Letter from Noa following our visit

Our dear Keith Kat!

You are sitting in the plane now, reading this letter. We had a whole week together with a lot of conversations, beautiful moments and experiences. You learned where I live and who my family is and you really became a part of the family.

I feel like this is a closure to my trip to Rochester. You have accepted me with such warmth and made me feel a part of your family.

I am sure that only when you get back home, you will begin to understand the things you went through here.

Our Israel is a very special place and no matter where in the world we live, we, the Jewish people, wherever we are, no matter how religious we are, feel a connection to one another, sharing one history, one destination. You need us strong here and we need you there, keeping us safe from far away

You meet many people in life. Some you forget and some get into your heart.

We have a special connection of love and friendship. Give Carol, Josh and Rachel , your special family, kisses and hugs from us.

You are a unique man, so clever and sensitive. I enjoyed hosting you this week and I am so proud of having the chance to show you Israel and my home.

Hope to see you soon and you will come to Or and Bar's Bar Mitzva.

Have a safe trip home and remember you always have another home here with us.

With love,  Noa, Ronen, Or , Bar and Shir  

Last days in Israel

Hi Everyone

This will be my last blog entry. It covers from Friday through the weekend. I am writing this from home, having arrived back in Rochester this afternoon. I started this entry Friday late afternoon.

My apologies for missing you all last night. I was totally wiped out by the time we got home….went straight to bed. We boarded our tour bus once again yesterday and headed south to the Dead Sea. From Modiin, we drove toward Jerusalem before turning right toward the Dead Sea area. You really get a sense of Jerusalem being “The City on a Hill.” Jerusalem is over 700 meters above sea level. The Dead Sea is over 400 meters below sea level…the lowest point on earth. The change in topography from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is amazing….and takes place in only about 40 minutes by car. The second you turn at Jerusalem, you are literally driving downhill the entire way to the sea. Jerusalem is lush and green; trees, bushes and grass cover the majority of the city. It is truly a beautiful place! As you head south to the Dead Sea, the scenery changes dramatically and quickly. In no time at all you are in an arid desert.

Before I tell you about our day in the Dead Sea area, I want to show you some pictures of what you see as you drive on Route 443, the direct road between Modiin and Jerusalem. I shared earlier that this route moves in and out of the Green Line, the temporary boundaries separating Israel from Palestinian occupied territory.  At several places along 443 the security fence is quite evident. If you were to speak with Israeli citizens, there are many opinions about the security fence. At the end of the day, it is a powerful symbol for how much work needs to be done between the Israeli’s and the Palestinians.

On our trip to the south, our first stop was at the Ein Gedi Park. This is a beautiful nature and historical preserve right on the Dead Sea. We walked to a stunning water fall called Nachal David. As I walked along the path, up stone steps, looking up at the rock walls that surrounded us, it was easy to get a sense of what it must have been like when people walked through this area thousands of years ago. We made our way to the falls, taking a short rest there just to enjoy the scenery. A few of us even took a dip in the water hole!

Our Delegation at the Nachal David Waterfall

Looking east from Ein Gedi Park toward the Dead Sea

We then boarded our bus again and drove to the Dead Sea Spa. We had over two hours to enjoy the rejuvenating wonders of this area. I treated myself to a mud bath and then floated in the Dead Sea. It is a very strange sensation to be able to lie back on the water and feel as though you have a raft underneath you. Being in the sea definitely alerts you to any cuts on your body….sting city!!!!!!!! I then decided to treat myself to a 30 minute message. My masseuse was an older gentleman named Emanuel. He was born in France but has lived in Israel since we was a teenager. He was a delightful man…warm…personable….knowledgeable. We spoke about a variety of topics including Israeli politics and culture and the dangers of nuclear power. When our conversation turned to the Jewish religion, both in Israel and in the states, Emanuel enthusiastically informed me that Reform Judaism “believes in nothing…it is not a type of Judaism.” I made a quick decision to not debate Emanuel on this topic as he had my body in a precarious and vulnerable position. Emanuel and his opinion represent another challenge in the country where its own people cannot reach a consensus on “what is a Jew.”

Looking across the Dead Sea toward Jordan

Continuing on this topic of “what is a Jew” in Israel, I attended Shabbat services at the only reform congregation in Israel that is headed by a woman Rabbi. This congregation counts Temple Sinai, my congregation in Rochester, among its most ardent supporters. It was a wonderful service….warm…inviting….relaxing. While the entire service is conducted in Hebrew, I did recognize most of the songs and was able to participate in that aspect of the service. A relaxing and highly spiritual way to end a very busy and exciting week!

My evening came to a conclusion as Noa and her family along with me was invited to Shabbat dinner at another host family’s home. Liat and Nati and their children have been hosting one of our other delegates, Kevin. A delicious dinner was served, augmented with rousing conversation about everything from our week’s adventures to that familiar topic of “what is a Jew” (I told my Emanuel the masseuse story). Here I was able to voice my frustration, and even a sense of anger, that anyone would have the chutzpah to question my Jewishness based on a difference of opinion about issues such as ritual practice. It was interesting that Nati, who like many Israeli’s was raised Orthodox, had his own bias against the Reform movement. We enjoyed some rousing dinner conversation on this issue, and in the end,  I invited Nati to come to Rochester and join me at Temple Sinai for a Shabbat service J. I know that what I am about to state is a very simplistic perspective, but sometimes simple is OK. How will we, the Jewish People, ever address our differences with other cultures and religions that inhabit this land if we can’t even get our own “you know what” together about who we are. Kevin and I were reminded by our hosts of the old saying that “if you put two Jews in a room, there will be three opinions!”

Our last day in Israel, today, was spent on a return trip to Jerusalem. We walked through the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim quarter, visited the Church of the Hold Sepulchre, and paid a last visit to the Western Wall. This is an amazing city, an amalgamation of history, religion, culture and conflict. The size of the old city is only 1 square kilometer, and yet I challenge you to find too many other places this size anywhere in the world that contain a similar amount and depth of history.

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the tomb that Jesus is believed to have been buried in.

At the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Nati, who traveled with us today is a career army officer, specifically in the Military Police, The husband of one the other host families who was with us today is an Israeli Police Officer. Between the two of them we were able to drive right into the police compound in Jerusalem. Talk about a sense of safety!!!! We were also able to get into a relatively new high tech program that helps to keep the peace in the Old City. We were escorted into a control room filled with walled monitors. Over the past years, the Police have been placing cameras at strategic areas all over the Old City. We were able to see how the Police monitor this potentially explosive area 24/7.  Pretty cool stuff!!!!! Here in Israel they talk about people having Vitamin P…….influence, connections, knowing people in the right places. We were definitely hanging out this week with a few people that have a high level of Vitamin P!!!!!!

It is 8 PM here in Modiin. I leave for the airport in about an hour. I am looking so forward to coming home and seeing Carol and the kids. I miss them terribly.  I can’t wait to share with all of you my thoughts and experiences from this week.  And yet, I am struggling with a profound sense of sadness as I type this. I carry this perspective that our entire lives are spent searching for homes. Our homes can be a building, a place, a person, a relationship, a career, a hobby, a connection, a sense of purpose. We have these homes, not just to collect them, but to bring us joy, pleasure, meaning, fulfillment as we go through our lives.

Over the course of this past week, I have found some new homes. I have found a family in Noa and Ronin and their children who I know will now be lifelong friends. It is no small task to open your home to someone for 10 days. Noa and Ronin made me feel that I was a very special part of their family.

I have found a home in both the Rochester and Israeli delegations who have become colleagues, and much more importantly, friends. I will continue my conversation with all of them as we further the connection between Modiin and Rochester and identify ways to connect our schools and students. My delegation friends took very good care of me. I struggled most of the week with a stomach problem. My friends were constantly checking in with me. This was extremely comforting. I worried some through the week that members of my delegation might have experienced me as somewhat distant. There were many moments that I was completely lost in my own thoughts, feelings and reactions. A major component of what made this trip so special was the people I was traveling with, and the people who hosted me. Thank you to all of you!

And I have found a home in the State of Israel. For just about 52 years, Israel has been this concept that was very far away, incredibly confusing and complex, and quite honestly, a place that at different times in my life I distanced myself form. I leave this evening having experienced a powerful connection with this land and with its people. This is not a connection that is about complete idealism. I see the warts, the difficulties, the challenges. No different than any other country. But my history is here…my heritage….  

As I return to Rochester, I will need some time to completely digest my experience this week. I am coming back with a renewed energy to expose my students to the world…..to help them see beyond Webster…… to help them create connections with similar teens from across the ocean. I will also highly recommend this program to my colleagues. I am committed to creating a connection between my school and Ironi Aleph here in Modiin.

But maybe the most important and significant home I have found is a new place in my heart for myself as a Jew. I have fought with this piece for too long. There has been a letting go of the battle this week. Those of you who know me would probably describe me (among other thingsJ) as pretty confident and down to earth. I think those are valid descriptors of me. My sense of being a Jew has been an aspect of my life where I have always felt anything but confident and down to earth. I have never shared with anyone the depth of my internal struggle about who I am as Jew…about what this truly means to me…about how it fits or doesn’t fit in my life. There have been times in my life that I did not want to be Jewish….I did not want to deal with the complexities of Israel. It was easier to just distance myself. These reactions on my part have been a source of shame for me.  I am leaving this evening confident that I have made a huge dent in this. I am so proud of this country…so in awe of its people…. so at rest with my connection to it. ……..and so eager to return home and continue to practice and celebrate my Judaism in a manner that is spiritually meaningful to me.

I will return to this wondrous land……Noa and Ronin have already invited us to return in two years for the Bar Mitzvah of their sons.

When I return this time, I will have Carol, Joshua and Rachel with me.

This has been the trip of a lifetime!

Thank you for taking the time to exerience Israel with me.

I love you all.

Keith

Visiting the Schools

Shalom Every One,

Before I share with you about my time in the schools the last couple of days, I want to share one last experience that I had this morning regarding the attack in Jerusalem. Ronin, Noa’s husband is an attorney and works for the city of Jerusalem. It took him longer than usual to get home yesterday due to increased security around the city. This morning I asked him if he expected any difficulty getting to work. Ronin looked at me and very calmly said “Today is a new day.” He did not need to say anything further. His message was clear. What happened was yesterday and it can not stop life from happening. Ronin is not a man with his head in the clouds. He is just a few years younger than me and a former Israeli Navy Seal. He is in touch with the realities of living in Israel, but again, he has simply adopted a mind set and perspective on life that does not stop him from living. For those that have not kept up with the news Hamas continues to fire rockets from Gaza into towns to the south.

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to visit two schools, Ironi Aleph School and The Democratic School. Ironi Aleph is a public Junior High/High School, grades 7 – 12, with about 1400 students in total. This was the first HS in Modiin. In many ways the curriculum and the requirements for graduation are not drastically different from ours. That being said, Ironi Aleph does present with some interesting differences from our schools. Class size is up to 40 and the teachers move from class to class, not the students. All of the teachers have a small space in the teachers’ lounge to store their materials. In Israel, all students call their teachers by their first name. If any of you are reacting to that thinking that it is a bit too informal, please also know that after each period, students stand when their teachers enter the room.

What is unique about this school is that it offers “majors” to its students in the areas of dance, music, science, computer science, and translation skills. Between 7^th grade and 12^th grade all students must complete two majors. This is in addition to mandatory classes and the availability of advanced studies ( our AP classes). The piece that I found so interesting is that in addition to a strong academic program, there is an equal emphasis on assisting students in strengthening their Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli identity. There is a strong emphasis on social values and a 60 hour volunteer requirement in 10^th grade. There are classes later in HS that prepare students for their army involvement and the school strongly encourages participation in youth activities around the city ( one being the Youth Council that I saw last night). A major project takes place in 7^th grade. It is called the “Roots Project.” Students spend several months questioning their parents and grandparents about their origin and life experiences. As described to us, this is a very powerful experience for most students, with generations often learning things about other generations for the first time. During HS, all students also visit Poland as well as participating in other activities that support and increase their sense of community, national and Jewish connection.

I think I might have already mentioned this, so if I have please accept my apologies. In Israeli schools, there is not bell between periods. Soft, soothing music is played announcing the end of each period.

We were also told that in addition to looking at standardized test scores and graduation statistics, the National Education Ministry also assesses how students are feeling about their schools. They are surveyed about issues like sense of safety and their perspective on their relationships with their teachers.

In the afternoon, we visited the Democratic School. This is a private school that is truly alternative. The school is K through 12 and has no more than 25 students in each grade. From kindergarten on up, students get to choose what classes they take. There are no mandatory classes. So yes, a student could potentially graduate HS and never take math. In Israel, all students at the end of 12^th grade must take a series of exams that if they pass, they earn a Bagrut Certificate. Essentially, they need to pass these exams to graduate. Without the Bagrut Certificate, students job prospects are greatly diminished. While they can still go onto service their army requirement, their choices of service related positions are also limited. This appears to serve as a strong reinforcement for students at the Democratic School to take the courses needed to pass the Bagrut exams. This school has a “Parliament” that is made up of teachers and students who make most of the decisions about the running of the school. There is a disciplinary committee that is comprised on 1 student from the elementary grades, 1 HS student, and one teacher. If any students feels that they have been wronged by another student…hit…made fun of…etc. they can take that student to this committee and present their case. The committee is empowered to hand down a consequence. And yes, a student can take a teacher to this committee if they feel they have been wronged by that adult! One aspect of this school that I thought was really great is that every student can choose a “Honech,” a mentor. This is an adult in the school who they develop a close relationship with. The students we spoke with said that while they can choose someone different each year, they often remain with the adult that they chose when they were younger. The students all described this relationship as highly intimate and extremely important and valuable to them. We had an opportunity to speak with most of the students in 11^th grade. They presented as quite bright, highly personable, and strongly committed to academic excellence. When visiting the Ironi Aleph School today I met one of their teachers who happens to be the parents of one of the students who met with us at the Democratic School. She made a very interesting comment to me about the issue of the students getting total choice about what to take. She told me that there is another force in the universe that does have significant  impact on the types of classes students at this school choose to take in terms of adequately preparing themselves to graduate from HS………the Jewish Mother! Maybe this specific aspect of the Democratic School, within the reality of Israeli Jewish family life, is not quite as democratic as it looks on the outside J.

Today I had the opportunity to return to The Ironi Aleph School and speak to a class of 9^th graders and a class of 7^th and 8^th graders. What a wonderful experience for me!!!!!! Both classes were filled with students who were eager to hear about life in the states, especially for Jewish teens. We discussed some of the differences between their culture and ours as well as some of the challenges. We explored how many of them differentiate their Jewish identity from their Israeli identity. They asked me some pointed questions such as “How come you haven’t made aliyah (move to Israel permanently) yet,” and “what would you do if your daughter wanted to marry a non Jewish boy” (we had been discussing the issue in the states of interfaith marriages). Both classes were just a joy to spend some time with. Eager to teach me about their culture as well as so curious about ours. Their English was advanced and we had no difficulty communicating. This was such an uplifting experience!

My day at Ironi Aleph concluded with a 45 minute conversation with the Principal of the school, Dr. Dvir Sholmi. Dvir and I discussed some ideas on how we might be able to create a bridge between our schools. The education bridge that sponsors this trip has created relationships between Israeli schools and, for the most part, Hebrew schools back in Rochester. Much of the school to school relationship is based on the common Jewish connection. In this case, we do not have that as Webster Schroeder HS does not have much of a Jewish student population. Dvir and I were able to generate several exciting ideas that I will share with my colleagues upon my return that could generate a more general cultural exchange connection between the two high schools. Dvir is clearly very interested in making this happen as am I. There is much our students and staff could learn from one another.

Dvir also shared with me that the latest research on graduation rates shows that the graduation rate (students who pass the Bagrut) is presently 80%. Of the 20% who do not pass the Bagrut, almost all of them will pass the exams either prior to entering the army or after. As I mentioned, not possessing this certificate significantly limits post HS vocational and academic options.

This evening, our delegations began the process of saying good-bye. We met for dinner and then went out to O’Sullivan’s Pub. Yes Rochester, there is an Irish Pub in Modiin, Israel! While I am looking so forward to returning home…..I miss Carol and the kids tremendously…..I will have trouble saying good-bye. In fact I just teared up typing the last sentence…lol!!!!......oy!!!!!! I have been doing just too much crying during this trip!!!!!    J    

Tomorrow we travel to the south to visit the Dead Sea and surrounding area.

I trust you all are thoroughly enjoying your recent snow fall!!!! Ahhh!!! Spring time in Rochester!!!.....Ain’t it grand!!!!

I love you and miss you all.

Keith

Imagine

Imagine a breaking news story just shortly after 12 noon that a terrorist bomb has gone off only about 30 minutes from your house. What would you do? What your reaction be? Would you get in the car and go to the mall? Would you allow your children to go down to the city youth center? Would you be able to step through the normal course of your day.....putting your sadness and fear to the side in the name of maintaining a "normal" life? As many of you probably already know, I terrorist bomb exploded today in Jerusalem. It was placed in a phone both and detonated in a crowded area. One person was killed and many were wounded. My delegation and I spent the day here in Modiin....safe. I have spent my life hearing and reading about this and it struck me today the comfort of reading about it from across the ocean. This is very frightening. This bomb went off not far from where I was when I visited Jerusalem over the weekend. We in America have absolutely no concept of what this is like. We might think that we do, but we dont! The history of the Israel - Palestinian conflict has been filled with rehtoric, accusations, mis information, mistakes on both sides, and anger. Hamas, the terrorist group that is most likely responsible for today's attach ( they have also been lobbing shells out of Gaza toward two southern Israeli cities for the past week) has always been clear that they have little interest in negotiating with Israel....their focus is on the total destruction of the Jewish state. This was their first attack in approximately five years.

So have you considered how you might respond if this was near your home? Let me share with you what I witnessed here in the hours following the announcement of the bombing.........life as normal! Nothing stopped....no one hide in the basement......people lead their lives. I think Noa saw the look of fear on my face and she said to me, "This is Israel." The only precaution she took was to limit how much of the TV news her children saw. This evening Noa took me to the youth center that she works at. Meeting there this evening where about 50 teens who are part of the Youth Movement her in Israel. This is a group a teens that represent a variety of youth groups and schools around the city of Modiin. These are not youth groups that are attached to a Temple, the way we might think of youth groups. These are groups of teens who invest considerable time, energy and creativity toward making their city a better place to live. Any teen can come to this group with an idea for some type of social action project. Ongoing projects include working to increase the understanding and acceptance of gay teens, a group that brings together Orthodox and secular teens for discussion and increased understanding, a group that received training in juggling and other "circus acts" who put on shows for poor kids and children that are hospitalized, and a program led by teens to do away with graffiti around the city. I was surrounded by energetic, intelligent and socially conscious teens who lined up to speak with me about their specific program. This Youth Movement is all over Israel and teens are truly changing their communities for the better. Their energy was infectious and they had me laughing as they all kept apologizing for their english...which was quite good. There was no indication anywhere in the behavior and demeanor of these kids that a terrorist bomb had exploded 30 minutes from their home. Some of you might ask if this is a form of denial.......I dont think so.......my sense is that Israeli's are completely realistic about these occurences. They just have learned how to not let this stop them from living. I think about aspects of American culture that have become about victimhood and I cringe. There is no one here who buys into that type of mindset. Life is to be lived....to be lived well.....and you cope with adversity. What choice do you have?

We left the Youth Center and went to the mall in Modiin to get something to eat. As we drove into the underground parking lot, we were met by a security guard who was searching everyone's trunk. But other than this, there was no other indication that anyone was worried. Parents and children strolled through the mall. I found myself very hyper aware of my surroundings....that didnt appear to be the case with anyone else. We ran into a friend of my daughters who works in the mall. Again, there was nothing in my interaction with her that would lead you to feel that she is worried.

I dont know how these people do this???  Its too simple to say that "well they dont have any choice." I cant argue with that but it is more than that. The Israeli people have worked too hard and for too long to settle this land, to make things grow in the desert, to become one the leading technological countries in the world, and to create a citizenry and culture that that has the strength and fortitude to not only withstand repeated terrorist threats over the years, but to fourish is spite of them. I listen to the words of terrorist organizations like Hamas whose  goal is the complete destruction of the state of Israel. And then, over the past few days I have had the opportunity to see what I have seen. To see what has been created here.......to break bread with a group of people that have a life force that I am jealous of. I know deep in my heart now that Israel isnt going anywhere.

What would I do if a terrorist bomb exploded 30 minutes from my house? I dont have a complete answer to that question right now. I could only hope that I responded like an Israeli.

P.S. -  This is my first attempt at keeping a blog. At first, I was only going to keep a simple travelogue.....you know...here is where we went....here is what I saw. For those of you who have been reading this, I think you know that it has been more diary like than travelogue like. I hope that none of you who have been reading this have had any kind of  "Keith...TMI!!!!!!"....experience……this trip has been more personally meaningful than I ever thought it would be and I am looking forward to reading back over this blog when I get home. I so appreciate all of you who are reading it and sharing this incredible experience with me.

I love you all

Keith

P.S.S. - I visited two very interesting schools today. I will share more about them tomorrow. I need to get to bed....bye

Off to School......

Good Evening Family and Friends

Some additional thoughts on the city of Modiin………

It continues to blow me away that only 15 years ago this city didn’t exist…..never mind the thought and planning that went into the construction of the city. As each section of the city was built, officials did not move on until the entire infrastructure was completed. Each section of the city has a school…many children can walk to school and others are dropped off by parents. There are no school buses. Each section has a variety of parks and gathering areas as well. You only need to drive around Modiin for a few minutes to see that this city was built with families and children in mind. What a novel idea!!!! J  That being said, living in Modiin is expensive. Modiin is all apartments. There is no single family housing built in sub-divisions as we know it in the states. A three bedroom apartment can come with a cost of $500,000.00. The general cost of living is also high given gas prices (still much higher than what we pay in spite of the fact that all of the oil companies in Israel are Israeli owned…..no Exxon or Mobil here) and food expenses. Modiin is not a city with any real industry. Most people, who live in Modiin, work in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. My sense is that many families figure out how to exist as a one car family. Yet, when you speak with the people living here, they speak only of the quality of life that Modiin offers them. Israeli’s by nature are extremely family and child focused. The costs appear to be more than worth it to them. After my first few days in Modiin, I can clearly understand why.

 Today was our first day visiting schools. Some of you might be wondering why we didn’t immediately begin our school visits first thing on Monday. Well, you might not be aware of this, but Israel celebrated a three day weekend this past weekend. A three day weekend you ask???? Could it have been Memorial Day?…no………….Fourth of July?.......no………….Labor Day???.......not that either. It was Purim!!!!!!!! Purim is one of many Jewish Holidays on our calendar. It does not hold any great religious significance but tells another story of the powers in control attempting to wipe out the Jews only to be outwitted by the intelligence, resourcefulness, and good fortune of the Jewish people. The reason I bring this up is that this observance of Purim represents another interesting aspect of Israeli culture. Although born Jewish and clearly self identifying as Jewish, most Israeli’s are secular in terms of religious observance. Many do not attend temple regularly and yet, the Jewish Holidays are National Holidays. In the States, the celebration of the Jewish Holidays requires our children to interrupt the usual schedule of their lives. I’m not saying this is a bad thing….in fact it is not…..it is just a reality of American Jewish life. Here in Israel, the entire country celebrates…schools are closed….and the populace takes a time out from their usual comings and goings. Yesterday, we arrived in Zefat shortly after the conclusion of a town wide Purim Parade. For me, as was my experience last Friday night for Shabbat, the knowledge that I could go up to anyone in the street and we would have the common connection of our Judaism and the celebration of this holiday was both strange and completely exhilarating. I could get used to this!!!

This morning we visited the Dorot School, a public elementary school and Nativ Zevulun School, a public Orthodox religious school. These are two of the oldest elementary schools in Modiin. Every elementary school in Modiin has an ecological garden and lessons around this topic are a regular part of the student’s day. We watched with delight as a group of students worked the garden, all pitching by taking on the various jobs. The Dorot School also has a science room that is filled with small animals. Judaism calls for a strong focus on the environment. These themes are interwoven into Jewish writings and prayer. In Israeli schools, the children live this. In Nativ Zevulun, themes of the environment are woven into the weekly Torah readings. These schools possess all of the subjects and services that you would expect in an elementary building as well. Strong focus on science, math and English….support services…..music….advanced programs.  While in the buildings today, we all heard soft and soothing music playing on the loud speaker system. We were told that this is their version of “the bell.” You know…that obnoxious sound that jolts students and teachers….a rude call to stand up and move onto the next class. In the two schools we visited today, the message that class is over is delivered in a calm and lyrical manner that invites all those in school to move peacefully on to the next subject. Oh….and by the way….for most classes, it is the teacher who moves on while the students remain in their class.

I mentioned earlier that students either walk to school or are dropped off by their parents. At the Dorot School, parent volunteers assist students who are dropped off by parents in getting from the care to the building. This service that they provide is called Nashek v’S ah….translated, this means “kiss and go.” No dawdling…let’s get to school!!!!  I think this message is more for the parents than their children J.

There is an additional aspect to Israeli schools that is radically different from our schools. All Israeli schools have safe rooms. At the Dorot school, we were greeted in the Library which also serves as one of three safe rooms. These rooms are built with reinforced concrete, a thick steel door; several escape doors, and a self contained water source. Just a visual and frightening reminder of what has occurred throughout the history of this state.

A last fact on the schools we visited today…………class size can be up to 40 students!!!! By law, a school can not create smaller classes until a class has 41 students. At that time, they can create two classes of 20 and 21.

Inside the main gate at The Dorot School

The Ecological Garden at Nativ Zevulun School

Entrance to the safe room at The Dorot School

At Nativ Zevulun, we were greeted by the school chorus, performing several songs from their repertoire for our enjoyment. These beautiful children sang wonderfully, so excited to perform for their visitors from the States. In the middle of their performance, I became aware that I was again tearing up. For me, this appears to becoming a regular piece of my experience here in Israel. OK Keith….what the heck is this about?????  I have written how some much of this trip is about connection for me. At that moment, I was experiencing another connection….a painful one. As I listened to the children’s voices, my mind traveled back a few days to our visit to the Children’s Memorial at Vad Yashem. I could not get the thought of 1.5  million children…children just like the children performing in front of me…murdered for simply being Jewish. I think this was again one of those Israeli moments that our guide Joel spoke about…..moments filled with intense sadness and loss as well as celebration and joy. I knew this trip would be emotional for me, but I was not prepared for needing to negotiate the two absolute ends of the emotional spectrum at the exact same instant. I am simply experiencing this as a visitor and yet I feel so overwhelmed at times. My Israeli friends live with this every single day. It is culture...it is mindset....it is some of what makes them the people that they are. These last four days have taught me in many ways that this country is only here as a result of the immense personal strength, emotional fortitude, and pioneering spirit of the Israeli people. I am in awe.

We spent the afternoon in Tel Aviv, learning some more about the city’s history and doing our best to support the economy of the State of Israel…shopping.

Tel Aviv Market

Some of our Delegation at lunch in Tel Aviv

Tomorrow we visit two other schools, one of which is Ironi Aleph High School. This is the building where I will return to on Thursday to meet with several groups of students.

Its time for bed….I love you and miss you!

Keith

A trip to the North of Israel

Disclaimer.......I guess my blogs have been filled with spelling and gramatical errors. Please accept my apologies....I am writing these late at night when I am very tired.....and given that spelling and grammer where never my strongpoints anyway....I am not surprised.  I am going to blame it on the spellcheck function on this blog which, by the way, isnt functioning. I will tri two right goodly!!!!!!!!!

Our day began nice and early as we boarded the bus for our day in the north of Israel. We set out on Route 6, learning a few very interesting facts from our tour guide, Joel. Joel explained that when the government decided to build this road as the demand for north-south traffic increased. The government of Israel hired a private company to build the entire highway at the companies expense. This private company now gets to keep all of the tolls they charge for the next 20 years, after which the road will be turned over to the government. Interesting method to get infrastructure built without the use of taxpayer money!

The is one area in particular along Route 6 where running right along the highway is the security fence that has been build by Israel over time in response to terrorist attacks. Joel shared with us the ongoing controversy about this fence. There are many who support it, not only from the standpoint of safety, and, according to Joel, even Hamas has gone on record as admitting that it has dramatically decreased terrorist attacks, but those that support it hope that it will end up providing a guide for the actual border between Israel and a Palestinian State....The Two State Option. There are also many who are against it for a variety of reasons. For me, it was again a symbol of the social, political, and cultural challenges faced by Israel.

Our first stop for the day was The Kenneret. This is a freshwater lake that supplies Israel with much of its water. This body of water and the surrounding area, The Kinneret Valley are one of the most beautiful areas I have ever laid my eyes on.

As you look across the Kinneret you see the Golan Heights...and on the other side of the Golan is Syria.  The Kinneret is one of the two large bodies of water in Israel...the other one being the Dead Sea. The Kinneret is fresh water...or as the Israeli's call it, sweet water...and the Dead Sea is over 30% salt. Why the radical difference in the quality of water you may ask.....you are asking that...right?????  Well I will give you two explanations. From a science standpoint, The Kinneret has a source of water on one side and on the other side, water is taken out for use within the state. This continual movement of new water in and water out keeps the water quality fresh and clean. The Dead Sea has a water source coming in, but no way out. The water that enters the Dead Sea can on evaporate, a process that leaves all of the salt and other schmutz behind. The second explanation is a bit more spiritual and was shared with us by one of our Israeli hosts, Yardena. The Kinneret takes water in and, in turn, gives it away. Life a person who does the same, this give and take creates a sweet life (sweet water). The Dead Sea on takes, and like a person who does the same, it becomes only bitter. A far more meaningful explanation than the scientific one :).

Noa and I

Our next stop was at the Kinneret Cemetery. Unlike Mt. Hertzel, this is not a cemetery for soldiers. This cemetery holds many of the individuals who settled the Kinneret Valley beginning at the turn of the 20th century. Joel and Yardena shared with us about the Waves of Alliah...the waves of immigration that lead to the settlement of this area. One needs to have a picture of this area in the early 1900's to fully appreciate this story. It was swamps....maleria...no roads...little connection to existing cities. The first wave of alliah consisted of highly religious men who knew little of how to community build in such a hostile environment. The second wave of alliah was comprised of younger people, more skilled in the areas required to create a thriving community. As we walked through the cemetery, many of the headstones described the person as hearty, strong, eager. It was also obvious from the ages on the stones that life was extremely difficult and people died at any early age from accidents and disease. This Cemetery respresents people who are seen as some of the true founders of the State of Israel.....creating a Jewish community in a challenging environment long before Israel was formally recognized.

We learned about a young woman named Rachel who wrote beautiful poetry, to the point that she has taken on almost mythic proportion within the Israeli society. Our hosts sang several of her songs and it was clear to me that this is a person whose legacy fills an important role in Israeli society. There children grow up singing her songs. If you want to know a little more on Rachel:   http://www.ithl.org.il/author_info.asp?id=207

Some pictures from the Kinneret Cemetery:

We left the Kinneret and traveled to the city of Zefat. Zefat's population is comprised of a strong Orthodox community combined with a more liberal artsy community. There are many gallery's and shops in Zefat along with, as is the case wherever you go in Israel, a significant historical component. Zefat was the site of an important battle between the Jew's and Arab population of the city in April 1948. Although significantly outnumbered, the Jew's won the battle and took control of the city. You need to stand in the city to fully appreciate how important that was from a strategic standpoint as Zefat sits high above the Galilee Valley. By taking control of the city, the Jewish population was able to control the valley. Some pictures of Zefat:

                                                                                                                                                      

   This is called the Messiah's Alley.Grandma Yocheved used to sit at the top of this alley waiting for the Messiah to come. She was convinced that the Messiah would surely come through Zefat on his way to Jerusalem. Joel shared a story that Yocheved would wait at the top of the alley with two kinds of tea. When asked why she had these two varieties of tea with her every day, she replied that " I'm not sure which tea the Messiah would like."

Our wonderful day concluded with dinner at Caesarea. This is an area right on the coast that is an Roman ruin that the government has been excavating since the late 1960's. It has become a beautiful area with restaurants and an open air theater dated to the time of Herod.

Tomorrow we go to school!!!!

Love you all

Keith

Left over from yesterday

Hello Everyone,

I was just too wiped out last night to take the time to add any pictures. So here are a few from our trip to Jerusalem:





At Vad Yashem....a garden of trees to honor non-Jews who risked or gave their lives attempting to save Jewish people during the Holocaust.





The entrance to the Children's Memorial in honor of the 1.5 million children that were murdered in the Holocaust.

If any of my teacher colleagues are reading this, our guide at Vad Yashem emphasised repeatedly that their website has endless amounts of resources for those that teach about the Holocaust.

http://www.yadvashem.org.il/



Our delegation honoring Theodore Hertzel. A beautiful ritual in the Jewish culture is to place a stone on the gravestone of the person you are visiting. It is a sign that people have come to remember and honor and it can not wither away as can a plant or a flower.

The Western Wall in the old city in Jerusalem

Me standing outside the Western Wall area

A market area in Jerusalem

I hope you enjoyed the pics.....I will start a new blog entry for today.

Keith