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ATID's Israel Adventure - March, 2007
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March 12, 2007
ATID will be in Israel from Mar. 14-25, and the anticipation is heightening every hour! We can’t wait to document the great moments we will be experiencing abroad. Be sure to check back here for the latest updates on our trip!
I’m so happy to be coordinating this blog so you can share in this experience. Special thanks to Stacey Zackin, Robert Richman and Rick Lupert for helping to make this blog happen.
“Connect” with you soon,
Jana Rausch, ATID Communications Committee Member
March 16, 2007
Well, we survived the long flight and are thrilled to be in the Old City! It was great to get off the plane, settle into our hotel, and gather for our first dinner together at Olive and Fish. Although it was cold and rainy, we warmed ourselves up with carrot and pumpkin soup, chose entrees of lamb, chicken or fish, and topped the meal off with chocolate mousse cake and hot, sweet tea!
Our day started bright and early at 5:45a (some of us got up even earlier!), with a quick coffee and cake run before heading out to our tunnels appointment at 7:15a. This tour, led by our guide, Bruce, was simply amazing. We learned a deep understanding of history as we walked through tunnels of stone–some built 2,000 years ago–and stopped by the closest place we could get to the Temple Mount. This place in the tunnels is even holier than the Western Wall.
After the tunnels, we came back to our hotel for a traditional buffet breakfast Israeli style, and set out for the Old City again, where we prayed at the Western Wall, shopped in the Jewish Quarter and an Arab shuk.
We are now ready for Shabbat! Until we “connect” next time…
Jana
P.S. Picture descriptions: L-R: 1. Group at Western Wall; 2. Stacey, Gazelle, Michael and Leah in the tunnels; 3. Don, Jessica and Abby at the shuk
  
March 17, 2007
As the week calmed into our first Shabbat in the Old City, we observed a beautiful service at an Orthodox synagogue, and ended the evening with a traditional dinner at the hotel. This morning, some of us woke up early to attend a Shabbat service nearby, and the whole group gathered later in the morning to visit the Fuchsberg Center. There, we toured the center and had an enlightening yeshiva-like study about eating kitniyot during Pesach. Then we did a walking tour of the city, and now we are off to Ben Yehuda street for some good partying! Details to follow…
March 19, 2007
It’s been a couple of days because it’s been a bit tough getting wireless at a Bedouin encampment…
Well, all we can say is camels, Mohammad and…Uno??? And Stacey adds, “and used sleeping bags.” The experience brought all of our ”senses” to life! But first…the formal part…we started the day with a driving tour of Jerusalem and a visit to Yaki Dayan, the incoming Consul General in LA. The visit to the Foreign Ministry was exciting. Gorgeous building, gorgeous diplomat, and fascinating discussion about Middle Eastern affairs. We also discussed his transition to LA, and Rabbi Schuldenfrei took this opportunity to invite Yaki to speak at Shabbat and send his kids to Sinai Akiba. We departed Jerusalem, and headed for the Negev desert, stopping for schwarma (grilled meat cooked on a rotating skewer) at a local gas station. But, trust us — the food at the gas stations here are equivalent to a B-rated restaurant in LA!
After filling up with meat and gas, we went on to participate in an archeological dig and spelunking. The mission of “Archeological Digs” is to allow visitors to actually help them excavate caves (of which there are 5,000 in the region). After sifting through the buckets of dirt, we found pieces of bones and pottery that the organization may be able to use to put together artifacts over 2,000 years old! We can honestly say that ATID “digs” Israel!
After getting our hands dirty, we were more than ready for our camels patiently awaiting our arrival at the Bedouin camp! Two by two, we were hoisted up by our respective camels and we were on our bumpy way! (we have unforgettable pics, but as we have dial up here at the Kibbutz, they will take long to load at this time. We’ll see about posting some when we get to Tel Aviv!)
No time to freshen up from the camel rides as we had to meet Mohammad, our hospitality guide, for traditional music and ancient coffee grinding. While Mohammad played, Michael, Stacey and Barbara volunteered to play the coffee grinder. Who knew they were professionals? We’re trying to convince them to start a band in LA! 
Looking forward to the Masada and DEAD Sea!
After camping Bedouin style, we were pretty excited about washing up in the Dead Sea! But first, it was history and hiking at a visit to the Masada! In great weather (finally), we explored amazing stones, mikvehs, and even one of the oldest synagogues in the world! Sitting on those synagogue steps, it was unbelievable to think that the same Jewish customs and traditions were practiced so long ago. Another exciting attraction, on a personal note, was seeing the “original” Watergate. But that’s a whole other subject for those who know me…and for those who don’t, trust me, you don’t want me to elaborate!
As we took the cable car down to the bus, we couldn’t help but start getting particularly excited about floating in the Dead Sea. Considering that we hadn’t been performing our full skin care regimens for a day (or two!), we were more than ready to partake in some significant skin care — and retail — therapy!
First stop was the famous Avaha factory, where some of us got a little too excited about the two-for-one package deals! Then it was off to the sea, where we took some great shots floating on the water! Next step — mud baths! And if you thought that wasn’t enough, we treated ourselves to hot sulfur baths as well! Much needed showers later, we hopped in the bus and were off to Tiberius. I mean, where else can you get a good kosher Chinese/Thai dinner???
We finally made it to the Kibbutz, where we listened to some polka and Israeli music in the lobby. What better way to end the day?
March 20, 2007
Now on a Kibbutz, we hopped on the buses at 7:45a and headed for Safed, the center of mysticism. There, we greeted the “hippie hasidim,” visited two synagogues and went on a candle, microcalligraphy and jewelry shopping spree. Then it was on to the Golan for long bumpy jeep rides and “blah, blah, blah,” as one of the guides called it. Translation: comprehensive, intellectual history lesson. This lesson was one of the most heartfelt of the trip because, as the guide explained, the history is “internally a part of me.”
Next stop was an army base, where we met and had lunch with soldiers of the 603rd battalian. A tour of the base followed, including a visit to one of the tanks used in the Lebanon war last summer (prime Kodak moment) and to a couple of memorials honoring the members of the 605th battalian who lost their lives since the Independence War. This was a moving, educational experience for us all.
A stop at a local winery was next, followed by a bus trip up to the Israeli/Syrian border. Bruce, as usual, engaged us in some interesting history, and then it was on the way to Naot, a shoe store and factory. From there, we came back to the Kibbutz, where we will enjoy a great Kibbutz dinner (as breakfast was!) and then, if we’re up to it, an after-dinner drink to top the day off. Cheers.
    
Photo descriptions (L-R): 1. ATID meets incoming Consul General Yaki Dayan; 2. Steven, Rabbi Schuldenfrei, Stacey, Jessica, David, Jamie, Benjamin, Gazelle, Abby, Leah, Don and Rachel at the archeological dig; 3. Benjamin and Elizabeth on the camel; 4. Laura, Shana, Rabbi Schuldenfrei, Jana, Michael, Barbara, Abby, Jessica and Don at the Bedouin encampment; 5. ATID at the Masada synogogue.
March 23, 2007
This will be short and sweet as I, and apparently everyone else in this town, is speedily finishing up work before Shabbat. Countdown is on….
We had a couple of very busy days in Tel Aviv — perusing a high-end mall for lunch, stopping at Rabin square, and checking out the harbor’s nightlife for the first day. The second day fittingly started out at Independence Hall — where the formal state of Israel all began. Being in the exact spot where Israel’s independence was declared was a wonderful feeling. Then it was off to some local shops, lunch and touring in Jaffa, and to Hahashmonayim School, where we visited its diverse at-risk kids as part of a social action program sponsored by the LA Jewish Federation. We ended the day at Yekev, a wine bar, where many of us danced on tables!
Friday was a bit of a change in scenery as we headed back to Jerusalem to observe Mount Herzel and Yad Vashem. These were incredibly moving experiences for all of us. A particularly interesting and personal detail was that Elizabeth’s grandfather’s story was chronicled in artwork displayed at the museum. It was wonderful to share in her experience. This day was a perfect way to close the trip.
We are now off to Shabbat dinner. Might not have time for any more updates, so, on behalf of ATID, thanks for experiencing our Israel adventure and see you back at home!
March 25, 2007
ATID has made it home safe and sound. We have not only seen a lot of terrific sites in a short amount of time, but we also have formed unbelievable bonds and memories among our group that we will never forget. A big thanks to Stacey, the Schuldenfreis, Bruce, Ilan, and all the ATID travelers for making the memories of these 10 days last forever.
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