Learn & Help

This is an unabashed plug for some causes - check out the website links to learn more:

Kibbutz Laton & Sustainable Living
CLICK HERE for www.pryzant.com

On our trip to Israel, we became friends with a Houston family. Their daughter just became Bat Mitzvah and is directing all her gifts to raise $35,000 to build one complete EcoDorm housing unit on Kibbutz Laton. Kibbutz Laton is located in the Arava Valley of Israel's Negev desert and is committed to living in a sustainable way while educating others to do the same.

Last I heard she was almost half way there!

Zack Attacks Leukemia & Immunotherapy
CLICK HERE to Get Involved
CLICK HERE for facebook.com/ZachAttacksLeukemia

Zack is this amazing 9 year old boy from Dallas who has been battling AML leukemia for 4 years. His family is helping to raise awareness and funds for immunotherapy. Their goal is $675,000 and they are at $374,000!

Wheel to Survive for Ovarian Cancer
CLICK HERE to Be the Difference

On February 23, 2014, Nancy Brickman and her Spin Sisters will be participating in a 6 hour cycling event to raise money for ovarian cancer research and to help diagnosed women in the fight to survive. The Spin Sisters have already surpassed their team goal of $2,500! The event is hoping to raise $300,000 and they are just under half way to that goal. You can also join the riders too!

Harvesting Stones & Domestic Violence
CLICK HERE to Buy Harvesting Stones
CLICK HERE for Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVC)

Paula Lucas wrote a memoir that takes you through the abuse and captivity she and her three sons suffered in Dubai. She founded AODVC to help abused American women trapped outside of the US. Karen Lewis is the president of this non-profit.

I bought the book the first day it was available and read it in 2 days - a remarkable and frightening account. Government funding for AODVC has been greatly reduced so any support is appreciated.

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Last Day in Israel

Wednesday - Our last day in Israel

Temple Blog Link for lots more including video of Youngest Son at Ammunition Hill

Our journey to Israel concluded with another meaningful day. At 8am, Holocaust scholar, Shalmi Barmor spoke to the group about how the Holocaust impacted Israel in the years immediately after (before 1967) and then the generation that fought in the Six Day War (1967+). Fascinating.

We then elected to go to Ammunition Hill versus Yad Vashen (the Jewish National Memorial to the six million victims will wait till our next trip when boys older.) Ammunition Hill was the site of one of the most important battles on June 5-6, 1967 for the unification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War. Between the video/laser graphic show and our guide, the reality of this tremendous battle brought tears to almost all in the group.

During movie, that model of Jerusalem came to life with colors and lines showing the battle logistics and movements.

Youngest Son. Israel Flag. Wow.

We then had our last falafel in Mananeh Yehuda Market - the shuk.

The colorful and fragrant spices of the shuk.

Commuter Husband and boys walking through the market.

No trip is complete without taking local public transport so we successfully bought tickets and boarded the Jerusalem train for one last visit to the Old City. So proud of ourselves!

Youngest Son reading sign on how to get train tickets as Orthodox gentleman completes his purchase.

And our final walk back to the hotel ... along the Old City wall, beside the Valley of the Shadow of Death ...

The Old City Wall to the left and see the Montefiore Windmill on upper right built in 1857.

The Valley of the Shadow of Death. Our hotel built on the right side. Completely and utterly surreal.

Digging, Mudding & Riding

Monday Afternoon - Kid's Party in a Sandbox

Monday morning Oldest Son along with four other Jewish teens became adults in the Jewish tradition. It is customary to celebrate this significant life cycle event. What better way than to do an archaeological dig in Israel? We took part in an ACTIVE dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves where we uncovered pottery and bones, schlepped out the dirt and then sifted it again. Israel is brilliant in designing authentic and useful tourist attractions.

Youngest Son & Commuter Husband uncover pottery & bones. We carted out about 50 buckets of dirt - seriously.

There are so many shards that visitors can take discarded pieces. Youngest Son made a Chanukiah!

Tuesday - Masada, Dead Sea & Genesis Land

We had three biblical experiences today.

We first took the cable car up to Masada. Our guide told us the great story of the Jewish Zealot's last stand against the  the Roman Legionnaires and about Masada's symbolism in Jewish defense and in modern Israel.

Youngest Son walking along the Southern end of Masada. 

Oldest Son views the original fresco and structure below the black line .

Note Youngest Son's kippah under is baseball cap!

After Masada, we smothered ourselves in black mud, swam in the salt of the Dead Sea and lounged in the hot sulfur mineral bath. It was really fun and relaxing.

Oldest Son helping Commuter Husband. They both had mud head to toe by the end! 

Youngest Son eventually has it in his ears!

Our final stop of Tuesday was at Genesis Land which is a Biblical encampment in the Judean Desert. Abraham and his servant greeted us as we rode camels to a Hafla feast.

See how Youngest Son is holding Oldest Son's arm as they approach that camel? 

LEAN BACK!

We had a kaleidoscope of experiences helping us understand the daily life and landscape of our Jewish ancestors. The learning on this trip is just exponential ...

LOTS MORE PICS AT TEMPLE BLOG - SEE THE ONE OF COMMUTER HUSBAND!

Bar Mitzvah - Oldest Son

Oldest Son in the Tallit bought with love before his birth and the kippah bought in Jerusalem.

This is the blessing Commuter Husband wrote and read to Oldest Son as we stood with him in front of the Torah in Israel with the Kotel (Western Wall) in the background ...

“You started your Jewish life wrapped in this very Tallit at your Bris and today you stand wrapped in it in Israel.

Our first born!

We are so proud of you today. You have already accomplished something that we have not. You are becoming Bar mitzvah.

You have worked hard to get to this day in Israel. I am sure that you are ready to say “Phew, finally it’s finally over.”

But, here’s some great news! You are just getting started. Truly being a man is something you have to challenge yourself to do each day.

It is like trying to follow a crazy map that takes you on the longest most challenging road you have ever been on just to reach a destination that (just like life) is constantly changing. Sometimes you have to turn around because you find you missed a turn. The trick is to keep trying to preserver, to Live!

So what do we wish for you on this journey?  

Glorious failures!  Never be afraid to take a chance and fail. The key is to learn and move on.

Love and passion! These are the things that charge our batteries and make us better people.

Compassion!  Always look to help others because you never know when you will need help and you will.

Be a good friend!  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Also, not to be corny, but read the Torah!  At different parts of your journey you may find a story you have read a million times has a new lesson or meaning that can provide you insight into your current situation.

You mother and I love you very much and we are always here to help you in your exciting journey.”

Youngest Son worked diligently to have candies to pelt the B'nai  Mitzvah kids!

Lovely luncheon afterwards at Dan Panorama balcony.

Youngest Son & Oldest Son at celebratory lunch.

Wonderful Israeli salads!

More great food!

Mazel Tov!

The Service

Jerusalem

Saturday - Shabbat

Our first Shabbat in Israel included a visit to the Israel Museum, playing American football in the park, Havdalah and an incredible light and sound show at the King of David Tower. The evening brought our first entry into the Old City through the Jaffa Gate. Youngest Son fell asleep in my lap at the outdoor light show - so sweet - he IS only 10 years old.

Israel Museum - Oldest Son  listening to the history of the 2nd Temple looking at model below.

It's Kippahs versus Bareheads!

Sunday - Jerusalem

We started the morning early with a visit to Yad LaKashish. Yad LaKashish achieves the highest level of tzedakah - helping others to help themselves. Seniors work at this non-profit started 50 years ago  creating beautiful hand-made items that are sold in their gift shops. And yes, we bought several lovely items including Sam's Tallit cover!

Seniors at Yad LaKashish proudly show their wares.

Youngest Son gets kippah at Yad LaKashish and the Rabbi helps him put it on - very special.

We enter the Old City through the Zion Gate to visit the Kotel (Western Wall) and explore the Western Wall Tunnel underneath.

Our guide reads from the Tanakh before we enter through the Zion Gate.

Youngest Son gets his first view of the Kotel.

Youngest Son's pocket is full of Religious School children's wishes to put into the cracks of Western Wall.

Our exit from the tunnels takes us through the Muslim Quarter and to the Jewish Quarter for lunch. We end our afternoon exiting through the Dung Gate to explore the City of David's new excavations - lots of climbing, tunnels and narrow enclosed spaces!

Lunch in Hurva Square in Jewish Quarter where we had shawarma and schnitzal.

Oldest Son looks on at the real Jerusalem from the City of David.

Each and every day on this journey presents a range of emotions from happy to sad to incredulous.

Perhaps my moment of the heart was in the Tunnel at the Warren's Gate which is the closest point a Jew can get to the Holy of Holies. It is spot women pray for health ... I paused among the few Orthodox women to make a wish for my own health as tears found their way down my cheeks ...

A lovely Moment for Noah posted on Temple Blog - CLICK HERE

Kibbutz, Desert & Jerusalem

The past two days have been filled with learning, beauty and emotion.

What did we do on Thursday in the Israel Negev Desert?

If I was 25 then I might have just stayed on Kibbutz Laton. Kibbutz living is a big vision supported by a simple (very) life filled with hard work. The adults learned about how the Kibbutz operates while furthering advances in environmentalism and sustainability. The Youth (ages 10 to 18) literally got their hands dirty making straw and mud bricks.

Bricks made by the Youth. 

Kibbutz Laton's completely organic garden in the desert!

Amen

Exploring the Timna Park was educational, amazing, beautiful, serene and fun! 

Oldest Son & Youngest Son climbing through the desert hiking trails.

Commuter Husband & Youngest Son in crevice around the Copper Mines of ancient Egypt.

Youngest Son climbing to an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic on side of cliff.

Oldest Son, there that spec in a great big world ... 

After lots of hiking, Israeli Snacks! Chocolate milk is from local Kibbutz.

What did we do on Friday as we headed north from Negev Desert?

Jeep tour that took us inside the Ramon Crater ...

Youngest Son & Commuter Husband looking for fossils and me in the shadows ... 

Desert Colors decorate Youngest Son's face. He just could not resist the dampened mud. 

Arrival In Jerusalem

We will be in Jerusalem six days. 

We attended Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat Services  in Modi'in at the Kehillet Yozma, one of the very few Reform Temples in Israel. The service was completely in Hebrew and yet it still felt familiar. Tears flowed from Commuter Husband and me as Oldest Son was called forward with others celebrating B'nai Mitzvah to stand under the Jewish Chuppah for prayers and then to be pelted with candies. The smile on Oldest Son's face as he was called forward lit up the world.

Then ... we were hosted by an Israeli family for Shabbat. Our hosts had a little boy who was 11. The Israeli Boy did not speak English but the universal language of xbox and soccer balls sufficed. Commuter Husband and I discussed topics with the Israeli Couple ranging from politics to travel to schools to Jewish life to backgrounds - fascinating. They are originally from near Tel Aviv but the mother's family is actually Turkish of which many live in Istanbul. The food - wow (!!!) - pea soup, green salad, cabbage salad, meat pastry, homemade tahini, challah, meatballs with tomato sauce & rice, turmeric chicken & potatoes and tahini & honey cake.

Today will be Shabbat. No cars. No restaurants open. No commerce. The way Shabbat should be ...

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS AND SAM's DE'VAR TIUL & 1st GLASS OF WINE!!!

Learning Brings Understanding

These days in Israel are a kaleidoscope of experiences. We are now in the south in the desert town of Mitzpeh Ramon. Our day ...

We left Tel Aviv this morning and headed south. Our first stop was a 650 acre interactive nature reserve dedicated to the flora and fauna of the bible. At Neot Kedumim, we herded goats and sheep, play acted biblical stores, planted trees and prayed.

Oldest Son pulls water from the cistern as Youngest Son peers into the black hole of water.

Youngest Son plants his oak tree on the green hill of Israel.

Each step of this journey brings greater understanding of Israel and the Jewish people: why this land is so important, how incredibly hard Jews have worked to transform this desert land, why they will not give up ...

We were on the Gaza Strip border today. We viewed the buildings of Gaza and saw the walls that separate them from Moshav Netiv Ha'asarah. A resident spoke to us about living on the Moshav where one home has been hit 30 times with missiles and the children know to move to bomb shelters within 15 seconds of the sirens. It is important to stay in this place where the 188 Moshav families make a living raising cucumbers and tomatoes in hot houses, celebrate holidays and kiss their children. And they do it with passion, love and fervor that most Americans will never comprehend. I think I am beginning to ...

Muki, our spectacular guide, interprets Hebrew to English as the Moshav resident describes their life. 

 On the Left is a Rec Center and on the Right is a Playground - the square structure in the Middle is a Bomb Shelter.

Bus Stop where children wait and beside it the familiar square Bomb Shelter.

On the Left is the Gaza Border Wall and on the Right is an Israeli Moshav Home rooftop.

Youngest Son looks over the Gaza Border Wall from Israel side.

“From the womb of love comes peace” on a Bomb Shelter on the Moshav.

"Nativ L’Shalom—the Path to Peace" on the Gaza Border Wall - a Moshav mosaic in progress.

And our last stop of the day was at Kibbutz Sde Boker where we visited the gravesite of David Ben Gurion ...

Groups gather around and take in the majesty around the gravesite of David Ben Gurion.

Overlooking the Wilderness of Zinn in the Negev Desert - the land of Abraham.

MANY MORE PICS - CLICK HERE