Thanks for the memories!

What a wonderful trip we had!  Thanks for coming along with us on our journey.  We wish you Shabbat Shalom and hope that you enjoy the pictures of our family in Israel. 

Shabbat Shalom!

L'hitraot.....

until we meet again!

Home at last!

We arrived home safely to find a big, quiet house.  

We are unpacking our clothes and our memories.  

We can still hear Maya and Daniyel's voices in our heads:

 Leaving so soon, Sabba and Sabbi?

We can't wait until you come back again!

Robotic Refet

On our last morning in Israel, we traveled down the road to the next Moshav, Avnei Etan, where we visited a robotic cow shed (refet)-- one of only a few such sheds in Israel.  
 
The cows are conditioned to enter the milking area where a robotic milking machine cleans their udders, milks them, analyzes the milk and dispenses a special food to reinforce the cow's behavior when she needs to be milked. Each cow wears a device close to her jaw that monitors chewing activity which correlates with milk production, health of the cow's mouth and teeth.  A laser device identifies each cow by number and all data contribute to a complete profile of each cow, including how many times each day she has come to be milked.  

The technology is fascinating and enlightening.  We were given the opportunity to feed the young calves and at the end of the tour we were rewarded with fresh chocolate milk!

After an afternoon trip to Tiberius to buy shoes for Maya and have our last dinner together with her family, we hugged goodbye and sadly left for the airport. 

Trip to the deer farm

This week we took one more tiyul (trip) up north to a Deer Farm with Maya and Daniyel.  We went to a village called Odem, meaning "Red" because of the red mountain nearby.  On our way, we had to give the right of way to a pack of hundreds of goats, sheparded only by dogs!  

 

We arrived at the farm to find miniature horses, goats, sheep, chicks, guinea pigs, ibex goats, spotted and red deer, and bison!  We were able to pet and feed some of the animals as you can see in the pictures. 

After learning about the animals and the amazing horns they grow, we found the playground with fabulous blowup slides and trampolines.  We hardly had time to enjoy our picnic lunches before Maya found the zip-line ride which she loved!  Then, finding her deepest courage, she decided it was time for a pony ride on a miniature pony!  We finished the day with an ice cream popsicle and everyone fell asleep on the way home. 

What a way to bring our summer in Israel to a close!  We have started to pack and after Tisha B'Av, a day of mourning and fasting, we will prepare to return to the airport and then on our long journey home.

Playing in the spring

Last Friday morning we had another adventure with Maya and Daniyel.  We went to Ein Taufik, a natural spring of flowing water in the Golan Heights.  The spring is small in the summer, but cool and delicious for a hot day's outing!  Together with a picnic and water splashing party, we enjoyed a wonderful morning together! 

By the Sea

It surely is beautiful in the Golan!  When we left Jerusalem last week we headed north toward the Kinneret (Sea of Gallilee) and met Ariele and kids at Ein Gev, one of our favorite restaurants right on the water.  Ein Gev is a historic kibbutz started in 1937 and was originally situated on the border of Syria.  It was shelled during the wars prior to and during the 1948 war and is now comfortably within the Golan area that is now part of Israel.  

We love sitting by the water and enjoying sunsets over Tiberius (and looking up toward the hospital where Maya and Daniyel were born).  

  

The kids were very excited to see us after 2 weeks and we were certainly having fun hearing all their stories and feeding the fish and ducks on the edge of the water.  We still have many more adventures before we leave Israel in a few days!  

Jerusalem Goodbye

In many ways it was hard to leave Jerusalem. We both had amazing experiences -- Steve at the Hartman Institute and my volunteer work at Yad L'Kashish. We learned so much -- and we still had time to enjoy some meals (and some scotch drinking) with friends.
We enjoyed the company of old friends who live in Jerusalem.  We never tired of the views and vistas.  One does tire of the politics of Jerusalem, but we always keep in mind that the city's politics represent the ways of living out visions on hard soil.  Jerusalem put before us many mitzvot; among them: Tzedakah, volunteering, learning and making friends.  We also left with many hard issues to discuss and think about.  Maybe there will more to write as we have more time to reflect later.

We have now returned to the Golan and have already enjoyed some wonderful new ways to giggle with Maya and Daniyel.  More pictures to come, but now it is time to finish braiding the challah, cleaning the floor, and showering before Shabbat.

For one last time in Israel this summer, we once again wish you Shabbat Shalom.

Encountering Haredi communities

Our second week in Jerusalem began with a day-long tour of "Encountering Haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews", sponsored by the Hartman Institute.  We went by bus to a settlement just outside the green line near Bethlehem called Beitar Illit, a fast growing settlement of 7,000 families (with 10-12 children each) that could possibly grow to 100,000 people in the next 10 years.  Our group met with the mayor of this vibrant Haredi town that lives in good relationship with the Palestinian villages that flank it.  The town consistently wins awards for its cleanliness.  A good number of its citizens go to the army (although many Haredi spend their days learning in yeshivas) and have productive jobs within Israeli society.  The Education Minister of the town described many levels of education for both men and women.  He, himself, lives in Jerusalem where he runs a program for street kids, specializing in dealing with drug problems.  For us, this was a day to break down stereotypes as our image of the "haredi/ultra-orthodox" was replaced by a new image of the "haredi hadash/new Haredi."

 We also met the founder of ZAKA, an important organization that tends to the needs of the living and the dead after terror attacks.  ZAKA was founded by Judah Meshi Zahav (see picture), a haredi hadash/new haredi who grew up as an old style haredi from the most extreme group, Neturei Karta.  His impulse to help in the most dire of circumstances has given rise to an organization that now has a place within the army's reserve assignments and is valued on an international level.

 

Another new haredi in our album is Dudu Zilbershlag, founder of a chain of soup kitchens who lives out his father's request that he use all of his energy to build community on every level.  Through answering questions, he helped unravel some of the mysteries of the haredi community.

We also visited the great synagogue of the Belz hassidim, a 9 story building that features a synagogue that seats 5,000 and the largest ark in the world.  It has a huge Study Hall, many chapels, classrooms, mikvahs, meeting rooms, celebration halls, and more.  The current Rebbe of the Belz community was born in Israel, in 1948.  This Israeli Rebbe, exactly as old as the State, has produced a community that has increasingly good relationships with the government of Israel and its programs.

The day was long (and hot -- almost 38c) and complicated and we spent time thinking of all the tough, but important issues facing Israel -- and all the breaking down of stereotypes we had encountered.

SHABBAT SHALOM TO OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Here we are in the magical, mystical city of Jerusalem, where we enjoyed a day with the family to walk through the old city.  We stopped make some purchases, to visit with some friends, and to ponder the Western Wall.  It was an extremely hot day and we went at a leisurely pace.  After dinner the kids drove back to the Golan and we began our Jerusalem adventure in earnest.

Early on Monday morning Steve proceeded to the Shalom Hartman Institute to begin his two-week conference with other rabbis from North America.  His days are long and rich.  I have been taking the bus each morning to Yad L'Kashish, Lifeline to the Elderly.  It is a wonderful institution that gives work and social services to needy seniors (mostly immigrants).  The seniors come to work each morning in craft workshops, making beautiful items that are sold in the gift shop.  Many groups and tours come to visit this amazing institution, so I have been helping lead the tours and more importantly, helping to sell the merchandise so that money can be reinvested in helping the elderly.  We have been associated with this place for many years, and I am so happy to be giving my time to them (click above for more information on their website).

So here we are approaching yet another Shabbat, this time after a week of studying and volunteering.  We have listened to amazing lectures and met interesting people, like Rivka Miriam, an Israeli poet who has caught Steve's attention (click on link).  We have eaten great food, sipped coffee at wonderful cafes, and seen amazing sights as we traverse the streets.  We look forward to spending a quiet Shabbat with some friends.  Shabbat Shalom!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO 

NANA AND PAPA GENE!

and A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALI!!!

Shabbat in Jerusalem

We had a lovely Shabbat in Jerusalem.  We went to daven (pray) at Shira Hadasha, an Orthodox synagogue where both men and women lead services (although sit separately) and join together in harmonious singing, meaningful prayer, hospitality, and social activism. We have many friends who participate regularly and we felt at home there.  We enjoyed Shabbat meals with several of Ariele and Avrami's friends.  

All of us watched the sun go down near our favorite spot on Yemin Moshe, as we counted the 3 stars that signal the end of Shabbat.  Ariele and Avrami made plans with some friends to go out for coffee and once they left, we took the children on a night-time walk to the nearby park, then out for popsicle treats. What fun to have an evening escapade!  We returned for showers and a story and the kids fell asleep before their parents returned....

Shabbat Shalom from the Old City

Shabbat Shalom from the restored Hurva Synagogue in the Old City.  More details later.

Happy 6-month anniversary to Jacob and Ali!!!

Going up to Jerusalem

After 3 weeks in the Golan Heights, we have made our way down through the Jordan Valley and up into the heights of Jerusalem, a bustling, magical city that we have grown to love.  After checking into our apartment, we took a walk through the new Mamilla mall, a new shopping and gathering area which leads up to the Jaffa Gate at the entrance to the Old City.  Seeing the old meet the new is thrilling.

Seeing the old city in the dusk hours from our favorite vantage point of Yemin Moshe was even more thrilling!

Steve's birthday celebration #2

We celebrated Steve's birthday (again!) in fine style.  Ariele hosted a party and Steve made the guest list, which reflected his friendships on the moshav (mostly Ariele's agae, but as has been the case throughout the years, Ariele's friends have become his.  The Friedmans came (this is the family who have "adopted" Ariele and Avrami and were an original moshav family in the early 70's).  Michal is a social worker and an artist.  Menachem grows fruits of all kinds.  He writes poetry and appreciates modern Israeli poetry.  He gave a toast at the party in which he expressed his joy at gaining a poetry "hevruta", as he and Steve have spent many wonderful hours under Menachem's fruit trees reading poetry over the years. 

The party took place on Ariele's front lawn with lights, benches, mats and pillows -- and some amazing homemade desserts!  Maya wanted so much to be a part of the celebration--and she was allowed to stay awake as long as she could, finally falling asleep on one of the mats.

The evening ended with Steve reading a poem, then he and Ariele reflecting on many years of celebrating his birthday in Israel. One of the guests interrupted and asked her whether it was odd to be speaking with her Abba in Hebrew.  She admitted so, but perhaps it set up a new pattern of thinking and relating!  It was a wonderful evening enjoyed all!

Maya's last day of school

Today was Maya's last day of school.  We thought we would take you for a morning walk to school with us.  These are the sights along the 5 minute walk through Maya's neighborhood to her Gan.

 

This is Maya leaving her house.  

And looking across the street.

And leaving her small neighborhood.

One "major" street needs to be crossed on the way to Gan.  Maya has now encountered her good friend Eitan, who is walking by himself.  Maya often walks to Gan by herself (and she even knows how to safely cross the street).

Maya and Eitan are almost there!

Have a great last day of school, Maya!