Israel Trip Blog 2015

Following another lavish breakfast at our hotel, we boarded the bus and first stopped along the boardwalk overlooking Jerusalem. While enjoying the breathtaking views on a glorious day, our guide Muki was explaining the history and lay of the land. Sharing the expansive plaza was a group celebrating a Bar Mitzvah. It's amazing and comforting to realize that Judaism and Jews are always surrounding you here.

We then moved on to visit a Karaite Synagogue. Followers live strictly in accordance with Torah laws, nor Rabbinic laws, so there were many questions. After taking off our shoes and washing our hands, we descended into the 1300 year old synagogue where we saw the oldest Torah.

We then visited the Cardo, Broad Wall and Hurva Square. While some got a bit of lunch, others shopped in the many shops. In the afternoon we had a tour of the Western Wall Tunnel, a tour of the City of David, followed by getting a peek at a yet to be announced dig within the original old city. To cap off our afternoon, we explored deep underneath the city street, at the base of the Wall in what once was a sewer system.  We were all exhausted!

After free time to recharge a bit, we were treated to another multi-course, delicious meal at a local restaurant. It was ok though, as we burned so many calories during the day!

Another busy, educational and glorious day in Israel!

After another bountiful breakfast buffet, we headed south to Tzfat, long a Jewish spiritual and artistic center. Tzfat is the home of both Isaac Luria, who revolutionized Jewish philosophy through the Kabbalah, and Joseph Caro, who revolutionized Jewish law through the Shulchan Aruch, codifying and simplifying daily Jewish practice. We visited both men's synagogues and also were fortunate to witness a bar mitzvah procession, complete with musicians and hundreds of celebrants. Some of us then perused the art galleries and jewelry boutiques, while others of us rested.

Uri then described the history of the borders of Israel and her neighbors. A simple and delicious lunch was at a falafel and shwarma stand adjacent to a UN office on the Syrian border. 

Overlooking the much contested landscape, we learned more about the 1967 and 1973 wars, and the current situation. Two UN soldiers were stationed within earshot, and they said it was a quiet day today. To fortify us for the trip home, we patronized the elegant "coffee shop in the clouds" (named Coffee Anan. Really.)  and admired the verdant crops growing beneath us.

Now it's time to explore the lush grounds of the beautiful kibbutz that is our temporary home. It is hard to say farewell to the fascinating and stunning Kinneret.

Wow! What a great day, our first whole day in Tel Aviv. We started our day with an unbelievable buffet breakfast at the hotel. Seriously. You have to see it to believe it!  

We then walked to the Mediterranean and saw Jaffa. We also saw a young man kayaking, standing up!  Near the water
we saw an Adult Workout Park (for exercise), something new to us 

We toured N'we Tzedek, the early beginning of Tel Aviv, and learned that it was the first place where Hebrew was taught as  a spoken language, not just a Biblical language.

After lunch we went to the Palmach Museum where we participated in a 90 minute interactive exhibit and learned all about the early beginnings of this "strike force" and how this group of teenagers and young adults helped defend Israel, both before and after it became a state.

Next we spent a wonderful afternoon at the Save a Child's Heart ICU and  saw 7 kids currently there.  We heard from two of the head pediatric cardiologists who Ami Cohen enlisted when he envisioned the program. Clearly this program is as special to them as it was to Ami from HTAA.  We also visited the new Children's Home where the kids go to recover after their surgery or heart procedure.  We talked to the kids, the volunteers, and the remarkable woman who is the house mother.  At the end of our visit, we all wished that the political aspects of the Palestinian/Israeli relationship could work as well as the medical collaboration.

We ended the day with a lovely group dinner at a Mid-Eastern grill -- all kinds of salads /appetizers followed by shish kabobs and dessert.

It was a wonderful first day. We look forward to tomorrow when we head north!   Is tomorrow already Wednesday?

We arrived at the Ben Gurion Airport at 7:00 AM. The El Al flight was quiet and uneventful. The Rabbi, his mother, Connie Suson, and Mara were on our flight. When we all retrieved our bags, we headed outside to look for a sherut (shared taxi) to the Dan Panirama in Tel Aviv. the driver thought we were going to the Dan Panorama in Jerusalem! Bill saw the signs suggesting that we were going the wrong direction. The Rabbi pointed out the error to the driver who protested loudly that he was sure Rabbi Suson said Jerusalem. The driver was so angry that he deposited us back at the airport where we found a cab to take us to or destination. 

After we we settled in, I discovered that breakfast was still being served. I informed everyone and we ate the most delicious breakfast ever. 

Brcause we we had been on the go for almost two days, Bill and I rested a while. We then walked to a local bazaar to catch the flavor of Tel Aviv. We returned to the Dan Panoramas and met out synagogue friends for dinner in the hotel dining room, after eating a complete, , magnificent dinner, our tour guide, Uri, said our tour would start at 8AM sharp. 

We retired to our respective rooms to finally get a good nights rest. The Tel Aviv weather could not be better. The temps are in the 80's and the sun is bright. We look forward to the start of our touring tomorrow.

 View from our hotel room balcony in Tel Aviv