View from hotel
OCTOBER 25, 2011 – Tuesday Builders, Ancient Time To Our Future (with wedding)
Today was a non-stop day which began at around 7:00 a.m. for breakfast and ended at
9:30 p.m. at the Hotel Mizpe Hayamim which is an amazing spa located in Rosh
Pina right outside of Safed above the Hula Valley. We were very close to the Lebanese border and
above the Hula Valley. Rich is pushing the group hard and we all moaned at how wonderful it would be to spend the day at the terrific, serene and beautiful spot. Unfortunately, he could not be persuaded and instead, he read us the riot act about our itinerary for the next day which would begin with our 5:00 a.m. wakeup call, a quick breakfast at 5:45 a.m. and our departure for
army tank corps base
Today was a non-stop day which began at around 7:00 a.m. for breakfast and ended at
9:30 p.m. at the Hotel Mizpe Hayamim which is an amazing spa located in Rosh
Pina right outside of Safed above the Hula Valley. We were very close to the Lebanese border and
above the Hula Valley. Rich is pushing the group hard and we all moaned at how wonderful it would be to spend the day at the terrific, serene and beautiful spot. Unfortunately, he could not be persuaded and instead, he read us the riot act about our itinerary for the next day which would begin with our 5:00 a.m. wakeup call, a quick breakfast at 5:45 a.m. and our departure for
army tank corps base
w
OCTOBER 25, 2011 – Tuesday
Today was a non-stop day which began at around 7:00 a.m. for breakfast and ended at
9:30 p.m. at the Hotel Mizpe Hayamim which is an amazing spa located in Rosh
Pina right outside of Safed above the Hula Valley. We were very close to the Lebanese border and above the Hula Valley. Rich is pushing
the group hard and we all moaned at how wonderful it would be to spend the day
at the terrific, serene and beautiful spot. Unfortunately, he could not be persuaded and instead, he read us the riot act about our itinerary for the next day which would begin with our 5:00
a.m. wakeup call, a quick breakfast at 5:45 a.m. and our departure for army tank corps base where we will bring them breakfast and have a chance to meet individually with some of the soldiers.
Our first stop was at Caesarea, an ancient city by the sea with its famous
aqueducts and amphitheater. The entire city was built by King Herod where he established a busy port for the whole area. We also visited the hippodrome where one of the main sources of entertainment for the people were the chariot races and the gladiator fights which were held in the 2000 year old amphitheater. We could have spent hours touring here however, due to our
schedule for the day, we were back on the bus within an hour.
We were so lucky to be invited to attend the wedding of Anne and Jon Ebin. The setting was in the Tishbi Winery located in the Carmel Valley. Here, under a beautiful Chuppa held by four members of our group (including Lenny and I), they took their vows. The wedding was officiated by a reform Rabbi. We all felt like family as we celebrated with them together, tears and all. We were then treated to a lovely wedding celebration lunch and local wine.
Our trip to Kiryat Yam will forever be in our memories. The Kiryat Yam program is
part of Federation’s (Partnership 2000 Strategic Philanthropy People to People
Relationship). There we visited the low income area of the city where we saw the local music conservatory. The Jewish Agency there services about 6000 children. The kids are chosen at age 4 from the local preschools and over the course of a year are selected for a particular instrument. We were treated to a concert by a group of 9 to 13 year olds who performed exquisitely a number of compositions from a waltz to the popular Frank Sinatra song, The Way You Are. They all played string instruments except for a soloist who played the flute in the first number. This orchestra came in 2nd in an international competition in Switzerland. Our group was literally in tears as they performed for us. Many of us talked to Rich about trying to help them get into the Perlman Institute held in Sarasota every December. The highest honor for these kids is to be selected to enter the military bands. We thought about how many beautiful children perished in the Holocaust and how Hamas, Hezballah and Iran, etc. want to destroy their futures.
Our 2nd stop in Kiryat Yam was at an afternoon program for troubled
youngsters up to grade 5. They provide them with hot meals, showers, counseling, group sessions, arts and crafts,exercise and field trips as well as support for their families. The 3rd stop was at the EthiopianAbsorption Center. Here we were confronted with the enormous problems of absorbing the Ethiopians who come directly from the airport here. They were described literally as coming from the worst primitive conditions directly into the modern western world. Most of them had never seen beds, building, stairs, plumbing, electricity, stoves, etc. They are immediately given apartments and training and money in their own bank accounts to exist over the next 12 to 18 months while they learn the language and the skills to survive in their new
country. The children go to school from day one. They recognize that people over the
age of 40 cannot generally integrate successfully into this way of life; however, the younger generations can make it. Though they certainly acknowledge discrimination issues, they also said that especially, the young children eventually integrate successfully into society, many of them becoming lawyers, doctors, teachers and taking professions and jobs in all walks of
Israeli life. The initial push through Project Moses and Solomon brought over 50,000 Ethiopians to Israel. Now, we were told, they have agreed to take the last 8000 and no more; those who have some Jewish ancestors or relatives currently in Israel. There are presently 120,000 Ethiopian Israelis. As we left this center, Rich Bergman wanted to show us a group of about 50 boys who were doing push-ups and he joined them to show that a 72 year old could keep up with them.
We ended our trip to Kiryat Yam at the Betty Schoenbaum Science, Educational,
Cultural and Sports Campus; an amazing complex of hi-tech buildings, a
wonderful high school, a fully equipped library and computer center, a science
center with an outdoor open-air Science Park a sports track and stadium, a
Planetarium and an aquarium which shows the sea life on large screens making you
feel as if you were in a real aquarium. It is wonderful to see ORTs projects in
real life and how far Federation reaches into the life and spirit of the
Israeli culture and communities. This campus supports a city of 45,000 people.
Our guide throughout our Kiryat Yam tour was the mayor. We could all feel the pride that he has in his community and of all these new and thriving projects, made strong by help
from The Jewish Agencies throughout the Diaspora and much it coming from the
Federation in the States. As the mayor beamed at us, Rich was beaming at him.
Rich is bringing to us his amazing love of Israel, his sincere devotion to all of these projects that he is sharing with us, his emotional and immediate bond with all of the children that we have seen.
When we thought that we could not do one more stop, our bus took us to the Ethiopian
Cultural and Heritage Center which was part of the Schoenbaum Campus and just
beginning its operation. It is headed by a young Ethiopian man who went through his absorption into the country in this town. Here, Ethiopians can get more language training, more counseling and to gather together for traditional celebrations. Once again, we were treated to a meal provided by the Jewish Agency with the mayor and many of the teachers in attendance. The mayor surprised Jon and Ann with a beautiful wedding cake. As part of our Federation Kiryat Yam project, the mayor is bringing children and teachers to Sarasota in January. Right after our meeting, the mayor and Howard and the Kiryat Yam committee had a phone call briefing about
future plans. It was over an hour ride to our beautiful hotel and spa located in the Golan
Heights.
aqueducts and amphitheater. The entire city was built by King Herod where he established a busy port for the whole area. We also visited the hippodrome where one of the main sources of entertainment for the people were the chariot races and the gladiator fights which were held in the 2000 year old amphitheater. We could have spent hours touring here however, due to our
schedule for the day, we were back on the bus within an hour.
We were so lucky to be invited to attend the wedding of Anne and Jon Ebin. The setting was in the Tishbi Winery located in the Carmel Valley. Here, under a beautiful Chuppa held by four members of our group (including Lenny and I), they took their vows. The wedding was officiated by a reform Rabbi. We all felt like family as we celebrated with them together, tears and all. We were then treated to a lovely wedding celebration lunch and local wine.
Our trip to Kiryat Yam will forever be in our memories. The Kiryat Yam program is
part of Federation’s (Partnership 2000 Strategic Philanthropy People to People
Relationship). There we visited the low income area of the city where we saw the local music conservatory. The Jewish Agency there services about 6000 children. The kids are chosen at age 4 from the local preschools and over the course of a year are selected for a particular instrument. We were treated to a concert by a group of 9 to 13 year olds who performed exquisitely a number of compositions from a waltz to the popular Frank Sinatra song, The Way You Are. They all played string instruments except for a soloist who played the flute in the first number. This orchestra came in 2nd in an international competition in Switzerland. Our group was literally in tears as they performed for us. Many of us talked to Rich about trying to help them get into the Perlman Institute held in Sarasota every December. The highest honor for these kids is to be selected to enter the military bands. We thought about how many beautiful children perished in the Holocaust and how Hamas, Hezballah and Iran, etc. want to destroy their futures.
Our 2nd stop in Kiryat Yam was at an afternoon program for troubled
youngsters up to grade 5. They provide them with hot meals, showers, counseling, group sessions, arts and crafts,exercise and field trips as well as support for their families. The 3rd stop was at the EthiopianAbsorption Center. Here we were confronted with the enormous problems of absorbing the Ethiopians who come directly from the airport here. They were described literally as coming from the worst primitive conditions directly into the modern western world. Most of them had never seen beds, building, stairs, plumbing, electricity, stoves, etc. They are immediately given apartments and training and money in their own bank accounts to exist over the next 12 to 18 months while they learn the language and the skills to survive in their new
country. The children go to school from day one. They recognize that people over the
age of 40 cannot generally integrate successfully into this way of life; however, the younger generations can make it. Though they certainly acknowledge discrimination issues, they also said that especially, the young children eventually integrate successfully into society, many of them becoming lawyers, doctors, teachers and taking professions and jobs in all walks of
Israeli life. The initial push through Project Moses and Solomon brought over 50,000 Ethiopians to Israel. Now, we were told, they have agreed to take the last 8000 and no more; those who have some Jewish ancestors or relatives currently in Israel. There are presently 120,000 Ethiopian Israelis. As we left this center, Rich Bergman wanted to show us a group of about 50 boys who were doing push-ups and he joined them to show that a 72 year old could keep up with them.
We ended our trip to Kiryat Yam at the Betty Schoenbaum Science, Educational,
Cultural and Sports Campus; an amazing complex of hi-tech buildings, a
wonderful high school, a fully equipped library and computer center, a science
center with an outdoor open-air Science Park a sports track and stadium, a
Planetarium and an aquarium which shows the sea life on large screens making you
feel as if you were in a real aquarium. It is wonderful to see ORTs projects in
real life and how far Federation reaches into the life and spirit of the
Israeli culture and communities. This campus supports a city of 45,000 people.
Our guide throughout our Kiryat Yam tour was the mayor. We could all feel the pride that he has in his community and of all these new and thriving projects, made strong by help
from The Jewish Agencies throughout the Diaspora and much it coming from the
Federation in the States. As the mayor beamed at us, Rich was beaming at him.
Rich is bringing to us his amazing love of Israel, his sincere devotion to all of these projects that he is sharing with us, his emotional and immediate bond with all of the children that we have seen.
When we thought that we could not do one more stop, our bus took us to the Ethiopian
Cultural and Heritage Center which was part of the Schoenbaum Campus and just
beginning its operation. It is headed by a young Ethiopian man who went through his absorption into the country in this town. Here, Ethiopians can get more language training, more counseling and to gather together for traditional celebrations. Once again, we were treated to a meal provided by the Jewish Agency with the mayor and many of the teachers in attendance. The mayor surprised Jon and Ann with a beautiful wedding cake. As part of our Federation Kiryat Yam project, the mayor is bringing children and teachers to Sarasota in January. Right after our meeting, the mayor and Howard and the Kiryat Yam committee had a phone call briefing about
future plans. It was over an hour ride to our beautiful hotel and spa located in the Golan
Heights.
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