From Neil Simon

Making pilgrimage to Israel with Rabbi Astrachan and temple family, rather than simply visiting as a sightseer, is deeply spiritual. The sense of being connected with our people is very moving, especially with congregants that we know and have prayed with in our synagogue. Rabbi Astrachan has led the spirituality of this trip as he does our congregation. We enjoyed welcoming Shabbat on the beach in Tel Aviv.

-- Neil

From Roberta Simon

I was born after World War II and most of my mother's family lost their lives in the Holocaust. I grew up with unsettling stories from my grandparents of how family members had lost their lives in either concentration camps or in their home villages.

Visiting Yad Vashem brought strong meaning and feeling to the stories I had heard. The reality of what happened is much stronger, more personal.

-- Roberta

Druze Hospitality

As part of today's travels we stopped for a very interesting visit to a Druze village. For information about who the Druze are, you can visit www.druze.com

During our visit to their hospitality center we enjoyed a brief lecture from a young secular Druze man, were treated to traditional hot mint tea, cookies, and herbed pita-pizza as seen being made in the following video....

Ethiopian Absorption Center

July 5 -- We had an amazing opportunity to visit an Ethiopian Absorption Center. A fantastic experience during which we learned about the 18-month absorption process, met with ulpan (Hebrew classes) students who have been in Israel only 3 weeks, another group here 3 months, and -- as can be seen in this video -- were treated to a very special Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

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...

From Neil Simon

When we visited Masada, we had no idea what to expect. It is a forbidding, treeless mountain with the top cut off. It is hard to imagine how anything was constructed on its flat top. To see the place where the storied seige took place is beyond our description.

From Roberta Simon

I was quite surprised at the size of the Dead Sea. I didn't expect to see such a large body of water. The water looked perfectly normal from a distance, only, on getting close do you realize what an odd place it is. No boats, and muddy looking sink holes along the shore.
Floating is easy, standing isn't. You could drown in a foot of water. We had a lot of fun putting black mud all over ourselves.

It's Camel Time!!!

On our way out of Jerusalem, heading North toward the Sea of Galilee, our group had the opportunity to ride a camel. I must say, despite OUR excitement...the camel was less than a willing participant in this activity. I suppose he(or she)has learned there isn't much say in the matter, but "enthusiastic" would not be a word I would use to describe either camel OR owner. Of course it would be impossible to post videos of all who rode -- and that, in itself is an overstatement of the activity -- but here is Barbara Joseph, who was not only a trooper, but also an inspiration to us all. Unfortunately I missed shooting her initial expression as the camel lunged upward. Imagine, if you will, a momentary panic -- followed by a minute of uncertainly -- followed by a lifetime of pride in the accomplishment.

I was proud of her. Enjoy...

Thoughts from Ed Marut

July 1, 2007

Our third day in Israel and everything gets better and better. We sifted through discarded earth that was removed from in front of one of the Old City's walls. Neil found an ancient coin. The rest of us found pottery shards, tile pieces, mosaic, and glass. It will all be sifted through again by experts. We then learned about some of the history of how Jerusalem was built, and the levels of each period. We went to the Western Wall where we deposited messages, prayed, and meditated. To be at our holiest site is a feeling that can not be described by words. To stand there stirs up such emotions. We toured the tunnels underground next to the wall and exited at the Muslim Quarter. We continued to the Jewish Quarter for lunch. Our tour day ended by visiting the tour of David. We are one set of exhausted pilgrims. But not exhausted enough to meet Rabbi later in the evening on Ben Yehuda Street for some unbelievably delicious custom-mixed yogurt. Mmmmmm.

July 2

Although it was too hot to climb up Masada (I actually listened to other people), three of us took the challenge to walk down. It gave us some perspective of how difficult it was to get there in ancient times. Herod built the first temple known outside Jerusalem there. As fun, we floated in the Dead Sea and did mud packs. Oh Boy!!!!!

July 3

Today we experienced Yad Vashem. It should be mandatory that leaders of nations be subjected to its power. We planted trees and served as messengers, bringing prayers from friends back home to the Wall. At the Wall, I donned tefillin for the first time. This entire trip has been an emotional roller coaster. It is truly an experience that all people should be able to have. Shalom for now.....Ed.

Dead Sea Mud...

What a great experience to float in the Dead Sea. Even more, it was so much fun playing in the Dead Sea mud! Never mind the therapeutic claims made regarding this mineral rich (36% mineral content) mud, our group had a great time smearing it all over ourselves, smearing it on others, and trying not to fall into the many sink-holes under the water. Here's a quick video of the experience....

Ahavaaaaaah!

Today was a great touring day. We headed out from the hotel -- as usual -- at 8:00am. The late nights and the early mornings are starting to catch up with some of us (myself included) but we are plugging along. From Jerusalem we headed slightly North, then East and down...down....down..... to Masada and the Dead Sea -- the lowest spot on earth. It was an amazing journey, driving from densely-populated Jerusalem, through a tunnel under the Mt. of Olives, and emerging in the desert, in the middle of nothing. Passing herds of sheep and frail Bedouin dwellings, we eventually found ourselves at a newly-rebuilt welcome center at the base of Masada.

Tickets in hand...we boarded the cable car and headed to the top of this remarkable natural fortress. After touring through remarkable heat for almost 2 hours, learning about the struggles, triumphs, and difficult decisions made by the zealots who occupied the mountain, we once again boarded the cable car and headed back to the base of the mountain. Three brave men from our group opted for the more difficult 1-mile snake path route, walking nearly 30 minutes to the bottom.

After time in the gift shop (of course!) and a nice lunch in the air conditioned cafeteria, we boarded the bus on our way to the Dead Sea.

Just before going to the Dead Sea, we stopped at the famous Ahava Factory Outlet. Here, we watched workers on the assembly line manufacturing one of the many all natural Ahava creams and lotions produced by the Ahava company. Also, those who wanted, were given the opportunity to shop in the outlet store. For some, purchases made today will definitely put them over the luggage weight limit for the flight home!

Here is a short video from the Ahavah factory/store...

July 1 -- Video #2

We later in the morning we had our first opportunity to visit The Kotel...the Western Wall. As one might imagine, the chance to visit this place is emotionally overwhelming. It is, as our guide suggested to the group, the closest one might consider possible to approach God. This section of the western retaining wall -- built to support the Temple Mount -- brings out great emotional response from all who visit.

On this particular morning we had the good fortune to watch several groups of very young yeshiva children visiting the Wall with their teachers. Click below to watch a short video of these spirited kids...

July 1 -- Video #1

This morning -- following our 6:30am wake-up and 7:00am breakfast, we boarded the bus to begin our first full day of touring: The Old City of Jerusalem. What a wonderful introduction to historical-Israel! As our guide, Danny, narrated and lectured, our very capable driver, Nir, somehow managed to navigate the narrow and twisting streets of Jerusalem. Through the Kidron Valley, on the road to Bethlehem, we stopped only minutes from the Damascus Gate at a make-shift archaeological campsite. After learning about the project from the organization's spokesman, we began our search through buckets of rocks and debris shuttled to the site from a dig that took place directly underneath the Temple Mount.

Truly a remarkable engineering project....we had the opportunity to find pottery, glass, mosaic tiles, metals, bones, coins, and other interesting objects that had simply been dumped in piles by the excavators back in 1990.

Click below to enjoy a brief video "starring" Jacques Wolfner...