Saturday 2/7/15
Today was the warmest day of the trip. Temperature was in the high 70s. One more day of good weather and then cool weather and rain is predicted.
Our host family took myself and another volunteer on a driving tour of 2 Druze villages. I did not learn much about the Druze community. The women wear a large white head covering, but it does not hide their face. The men wear smaller white caps. They appear to be industrious, many serve in the military and on the police force. The villages are high on the hills, surrounded by olive groves and other agriculture. The towns and streets seem crowded but peaceful.
We made a brief stop to look at a few stalls in the market area for a quick purchase. Our hosts are not browsers... Then a longer stop for leisurely lunch in the village. Food was tasty, exotic, nicely presented and most not spicy, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pita bread was fresh baked and delicious, as is all the bread in Israel!
This evening we went to a concert of 6 pianists and a few soloists on vocal. They performed in a theatre that seated about 1000 people for 2 hrs and 15 minutes with no intermission! They were wonderful!
It feels like I have been away from home for a long time, however each day provides great variety and my respect for this complicated, dynamic country continues to grow. Thinking of you all , dealing with the challenging winter weather, and wish you well!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
Prof Dan Schectman 2011 Nobel prize winner, fabulous guest speaker
Strengthening Ties in China
Technion President, Prof. Peretz Lavie, and Prof. Dan Shechtman visited China to deepen and strengthen collaborations with Chinese universities and schools
In mid-January, Technion President, Prof. Peretz Lavie, and Prof. Dan Shechtman travelled to China, along with Dr. Moshe Marom, the site Director of the Technion- Guangdong Institute of Technology in China. On this visit Profs. Peretz and Shechtman met with senior leaders of Peking University (ranked among the top universities in mainland China) to discuss future cooperation in areas including innovation, environmental engineering, chemistry and others. They also visited the HighThe visit to China aimed to deepen and strengthen Technion’s ties in China.
The Technion-Guangdong Institute of Technology (Technion-Guangdong) – a scientific-research institute of technology founded on the ‘Technion model’ – will be established in the Guangdong Province in southern China. Technion-Guangdong will be launched according to the 2013 agreement signed between the Technion, Shantou University (STU) and the Li Ka Shing Foundation. At the signing ceremony, STU Provost, Prof. Gu Peihua stated that Shantou University chose Technion as its partner from 74 potential partners that were carefully selected – “because the Technion had shown the world what the future university should do in order to deliver values of regional, national and international significance. What Technion has done to advance the Israeli economy through student and staff research and innovation is an example for Chinese universities to follow. If many universities in Guangdong and China do the same as Technion has been doing in Israel, an innovation-based economy will emerge.”
Our Vacation With Soul group is so impressed with the caliber of guest speakers willing to meet with us!
Today's presentation was on the need to educate the next generations to focus on Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurial development. His message : Failure is ok as long as you start again.
I wish I had taken more notes as he spoke. He is a polished speaker and a creative teacher. Even had his own TV show introducing young children to science!
After the talk we were all invited for a wonderful lunch at the home of one of the staff members from the office of the Boston- Haifa connection. There are so many fabulous vegitariam dishes served in Israel I am re thinking my eating habits!
Weather continues to be lovely. In the Mid to high 60s through the weekend. Then a week of cooler rainy weather is predicted. They really need the rain, and as long as it is not snow, we won't complain!
Thursday, February 5, 2015
A full Day of Volunteering
Thursday 2/5/15
The day began teaching 3 sessions at The Reali school. There is much concern there about the future of the school. Funding and political issues are putting it at risk. The older students are aware of the situation and are organizing a rally to show their support.
Later in the day we took a long walk down hill to volunteer at Likrat Shabbat. A food bank. We helped fill 2 cartons per family, which are delivered to households later in the day. One carton had fresh vegtables and a whole chicken and rice. The other carton had 2 loaves of bread, a dozen eggs, a plastic bag of milk, 10 avocados , a bag of tomatoes, head of cabbage... We took a public bus back up the hill. In addition to our group of volunteers there were lots of teenage kids helping to provide this community service.
Tomorrow is Friday so everything closes early for Shabbat. We have a guest speaker ( a Nobel prize winner. Dr. Dan Schectman speaking and then luncheon at the home of a staff member from the Boston Haifa connection office.
Saturday my host family is taking myself and one other volunteer to see a Druze village. I did a little research and found the following:
Daliyat el-Carmel is a Druze village high on the slopes of Mt. Carmel and has an exceptionally unique character. It is a colorful village that offers wonderful hospitality with a smile and is also very interesting. The Druze is an ethnic group that split off from Islam in Egypt about 1,000 years ago. According to the Druze, their religion is the renewal of an ancient faith that became a secret known only to the group’s sages. Daliyat el-Carmel was founded in the 17th century by Druze from Mt. Lebanon. To the south of Daliyat el-Carmel is another Druze village, Isfiya, which was united with Daliyat el-Carmel in 2003 into a single town whose official name is Carmel.
Daliyat el-Carmel’s colorful market, open on Saturdays, is only an excuse to come to this place. On the main street dozens of stores offer their varied wares and one can get lost in the abundance and
variety. Between the stores are many restaurants serving genuine Druze ethnic foods, bakeries that fill the air with the sweet smell of baklava pastries. Other food stands sell high quality olive oil, olives, pita bread and locally produced labaneh cheese. The flurry of activity, the colors, the new beside the old, and the village bustling with people are a multi-
sensational experience not to be missed. The market also has a few galleries where cultural evenings can be held, alongside the Druze hospitality.
There is always something new to see and do and experience!
The day began teaching 3 sessions at The Reali school. There is much concern there about the future of the school. Funding and political issues are putting it at risk. The older students are aware of the situation and are organizing a rally to show their support.
Later in the day we took a long walk down hill to volunteer at Likrat Shabbat. A food bank. We helped fill 2 cartons per family, which are delivered to households later in the day. One carton had fresh vegtables and a whole chicken and rice. The other carton had 2 loaves of bread, a dozen eggs, a plastic bag of milk, 10 avocados , a bag of tomatoes, head of cabbage... We took a public bus back up the hill. In addition to our group of volunteers there were lots of teenage kids helping to provide this community service.
Tomorrow is Friday so everything closes early for Shabbat. We have a guest speaker ( a Nobel prize winner. Dr. Dan Schectman speaking and then luncheon at the home of a staff member from the Boston Haifa connection office.
Saturday my host family is taking myself and one other volunteer to see a Druze village. I did a little research and found the following:
Daliyat el-Carmel is a Druze village high on the slopes of Mt. Carmel and has an exceptionally unique character. It is a colorful village that offers wonderful hospitality with a smile and is also very interesting. The Druze is an ethnic group that split off from Islam in Egypt about 1,000 years ago. According to the Druze, their religion is the renewal of an ancient faith that became a secret known only to the group’s sages. Daliyat el-Carmel was founded in the 17th century by Druze from Mt. Lebanon. To the south of Daliyat el-Carmel is another Druze village, Isfiya, which was united with Daliyat el-Carmel in 2003 into a single town whose official name is Carmel.
Daliyat el-Carmel’s colorful market, open on Saturdays, is only an excuse to come to this place. On the main street dozens of stores offer their varied wares and one can get lost in the abundance and
variety. Between the stores are many restaurants serving genuine Druze ethnic foods, bakeries that fill the air with the sweet smell of baklava pastries. Other food stands sell high quality olive oil, olives, pita bread and locally produced labaneh cheese. The flurry of activity, the colors, the new beside the old, and the village bustling with people are a multi-
sensational experience not to be missed. The market also has a few galleries where cultural evenings can be held, alongside the Druze hospitality.
There is always something new to see and do and experience!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Festival of the Trees
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Wednesday, February 4, 2015—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
This evening one of the host families invited all 15 participants and the 8 host families for a celebration dinner. The setting was their large modern home overlooking the lights of the city and campus of Haifa University! Prior to the meal is a short service, including tasting wine, dates, almonds, apples and strawberrires. There are a few songs and then a festive meal. You start with white wine, drink some and then add a drop of red wine. Drink more, add more red wine. And repeat . Until ultimately you have a glass of red wine. Wisely they used very small wine glasses!
This evening one of the host families invited all 15 participants and the 8 host families for a celebration dinner. The setting was their large modern home overlooking the lights of the city and campus of Haifa University! Prior to the meal is a short service, including tasting wine, dates, almonds, apples and strawberrires. There are a few songs and then a festive meal. You start with white wine, drink some and then add a drop of red wine. Drink more, add more red wine. And repeat . Until ultimately you have a glass of red wine. Wisely they used very small wine glasses!
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Rambam hospital: A Teaching hospital on the edge of Mediterranean
Tuesday
2/3/15
After a delightful morning of working with the students , we did an afternoon tour of the Rambam hospital. This medical center includes a 1500 car parking garage, which can be converted to a 2000 bed hospital, at times of war. It includes a 94 machine dialysis unit, Ebola isolation rooms, day care center for staff and medical and support staff with a total capacity of 6000 people! The conversion from garage to hospital takes 72 hours!
We met with one of the hospital administrators and one of the physicians. As you can imagine, the cost and manpower it took to complete this project was enormous and took about 4 years. Some of the other above ground, regular buildings looked over crowded and shabby. I think they have made some tough decisions about where to concentrate their resources...
The weather continues to be sunny and beautiful, though rain may surface next week. Tomorrow is my 1/2 way point . The days are going quickly. The journey is remarkable.
2/3/15
After a delightful morning of working with the students , we did an afternoon tour of the Rambam hospital. This medical center includes a 1500 car parking garage, which can be converted to a 2000 bed hospital, at times of war. It includes a 94 machine dialysis unit, Ebola isolation rooms, day care center for staff and medical and support staff with a total capacity of 6000 people! The conversion from garage to hospital takes 72 hours!
We met with one of the hospital administrators and one of the physicians. As you can imagine, the cost and manpower it took to complete this project was enormous and took about 4 years. Some of the other above ground, regular buildings looked over crowded and shabby. I think they have made some tough decisions about where to concentrate their resources...
The weather continues to be sunny and beautiful, though rain may surface next week. Tomorrow is my 1/2 way point . The days are going quickly. The journey is remarkable.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Daily LIfe and the big picture...
Monday
2/2/15
It was a good morning at Chugim school. Worked with 3 sets of kids. Of particular interest was twin girls, who I had also worked with last week. They are 10th graders. Parents are from the Ukraine. One describes her interests as math and science and the other as a writer and artistic. They recently collaborated on a project to make an anniversary book for their parents and took great delight in explaining how they kept their project "a secret" until the celebration dinner with their parents. They paid for the cost of the binding with earnings from one's work in the library and the other had save money from working this summer in a science museum.
The creative twin researched the internet and found a summer program at Brandeis for gifted H.S. students who want to study science. She thought this would be a good program for her sister. They asked me to secure more info about this, as they asked their teacher who did not know anything about it. They do not have guidance counselor in the school. I was able to speak with someone at the local Haifa-Boston connection office and forwarded the contact info to the student. It was nice to feel helpful. Once a social worker, always a social worker...
When ordering lunch today the shop keeper explained that every 7 years the country lets the land remain unplanted, as prescribed in the Torah. This is happening now. Therefore many of the fresh vegtables, that I am enjoying, are imported from other counties.
This afternoon, I ventured on my own to find a manicurist, about 6-7 blocks beyond the neighborhood I am familiar with. Was successful and on my walk back to the hotel, came upon several of my fellow travelers out and about. It made me feel that this is my (temporary ) neighborhood.
This evening, we had a guest speaker, an expert on terrorism. Very sobering. My take away, is that no one or two countries can possibly deal with this alone, it will take a multi nation coalition. It is remarkable that Israel can function as well as it does in the middle of such a hostile environment.
Tomorrow afternoon will be a tour of a major hospital/ trauma center. Guest speaker there will speak about emegency medical care.
I have seen reports of all the snow at home continuing. So sorry you are all dealing with such a harsh month.
2/2/15
It was a good morning at Chugim school. Worked with 3 sets of kids. Of particular interest was twin girls, who I had also worked with last week. They are 10th graders. Parents are from the Ukraine. One describes her interests as math and science and the other as a writer and artistic. They recently collaborated on a project to make an anniversary book for their parents and took great delight in explaining how they kept their project "a secret" until the celebration dinner with their parents. They paid for the cost of the binding with earnings from one's work in the library and the other had save money from working this summer in a science museum.
The creative twin researched the internet and found a summer program at Brandeis for gifted H.S. students who want to study science. She thought this would be a good program for her sister. They asked me to secure more info about this, as they asked their teacher who did not know anything about it. They do not have guidance counselor in the school. I was able to speak with someone at the local Haifa-Boston connection office and forwarded the contact info to the student. It was nice to feel helpful. Once a social worker, always a social worker...
When ordering lunch today the shop keeper explained that every 7 years the country lets the land remain unplanted, as prescribed in the Torah. This is happening now. Therefore many of the fresh vegtables, that I am enjoying, are imported from other counties.
This afternoon, I ventured on my own to find a manicurist, about 6-7 blocks beyond the neighborhood I am familiar with. Was successful and on my walk back to the hotel, came upon several of my fellow travelers out and about. It made me feel that this is my (temporary ) neighborhood.
This evening, we had a guest speaker, an expert on terrorism. Very sobering. My take away, is that no one or two countries can possibly deal with this alone, it will take a multi nation coalition. It is remarkable that Israel can function as well as it does in the middle of such a hostile environment.
Tomorrow afternoon will be a tour of a major hospital/ trauma center. Guest speaker there will speak about emegency medical care.
I have seen reports of all the snow at home continuing. So sorry you are all dealing with such a harsh month.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Back in Haifa, After a Weekend in Jerusalem
Sunday
2/1/15
This was my 3rd visit to Jerusalem over a span of over 40 years. The city is still a startling combination of old and new. Modernization of the infrastructure, roadways, transportation and skyline is impressive. But within the gates of the old city, the modern world is mostly present
in the remarkable archaeological excavations and restorations. In fact, earlier today when doing the tunnel tour under the Wailing Wall, which is a maze of tunnels revealing multiple layers of civilization, we discovered to get from point to point, along the pathway, one often has to climb or descend multiple stairways. We were impressed to see that each staircase has a motorized lift to make the paths wheel chair accessible....the lighting and the ventilation system are very modern and they move large groups of people through a very intricate pathway. At the end when you exit the tunnel, the advise you to walk with a guard in front and back of the the group, as it goes through an area where there have been some problems in the past. We felt safe the entire day, walking with our guides.
I think we overdid it today. To recap: at 9:30am we walked to the old city for a 10:30am walking tour of the tunnels, as described above. . Later after lunch at an underground restaurant, in between the arches of the tunnels, a few of us signed up for another 2 hour walking tour of the holy city which took us thru the Christian, Armenian, Muslim and Jewish Quarters. The 2 hour tour went into over time and we had to leave at the 2 1/2 hours , as we needed to walk back to the hotel, collect our luggage and board the bus back to Haifa. One highlight of the afternoon tour was the walk along the rooftops of the city! (no worries it was safe we did not go close to the edges).
Earlier in the weekend we attended conservative services on the Saturday Sabbath, at a modern orthodox temple. The women still sit separately, but they do have prayer books with English translation. Very large sanctuary, some singing and a very long service. Arrived late and politely left early.
Later in the day the Israel Museum was open. It is a fabulous museum with extraordinary outdoor sculpture, gardens and several buildings. The exhibits are wonderful. We were there 3 hours and went our separate ways so each person could see what we were most interested in. I saw a large exhibit The Jewish Wardrobe, which traced Jewish dress code, over the centuries and among numerous counties with Jewish populations. Another exhibit : The Circle of Dance traced the development of dance in Israeli. From folk dance on the kibbutz to modern, interpretive dance in present day. The display had multiple video screens, music and excellent written narrative. The museum visit was a source of great joy. I left feeling great awe at what they have accomplished as a museum and how it reflects the strengths of the country.
The good news is that although shops are closed on Saturday for Shabbat, they do open Saturday evening. So after last night's dinner, we did walk to Ben Yahuda which is the shopping pedestrian street and got some browsing and shopping accomplished. Slept a bit on the bus ride back to Haifa.
Good night all!
2/1/15
This was my 3rd visit to Jerusalem over a span of over 40 years. The city is still a startling combination of old and new. Modernization of the infrastructure, roadways, transportation and skyline is impressive. But within the gates of the old city, the modern world is mostly present
in the remarkable archaeological excavations and restorations. In fact, earlier today when doing the tunnel tour under the Wailing Wall, which is a maze of tunnels revealing multiple layers of civilization, we discovered to get from point to point, along the pathway, one often has to climb or descend multiple stairways. We were impressed to see that each staircase has a motorized lift to make the paths wheel chair accessible....the lighting and the ventilation system are very modern and they move large groups of people through a very intricate pathway. At the end when you exit the tunnel, the advise you to walk with a guard in front and back of the the group, as it goes through an area where there have been some problems in the past. We felt safe the entire day, walking with our guides.
I think we overdid it today. To recap: at 9:30am we walked to the old city for a 10:30am walking tour of the tunnels, as described above. . Later after lunch at an underground restaurant, in between the arches of the tunnels, a few of us signed up for another 2 hour walking tour of the holy city which took us thru the Christian, Armenian, Muslim and Jewish Quarters. The 2 hour tour went into over time and we had to leave at the 2 1/2 hours , as we needed to walk back to the hotel, collect our luggage and board the bus back to Haifa. One highlight of the afternoon tour was the walk along the rooftops of the city! (no worries it was safe we did not go close to the edges).
Earlier in the weekend we attended conservative services on the Saturday Sabbath, at a modern orthodox temple. The women still sit separately, but they do have prayer books with English translation. Very large sanctuary, some singing and a very long service. Arrived late and politely left early.
Later in the day the Israel Museum was open. It is a fabulous museum with extraordinary outdoor sculpture, gardens and several buildings. The exhibits are wonderful. We were there 3 hours and went our separate ways so each person could see what we were most interested in. I saw a large exhibit The Jewish Wardrobe, which traced Jewish dress code, over the centuries and among numerous counties with Jewish populations. Another exhibit : The Circle of Dance traced the development of dance in Israeli. From folk dance on the kibbutz to modern, interpretive dance in present day. The display had multiple video screens, music and excellent written narrative. The museum visit was a source of great joy. I left feeling great awe at what they have accomplished as a museum and how it reflects the strengths of the country.
The good news is that although shops are closed on Saturday for Shabbat, they do open Saturday evening. So after last night's dinner, we did walk to Ben Yahuda which is the shopping pedestrian street and got some browsing and shopping accomplished. Slept a bit on the bus ride back to Haifa.
Good night all!
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