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Published: December 28th 2006
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David again. We left the Kibbutz at Kfar Blum this morning and as we looked up into the mountains of the Golan, we saw all the snow from after we came down yesterday. Rabbi Hachen actually heard that other groups that went up today got stuck in the snow. Except for a couple of days of rain, we have had some decent weather this trip but it has been chilly. Luckily, we packed correctly.
Our first stop today was Caesarea, a port city with a lot of history of ruins. Herrod first built it but a lot of the ruins were left from the Crusades. The city was later taken by Moslems. What was amazing was Herrod's foresight for the need of a port city in the Roman empire and how he built it, putting the base columns all the way into the water. We saw the Roman influence with the theater and hippodrome. Amazing history, amazing technology.
From there it was on to Tel Aviv and a visit to Independence Hall. This is the actual place where the Declaration of the State of Israel was signed in 1948. We were in the actual place that was set up
actually as it was. Like everywhere we have been on this trip, the speakers were knowledgeable, passionate and captivating. Here we heard from two women. One spoke of why it was important that we were there, about how it was vital for us to know the Jewish history, our history. She told us about how her children are in the Israeli Army simply because it is what Israelis do. Its moments like that where the significance of the country's independence resonates. The second speaker was a former Russian that has been in Israel for ten years. She explained for us every step of the way as to how that day in May 1948 went for the Declaration signing and radio announcement of David Ben Gurion. What everyone in our group noted was the passion with which she spoke. It seamed to us that every time she talks of this moment in time, she is acknowledging that if it were not for Israeli Independence she would not have had a country ( a Jewish State) to leave Russia for.
We are having a lot of fun on this trip, with all the families bonding. The kids are getting along and
look forward to being with each other. Everyone was together for a great dinner at a Yemenite restaurant in the Yemenite quarter of Tel Aviv. (D.H. - restaurant name is Maganda, if anyone wants to try it out.) The food was delicious and we had the best fallafel of the trip so far. (D.H. - salads and kebabs good too!)
And yes, what would a Stamberg trip be without shopping, before dinner, Nina, Rachel and I ventured to a mall here in Tel Aviv. Fashion was not that different from the US but it was a way to see how Israelis live since it was not a toursity area. I also enjoyed being in a mall without a Gap, Limited or Macy's.
(Debby here now. Thanks again David!)
David covered Caesarea and Independence Hall. Just want to add that we had a couple of hours free after checking into the Dan Panorama. Nice hotel -- much nicer than the hotel of the same name in Jerusalem. And great location (as was the Jerusalem one). We're right across from the beach -- on the southern end of the tayelet (the promenade along the Mediterranean); we can walk to Jaffa
(Yafo in Hebrew) or north along what I like to call "hotel row." I took a walk north that first afternoon (Thursday) just 15 minutes or so, and back. Finally, warmer weather -- maybe 50 degrees. Better than 40 or 35!
At dinner I sat near Roni, our driver, and he told those around him about his life as an Israeli soldier during the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur war. So sad. So many of his friends died; and his close cousin who was his same age.
Go to the next page for Day 8....
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