalem, a few fireworks and brief prayer.

Everyone our tour is very nice and getting along well, considering that most did not previously know the others.

No falafel found yet, but we are hopeful for the next day!

2008-06-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

We arrived late yesterday afternoon at Ben Gurion airport. Our first stop was dinner at the Yad HaShemonah Guest House. Yad Hasmenoah, is a kibbutz just west of Jerusalem near Abu Gosh.

Fresh vegetables and fruits, along with fish, chicken and turkey filled the buffet. The weather could not be more perfect. It was warm with a gentle cool breeze. It was a wonderful way to begin our journey in Israel. Following dinner, our bus hastened to the Tayelet or the Haas Promenade, which features an incredible view of the Old City and the Kotel (Western Wall) from south Jerusalem. When we arrived at the Tayelet, a festive wedding was taking place, replete with fireworks as if to welcome us to the Jerusalem. We drank grape juice and said “L’chayim”, and marked this special moment by singing the Shehecheyanu blessing.

Our first full day will feature an exploration of “Jerusalem Through the Ages”. We will visit the Old City, where the kotel awaits us.

Jerusalem Weather Forecast

2008-06-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

See 10-day Jerusalem forecast. High 85 and sunny every day!

Our Itinerary (Outline)

2008-06-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

June 17
Leave Cleveland, connect in Atlanta, en route to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv

June 18
Arrive in Israel
View Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus
Hotel check-in and dinner
Did we just lose 7 hours?

June 19: Jerusalem Through the Ages
City of David
Hezekiah's water tunnel
Mt. Zion
Old City/Jewish Quarter
Cardo
Kotel (Wall)

June 20: From Out of the Crucible
Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum)
Outdoor market
Ethiopian Jewish immigrants
Kabbalat Shabbat service

June 21: Shabbat in Jerusalem
Historic walking tour
Havdalah
Kotel (Wall) tunnels

June 22: Building a Jewish State/Dig the Past
Israel Religious Action Center
Herzl Museum
Archeological adventure
Camel trek
Night at Bedouin tent

June 23: What Price Freedom?
Early morning hike up Masada
Ein Gedi waterfalls
Float in the Dead Sea
Home hospitality dinner in Beit Shean

June 24: Land of Borders
Tour Bein Shean
Golan Heights
Visit Syria border bunkers
Waterfall hike or Golan Heights Winery
Dinner in Tzfat (Safed)

June 25: Mountains & Mystics
Kabbalistic artist
Magical mystery tour of Tzfat
IDF border soldiers
Family rafting on Jordan River
Artists Colony dinner and music

June 26: Mayim, Mayim
Swim in natural pools in Beit Shean
Tel Aviv program to feed the needy
Old Jaffa walking tour
Expore Tel Aviv

June 27: To be free in our own land
Independence Hall
Palmach Museum
Shopping at Nahalat Binyamin street market
Shabbat service

June 28: Shabbat Peace in Tel Aviv
Yitzhak Rabin memorial
Beaches
Concluding Havdallah
Head to airport

June 29
Return to Cleveland
Regain lost 7 hours
Check mail and mow lawn

Gearing Up for Israel

2008-06-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have not been to Israel since the Summer of 2005, and I am excited to imagine being in Israel one week from today! I am also thrilled to travel with a wonderful group from Cleveland!

One of the most impotant stops on the trip will be tasting an authentic Israeli falafel. I'll keep you posted...

Rabbi Josh