The Na'ot Shoe Factory

Due to poor internet facilities at Kibbutz K'far Blum, video updates of our trip were not possible. My apologies.

Today is Friday, July 6, and we have settled into our new digs at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, directly across the street from the Mediterranean Sea. The view is magnificent. After our 5pm arrival earlier this evening, and checking into our rooms, we gathered in the lobby at 6:15pm for a walk to the water's edge for a brief Kabbalat Shabbat service. We were joined by our temple member, David Kislik, who is in Israel on a special service-mission with a group called Sar-El. It was a delight to see him and to have him with us for services and for an outrageous dinner buffet at the hotel. Because it was Shabbat, photos were not allowed in the dining room. Suffice it to say, the cruise lines have NOTHING on the amount and the quality of the food offered this evening. So many kinds of salads, fish, meats, soups, pates, and the desserts!!!

Yesterday we enjoyed a more leisurely day of touring while using Kibbutz K'far Blum, in Northern Israel, as our homebase for a few days. This was a beautiful kibbutz, home to many industries including cattle for milking, chickens, horses, and turkeys (all in massive quantities!!!), plus irrigation automation supplies. Among their various other specialties is their hotel. Hardly what one thinks of as "kibbutz living", this hotel was beautiful appointed. The dining room was very nice, and the food was delicious.

As we set out for our first morning of touring from the kibbutz, we stopped first at the factory outlet for the famous Na'ot Shoe company, part of a neighboring kibbutz. Here we were able to see the shoes being manufactured AND had the opportunity to purchase shoes from the outlet store. While I, personally, did not find anything to suit my tastes...I will tell you all that the kibbutz did VERY well from our group.

Here is a video of some of the excitement shared by our eager trip participants...