May 08, 2008

Farewell

Women to Israel Update May 6-8, 2008 Dear Family and Friends of W2I, The night we spent at the kibbutz was relaxing, and for many, it was their favorite. The accommodations at the kibbutz were wonderful, and the grounds were gorgeous. There was even a zoo! We left the kibbutz very early in the morning, so we did not have time to fully enjoy it. However, being there gave us another picture of Israel. Many of us thought kibbutzim were old, with bare bone essentials. However, we saw with our own eyes that this is not the case. Many kibbutzim have beautiful guest houses, and they rely on tourism as a business. Being on Kibbutz Hagoshrim was an unexpected delight. We departed the kibbutz very early in the morning for a visit to Tzfat. What a unique city it is—narrow stone streets, very old synagogues, and you can feel the mysticism in the air. We visited the gallery of Avraham Lewintal, an artist and mystic, who happened to go to school with one of the women in our group. He gave us a very short lesson on Kabbalah, and in that short half hour, we were inspired to look at the deeper meaning of things, especially our names. What Avraham said about nothing being by chance was especially meaningful to each woman on W2I. Quietly we reflected about why we decided to participate on the trip, and more importantly, we thought about the new friends we made and how much richer our lives are for having done so. It was so relaxing to walk around Tzfat and shop in the galleries, especially the candle factory. Imagine candles in the shape of just about anything, including a chess board and playing pieces. The air on Tzfat felt unique as well, and as we inhaled it, our souls were nourished. On our ride to the hotel in Haifa, we enjoyed the beauty of the land and remarked how very different it is form Jerusalem and the other regions we visited. This is what is amazing about Israel—there is so much in such a small piece of the earth. We did not have much time in Haifa, but we were able to see the port, the Bahai Gardens, and the beautiful neighborhoods. It’s incredible to think that Haifa is so close to the border of Lebanon. The close proximity of Israel to her neighbors is what surprises people the most. As many women commented, you cannot understand this until you experience Israel for yourself. After checking into the hotel, we got ready for the Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) ceremony at the Haifa Naval Base. We all wore white shirts and black pants or skirts, as this is the dress for the day. We met with a beautiful 21 year old female officer of the navy and she explained to us what it’s like for the teens, who have to serve in the armed forces—beginning immediately after high school, three years for men and two years for women. Seeing these young people, especially the new recruits, we couldn’t help but think that they are the ages of many of our children. But, this is part of life living in Israel. We are in awe of these young adults and we have the greatest amount of respect, admiration, and gratitude for them and their families for the sacrifices they make to ensure the safety and security of Israel for Jews everywhere. Before going to the Naval Base, we enjoyed dinner in the Druze village of Osaffia. Our young, bubbly 18 year old guide is Druze herself, and she explained about the Druze way of life. We had a fabulous dinner in someone’s home, and we met the woman who cooked the meal. The food was so good, and the hospitality was amazing! What an experience! Then it was on to the Naval Base for the ceremony. There are no words to describe the mood of the ceremony and its meaning, except to say that these ceremonies are an integral part of the fabric of life in Israel. There was a lot of crying and mourning for losses incurred over the past six decades, and when the siren sounded, we realized that this Memorial Day is for an entire country to experience together. We all commented how different it is from the way we celebrate Memorial Day. Our group was given the honor of laying roses in memory of sailors who were killed serving their country, and we received a special plaque commemorating our participation. I was presented with the certificate when I met the commander of the base, following the ceremony. This is the inscription on the certificate: “Presented to the Robert I. Lappin Foundation Women to Israel with thanks for participating in the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Navy Training Base. Haifa. By sharing our sorrow, you become one with us. By honoring the fallen you honor the living. By showing us you care, you give us strength. With this strength, we will secure the Jewish Homeland.” We were honored and moved to be able to participate in this meaningful and emotional ceremony. The solidarity and patriotism of the Israelis are remarkable. On Wednesday morning, we enjoyed a short tour of Haifa as we made our way to Tel Aviv. We stopped at the Atlit prison camp, which was especially meaningful before our Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day) celebration. However, at 11 a.m., we joined the rest of the country to stop for a moment of silence in honor of the fallen soldiers. Imagine, cars stopped, no matter where they were on the road, and people got out of their cars to stand in silence as the siren sounded. This made a huge impression on us, as we joined in silence to pay our respects for the price so many families, and an entire country, had to pay. After a brief tour of Rabin Square, we met with Yael Dayan, daughter of Moshe Dayan, who spoke about her activities as a politician and activist. Later in the day we met the Bau sisters, who were hysterical! Their parents were Holocaust survivors, and their father, Joseph Bau was an accomplished illustrator, among other things. Their father taught them to see the humor in life, and they certainly got it right. Their little museum is both amazing and charming, and its contents are very impressive. During our short visit to Tel Aviv, we met three Israeli women, who gave us different perspectives about life in Israel and lots to think about. After lunch, we met Momo Lifshitz, president of Oranim, which is the tour provider for W2I, Youth to Israel and Teachers to Israel. He injected us with a huge dose of Jewish pride, and we took his message to heart. What Israel needs from us are love, support and friendship. As Jews, we are family no matter where we live, and our family has to take care of each other. It is a simple, heartfelt message that we understand and appreciate. We felt high on Jewish pride after our visit with Momo. After a 24 hour period of mourning, the country switches into celebration mode with the arrival of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. The lesson is that the Israelis mourn their losses, and then it’s time to move on and celebrate the gift of freedom. And what a celebration it was! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL!!!!!!!! We are thrilled to be here celebrating Israel’s 60th, and we literally danced in the streets of Herzeliya with tens of thousands of people. Unless you have done it, you cannot imagine what it’s like. And to be with all these Jewish people, in one place, it’s almost incomprehensible. I will leave it to the women to tell you the stories themselves. Suffice it to say, it was the perfect ending to a fantastic trip. The dancing and singing were expressions of our joy in being here at this special time of year and of how proud we are to be Jewish. Today, our last day, is a bittersweet one. We are sad to be leaving Israel, and I can honestly say, that for the first timers, they have fallen in love with the country. We are departing soon for our last tour, which includes Independence Hall, the place where Israel was declared a Jewish State. We will visit a museum, spend time in the shuk (market), and then enjoy our farewell dinner. Many of us are squeezing in last minute activities, such as a swim in the Mediterranean, a walk on the beach, or shell collecting. While we miss our family and friends, we know for sure we will miss Israel too. It’s been an unbelievable ten day adventure. We are returning much richer, having made new friends and discovering a wonderful new place called Israel. I have no doubt that many of the women will return here soon, and they would love nothing more than if you would join them. On a personal note, I want to thank you for holding down the forts so that these lovely ladies could enjoy themselves and fully immerse themselves in the Israel experience knowing that things back home are taken care of. We had a fantastic time together, and as a result, our community has closer and stronger bonds of friendship and love. We will see you very soon. On behalf of W2I, with lots of love from Israel

Debbie Coltin

May 06, 2008

A remarkable Day

Women to Israel Update May 5, 2008 Good evening, family and friends of W2I. It is 10:15 p.m. and we just settled in to our rooms for the night at Kibbutz Hagoshrim in the north. We had the most wonderful dinner, lakeside by the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), at sunset, following a fun-filled day of activities. As I previously wrote, the food on this trip is fantastic, and we look forward to each and every meal. Tonight’s meal, however, was extra-special as we were treated like queens. Before I tell you what we ate for dinner, let me tell you how we worked up our appetites. As soon as the music started on the boat, we jumped out of our seats and danced for an hour during our beautiful cruise on Lake Kinneret this afternoon. There was so much ruach (spirit) in the air, and our spirits were soaring to the heavens! The picturesque mountains on one side and the city of Tiberias on the other provided the perfect backdrop for an hour of pure delight. Our spirits were flying high, and as one of the women said, “There are no words to describe the beauty of this land and the special experience we are sharing.” It’s funny—some of the women walk around pinching each other to make sure they are not dreaming. Back to dinner. It was a perfect evening, as the sun gently set and the warm winds blew across the deck overlooking the lake. The menu was delicious, and wait until you see the pictures of the platters of food. Our meal began with salad, breads with toppings, and of course, hummus. The next course was two kinds of fish—grilled salmon and St. Peter’s fish. This course was followed by the main course of chicken, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, followed by a course of seared duck, which was prepared tableside. All for us! Scrumptious crepes, filled with vanilla ice cream, warm apple slices and cinnamon, all prepared tableside, was the perfect ending to this delicious dinner. Every day the ladies say that this is the best day, but then the next day arrives, and something tops it. Well today, our fantastic day began with camel rides in the desert. This was one of the most fun things most of us have ever done! Everyone rode a camel and we enjoyed home hospitality in “Abraham’s tent”. We met Abraham, our forefather, and one of his servants, and he explained what life was like during his time. Opening up his tent to us as he did, and inviting us in for hospitality, is a value that is central to Judaism—hachnassat orchim, welcoming guests. The snacks Abraham served us were just perfect before our camel ride adventure. You will love the pictures! They say it all. We drove north to the Golan and learned a lot about the history of Israel, including the many wars the country has fought. We all agree that until you experience Israel firsthand, you cannot possibly understand the meaning of this land. We learned that since 1948, more than 20,000 men and women have been killed defending Israel, and we better understand what the fight means. Rafi, our tour guide, explained that there is nothing more that Israelis desire than peace. They would love to put their resources and energy into making Israel shine more brightly in the world. But, unless the Muslim world recognizes Israel’s right to exist, peace will not be achieved. The bus ride in the Golan was sababa (amazing and awesome). Our very capable bus driver, Avi, negotiated hairpin turns and delivered us safely to the top of a mountain for the most spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley and Jordan. What was amazing is that we were standing in what used to be Syria. Imagine standing high on a mountain with Jordan, Israel and Syria within reach. Imagine opening a bible and reading a story about a place in which we were actually standing. This is the kind of experience that makes the trip so incredible. If you asked me what the highlight of today was, I have to say that is was experiencing the LAND of Israel. The land is truly magnificent and so varied from region to region. It’s amazing to see how the Israelis make the desert bloom, and we are in awe of the ingenuity and talent it takes to do this. We are feeling all kinds of emotions as reality sets in that our dream vacation will soon be over. The next few days in Israel will be intense, beginning with the somber mood of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) immediately followed by the festivities of Yom HaAtzmaut. We feel blessed to be here to celebrate Israel’s 60th, and even more so, we feel proud to be part of such a wonderful moment in Jewish history. When the woman in your life returns from W2I, she will have many, many stories and pictures to share about what has truly been an adventure of a lifetime. I hope you will embrace her enthusiasm and let her tell you about the love she has for the Land and the people. The trip is leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of each and every woman in the group. It’s been such an honor and pleasure for me to introduce women to Israel for the first time and re-acquaint others who have been here before. On behalf of W2I, and with love form Israel

Debbie Coltin

May 04, 2008

The Beginning of a New Week

Women to Israel Update May 4, 2008 Dear Family and Friends of W2I, What a day, what a day. We met several amazing Jewish women today each with a story that inspired us. Our emotions ran the gamut from sadness to joy, with lots of Jewish pride throughout. We began the day with an emotional visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust Memorial and Museum, beginning with a visit to the Children’s Memorial, dedicated to the 1,500,000 children who were killed in the Holocaust. There are no words to describe the exhibit, other than extremely powerful and emotional. We met Myriam Licht, a Holocaust survivor, who shared her experiences with us. Myriam is a beautiful woman, inside and out, and her message is one that will stay with us—had Israel existed there would not have been a Holocaust. It’s important to ensure that Israel will always exist. Our tour continued in the main museum for about two hours. We learned, we cried, we questioned and we can only mourn what was lost and imagine what might have been. When we emerged form the museum, we were greeted with the most spectacular view of Jerusalem, a reminder that the Jewish people truly did survive. We left feeling sad and low, but our visit to Mt. Herzl helped us to move on. Paying respects at the graves of Golda Meir, Theodore Herzl, Yitzhak Rabin, and other great leaders, builders and visionaries of Israel, in addition to soldiers who gave their lives in service to their country, was extremely meaningful. With Yom Ha'Zicharon (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Ha-Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) quickly approaching, there were lots of preparations taking place on Mt. Herzl and the surrounding areas. To me, the mountain represents the strength that built the country, and the strength that it takes to sustain it. Israel is busy preparing for its 60th anniversary as a Jewish state, and Israeli flags we see everywhere are a testament to the glory of Israel and her people. The Holocaust Museum and Mt. Herzl are different from the sites we visited the past few days, as we moved from ancient history to modern history. This is the part of the magic, mystic and beauty of the country of Israel, as the past and present are interwoven. Following our visit to Mt. Herzl, we spent a couple of hours at Hadassah Hospital. We met Dr. Arbel Aloni, an OB-GYN physician and a whole lot more. For a woman of 42 years, she is incredibly gifted and talented. She talked to us about her life as a physician and the priceless services of Hadassah Hospital. We learned about Israel’s excellent health care system, and how the hospital serves all people, regardless of religion. Dr. Aloni was an inspiration to us as exhibited by her drive and desire to care of sick people, especially the vulnerable and less fortunate. She appears to be an incredibly patient and caring person, and she took, time to answer our questions. An interesting fact is that her mother is the first woman to serve on Israel’s Supreme Court. It was an honor and privilege to meet Dr. Aloni. Our final stop of the day was an interesting and informative visit to the Caprice Diamond Center in Jerusalem. Israel is a major exporter of diamonds, which are obtained from South Africa. The jewelry we saw was beautiful, and several women are bringing some of this beauty home! The Center also houses artists and designers, and we admired (and purchased) their work. We had the opportunity to meet with one of the jewelry designers, and this was a nice bonus. The day was full, but not quite finished. Before enjoying dinner at the hotel, we had a presentation by the Gift of Life organization, which is an international bone marrow registry. With such a small Jewish population world-wide, it is important for as many Jews as possible to register. The Holocaust wiped out a huge percentage of the Jewish population, adding to the intense challenge of finding matching donors from our small pool of family members. It made sense to us that as a family, Jews have an obligation to take care of each other, and registering seemed like the right thing to do. We relaxed until 9 p.m. and we were off again, this time for a fascinating walk back in time in the tunnels under the Western Walls. “Just unbelievable” is how most of us described the experience. You would think that after such full days of site seeing and learning, of crying and laughing, of experiencing things many of thought we never imagined we would, we would be exhausted. But we’re not; we’re just excited for what lies ahead. Tomorrow we head north for more adventure. This trip has far exceeded expectations for many of us. We’re all feeling fabulous and having the time of our lives! We have made new friends and even discovered new things about ourselves. We are relaxed and having fun in the sun in this beautiful land of Israel. On behalf of W2I, with love from Israel,

Debbie Coltin

May 04, 2008

Shabbat in Jerusalem

Women to Israel 2008 Update May 3, 2008 We had a relaxing morning, since it is Shabbat. Some of us went to Shabbat services at a Sephardic synagogue and others relaxed this morning. It was special waking up in Jerusalem on Shabbat. Then we went to visit the Shrine of the Book. You would not believe what we saw—the Dead Sea Scrolls and the jug in which they were discovered. What an unbelievable discovery! Imagine seeing scrolls that are thousands of years old. We spent the afternoon walking the Old City promenade. We are learning so much Jewish history, much too much to recount here. Faye said it all when she said, “I thought that this trip would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What I learned is that this is just the first visit and I will definitely be back.” The mood in Israel on Shabbat is a relaxing one, and that is exactly how we spent the afternoon. After all, we had to re-charge our batteries for a night on the town. Following a warm and wonderful Havdallah service, we spent the evening on Ben Yehudah Street eating and shopping and totally enjoying the experience. On behalf of W2I and with love from Israel

Debbie Coltin

May 03, 2008

Shabbat Shalom

Women to Israel Update May 2, 2008 These ladies have more energy than the Energizer Bunny!! We spent Thursday afternoon exploring the Old City, entering it through the Zion Gate. Immediately we were transported back in time thousands of years. This is the magnificence of Israel. Walking in the footsteps of our ancestors is an experience we will remember forever. The stones, the stories, the history, the people. Learning what Judaism was like so long ago gives us a better appreciation of what being Jewish means today—that we are links in a long chain of Jewish tradition. We marveled at the beauty of these ancient sites. It is incredible that we are able to walk in places that our ancestors walked. Many conversations took place throughout our group imagining what it was like to live “in those days”. We are in awe of what we see. Thursday evening we had dinner with ten Israeli women who are part of the Ladies Circle Israel, which is a non-political, non-sectarian international service organization of young women who make a difference to those less fortunate by supporting community projects locally and internationally. These women are simply wonderful! The women we met are beautiful, inside and out, and all have families and careers, just like us. They shared their experiences of what it’s like being Israeli women, and we quickly discovered that we share the same hopes, dreams and concerns. This mifgash (encounter) shattered many stereotypes some had of the “typical” Israeli woman. As one woman in our group said, “You would never know they were Israeli by looking at them. They look just like us.” One of the most touching stories was that of Yehudit’s. During the Lebanon War two years ago, she drove her son to his unit every weekend after his visit home, even though there was a bus that all of the other soldiers were taking back to their unit up north. He was totally embarrassed, but went along with this because it put his mother’s mind at ease, for just a bit. He made his mother drop him off a distance from his unit so that his comrades wouldn’t laugh at him. As mothers, we understood why she did this. As she told her son, “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for me.” When asked how she felt about her children having to serve in the Israeli army, Yehudit said that it is something they do not question. They serve proudly because they are Israelis. This is the price of having a Jewish state. Yehudit said that she would not want it any other way. We left that evening so blessed having had met some of our Israeli sisters. Today was an unbelievable day! Some women asked me what words I plan to use to describe what we did today because it was truly indescribable. I call it the “roller coaster” ride day—leaving the hills of Jerusalem, going down to the desert, ascending Masada, going down again to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea, and then back up to Jerusalem. I will try to describe to you what the day was like. Our day started with a visit to the Ahava products factory. Let’s just say that our skin is so beautiful you will not recognize us when you greet us at the airport! The next stop was Masada, where we boarded a cable car to what seemed like the top of the world. The view of the Dead Sea and the desert were breathless. The big question of the morning was “How did they do this?” To build a fortress atop a mountain takes more than ingenuity and determination. The story of Masada is an amazing one and walking on Masada is an inspiring experience. At one point we gathered at the corner of Masada, and in the loudest voices you can imagine, we yelled into the valley “sababa” (Hebrew word for “awesome”). Hearing the word echo back to us atop the mountain was incredible! Our next stop was pure indulgence (but well deserved, I must say). We enjoyed a delicious lunch buffet and then off we went to float in the Dead Sea! What an experience! What you see in the pictures is happy women having a fantastic time totally relaxing. What you don’t hear are the belly laughs as each one of us floated for the first time. Whether floating in the Dead Sea, taking a dip in a sulfur pool, or cooling off in the pool, we totally enjoyed ourselves as we enjoyed some “me” time. It was both an amazing and relaxing experience to be at the lowest point on earth. What is also amazing is that the country of Jordan is right there. The geography of the region is coming alive for us and we better understand what it means to the world to have Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. Everything thus far has been special, but we knew that Shabbat in Israel, especially in Jerusalem, would be extra special. Our Kabbalat Shabbat experience was very spiritual and warm in so many ways. We felt like Shabbat queens as we transformed ourselves from the dress of the day (hiking clothes and bathing suits) to our special Shabbat outfits. I must say we looked beautiful. Then we gathered to welcome in Shabbat with the singing of songs and the traditional blessings. To hear such lovely melodies in women’s voices was something we will always remember. For many, it brought tears to their eyes. After dinner we visited the Kotel (Wall) again and danced and sang and really experienced what it means to spend Shabbat in Jerusalem. So many Jews, all kinds of particular dress, and we are all related. This is a powerful experience. Being at the Wall on Shabbat was the perfect end to a fantastic day. We spent a couple of hours talking with each other in the hotel lobby and sharing what being in Israel with such a special group of women means to us. This Shabbat we will remember forever. On behalf of W2I and with love from Israel,

Debbie Coltin

Thursday, May 1

W2I Update

Dear Family and Friends of Women to Israel (W2I), As most of you know, we are now WII—Women in Israel! We are having a fantastic time on our adventure. We have been in Israel less than 24 hours, and it is amazing how much we have done and seen already. Our flight to Israel was fine, except for a delay in London. But, we made the best of it. The flights themselves were uneventful, except for the fact that every minute along the way we were making new friends and getting to know each other better. W2I is a very special group of lovely ladies, and we are all bonding so beautifully. Most of us did not know each other before the trip began, but at the risk of sounding a bit “schmaltzy”, we are quickly becoming sisters. It is so nice to share stories, help each other, and reach out to make new friends. As Janet said, “W2I is for us, by us and with us.” It is truly a special experience in many, many ways. Our arrival in Israel was absolutely joyous! Exhaustion quickly turned to excitement as the plan landed in Eretz Yisrael. It was a very emotional experience for each of us. Awe, anticipation, excitement, and gratitude were some of the feelings we experienced. Each woman came to W2I with her own dreams and wishes. Some to fulfill a desire to go to Israel, some to return, some to experience what their children had done in Youth to Israel (Y2I), and others to have the Israel experience before their children go on Y2I. Whatever the reason, the women are investing 100% of themselves into W2I and making it fantastic for themselves, and for each other as well. Upon arrival we were greeted with “Welcome Home”, by Amnon Weigler, Vice President of Oranim, and you should have seen the smiling faces!   The W2I dream was about to begin! We gathered our luggage, took care of business (cell phones and money changing) and boarded the bus, which will be our traveling home for the next 10 days. Rafi, our trusted and loving tour guide, led us in a lively round of Haveinu Shalom Alaychem, and off we went for the hills of Jerusalem. In addition to Rafi, we have Avi, our bus driver, and Elad, our security guard taking good care of us. We are very well cared for and pampered, and we are loving it! As you can imagine is the case with a group of women, almost everything we do is emotional, even the bus ride up to Jerusalem. With the beautiful song Yerushalyim shel Zahav, Jerusalem of Gold, playing, on the CD player, the tears were flowing as the reality set in that we were really in Israel. It was dusk when we arrived, and the sun setting in Jerusalem, casting a halo of gold, was magnificent. Our history lessons began on the bus. What I found fascinating is that many of the women really did not understand how small Israel is. We drive along a road in Israel, and Ramallah, the place we hear about so often in the news, was immediately to our left. We saw the “fence”, and several women commented that now they see for themselves why it is necessary. A whole new light is being shed on Israel and her right to exist in peace. You really cannot understand these things until you come to Israel and see for yourself. Rafi also talked to us about the importance of Israel to the region and to the world. He highlighted some of the remarkable accomplishments of this tiny country, and we couldn’t help but swell with pride knowing that each of us is part of our Jewish family. Rafi explained that what Israel needs most from us is our love and support, and he made us feel like going on W2I is one of the most important things we can do as American Jews. While America, our home, is a blessing to us, we have Israel, our National Home, too. Each of us is so looking forward to serving as ambassadors for Israel when return home. Our first stop was at the Kotel (the Wall) for an emotional Sheh-heh-cheh-yanu. Many were speechless, and again in tears, being at the Wall. We had a chance to touch the Wall and some even offered their personal prayers there. It was a perfect start to a remarkable adventure. Food is part of the Israel experience, and the ladies enjoyed their first dinner buffet. We sampled everything, and we all agree that the fruits and vegetables are just divine! This is an adventurous group of women, and they are enjoying eating new and different foods. Following a short lecture last evening about the geography of Israel and highlights of sites we will visit, we headed straight for bed for some much needed and welcomed sleep. We awoke this morning refreshed and ready to go. And off we went to the Mt. of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem! The contrast of ancient alongside new, in a place that is thousands of years old, yet only 60 years young, adds to the excitement and awe of our adventure. The ancient sites are unbelievable, and as we see them up close, walk on them with our own feet, and touch them, we acknowledge the privilege of being in this place and blessing of this Land. Today is Yom Ha'Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day and we commemorated it in a very memorable way. We visited The Scrolls of Fire, a monument to the Holocaust and participated in a memorial service, which began with the blasting of the siren and two minutes of silence, which could be heard all over the country. This somber moment framed the rest of our week. We are learning that a great price was paid for the creation of the State of Israel. Today’s siren will be followed by another one next Wednesday night, and repeated again on Thursday morning, as Yom Ha'Zicharon, Israel’s Memorial Day, is commemorated. We feel honored to represent our community in Israel at this most special and important time of year. Well, we did it!! We walked in Hezekiah’s tunnel and we emerged elated and empowered. We donned our water shoes, rolled up our pants, turned on our flashlights, and climbed down, down, down deep underground for an incredible experience of walking in water tunnels that are thousands of years old. For many they said it was the highlight of their tip. Little do they know that there are many more highlights awaiting them as they ascend Masada, float on the Dead Sea, celebrate Shabbat at the Wall ….. We enjoyed a typical Israeli lunch in an old section of Jerusalem. We feasted on falafel, shawarma, pizza, and other goodies as we enjoyed the locals and each other. Then it’s off to the Old City for more site seeing and history. Tonight we are having dinner with a group of Israeli women who are part of the Women’s Circle, an international group of women who make life better for others. I assure you that your mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and friends are having an amazing time. They are doing things they never thought they would do and making new friends along the way. I cannot wait to send you pictures of them on the camels in a few days! Everyone is happy, healthy and doing great! Stay tuned for more updates. On behalf of W2I, with love from Israel,

Debbie Coltin

April 30, 2008 - 5 PM Israel / 10 AM Boston

Shalom from Israel

The lovely group of women arrived at Ben Gurion Airport safely. I was there to welcome each one with a big “Welcome Home”. Everyone was excited to be in Israel and eager to begin their program. They are now ascending to Jerusalem to say Shehehianu – the blessing said at joyous occasions. Please visit the site from time to time as we post messages and pictures from the group – this way you can join in “virtually” until you come to Israel too. Shalom Amnon Weigler, Vice President Oranim Educational Initiatives

Rafi Shushi, your Tour Educator

Rafi Shushi was born and raised in Haifa, Israel. He served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in 1968 in the armored forces unit. After serving there for 3 years, he joined a National League playing professional soccer for Maccabi Haifa from 1971 to 1975. His educational background is well versed, as he has studied and holds degrees in Jewish History and Israeli Studies. As well, he received a teaching certificate, and has studied with the Ministry of Tourism in Israel, earning an official tour guide license for leading groups in Israel, United States, and Europe. For the past 10 years, Rafi has been working as a tour guide and educator for families, school trips and groups of all ages within Israel, Europe and United States.