Month: March 2021

Cof David 2020

BEN GURION UNIVERSITY STUDENT VOLUNTEERS PANEL​

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020

we visited Ben Gurion’s home and Research Center and today Ben-Gurion University.  What an impressive campus.  It is truly fulfilling David Ben Gurion’s vision in developing the Negev, which is 60% of the land of Israel.  It  is the fastest growing research university in Israel, We started the day with a short tour of the campus and learned that it has  around 20,000 students and 4,000 faculty members in the Faculties of Engineering Sciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; the Pinchas Sapir Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management; the Joyce and Irving Goldman School of Medicine; the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies; and the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies.

The highlight of the tour was the panel discussion by a group of articulate and leaders in social action and community engagement.  It is the mission of the University that the

students not only learn, but get involved with the community as part of their education.  Each student described their special community project from teaching English, working with the disadvantaged and even with neighbors in a theater group. 

After lunch we visited the (USA) JNF and KKL River Project. It is certainly is changing the fact of Beersheva and Ben Gurion would be proud of the vision of those  developing this project for the residents of the Negev.

The desert is definitely blooming and your vision a reality!

CITY OF DAVID​

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

Ah…Jerusalem on a sunny day!  So lovely.  On the bus, after breakfast to the Mount of Olives for a view on the Temple Mount and Jerusalem. It was packed with people, but Neil managed to find us a spot – what a view!

Neil pointed out the City of David, which was our next stop.  

The City of David is  an archaeological park, the area is home to ongoing excavations and artifacts that bring light to Bible stories of the First Temple Period and the water sources of Jerusalem.  Take the tour with us as we go underground following the steps of our ancestors.  Of course, back then, it was not underground as they walked from the City of David to the Southern Wall,  to the Temple Entrance and the Kotel.  

Single file, step by step, down steps,over rocks, through some puddles and sometimes, we had to turn our bodies sideways to fit through the narrow paths we made through the ancient road.  The rest of day was spent in the Jewish Quarter at the Cardo, Wide Wall and of course, time of lunch and shopping!  Great Day!

Botanical

SPRING IN ISRAEL – BOTANICAL GARDENS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Spring has arrived!  Although it is still February we have seen the almond trees blooming and spring flowers as we drive through the country.  Today we visited the Botanical Gardens of Jerusalem. Our first stop was the Japanese Cherry Tree!  Magnificent color! 

By foot and train, out guide explained the various plants and gardens.  Enjoy the colors and hope it brings spring in your area!

HEBREW MUSIC MUSEUM AND MECHANE YEHUDA

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Ah- rain!  Yes is was predicted and as any Israeli says – we need and pray for every drop.  And, so CAARI  endured these precious droplets! 

Our first stop was the newly opened, in the past 3 years , of the Hebrew Music Museum – a real gem and CAARI takes us to ‘hidden gems”! 

The museum displays musical instruments from across the world, ancient and modern,  and allowed us  to enjoy hearing their sounds and learning about the instruments history.

Our guide was delightful and so knowledgeable.