Thursday – Community Service, Tour and Speaker

Volunteers at the Botanical Gardens – Esther, Laurel & Joel

Thursday, January 22
Greetings friends! Another full CAARI day and the end of the week! Friday and Saturday are the weekend here! The weather continues to be lovely – sunny iwth temperatures in the 70’s – cooler in early morning and evening!
We are really getting the ‘knack’ of the schedule and enjoying our ‘jobs’. Each is different but all rewarding – we feel like we are making some contribution. And…no matter where we go and people ask us what we are doing here, they say – ‘Wow’ and thank us! What could be better than that?

Rosalie’s Report – On Thursday, I went back to my original school (within walking distance) and the day was more productive. We helped the English teacher complete her lesson by working with small groups of kids….I especially loved being with the students I had worked with 2 days before…..and getting their hugs as they showed how pleased they were to work with me again.

After lunch we toured the Botanical Gardens, ….not like places with similar name….as this one is associated with Tel Aviv University and is devoted to research…..the director took us through the many diverse environments in Israel, as well as in the world……They even have a tropical rain forest environment in a huge greenhouse. I feel we are seeing so much of Israel that most people from other countries ( and even many Israelis) never get to see. We have 3 people working in the Gardens.

Professor Uri Shalit

Professor Uri Shalit
Enjoy pictures – great day to tour Botanical Gardens!

In the evening, our speaker, Dr. Uri Shavit, a professor of Islamic Studies at Tel Aviv U. spoke with us about the Muslim Brotherhood and how unpredictable the situation is when dealing with small groups within the brotherhood. His talk was a no-nonsense approach to terrorism, and he was full of factual material which he presented very well. He stayed until every question was answered…..and so far, the speakers have surpassed expectations.

Wishing all a Shabbat Shalom,

CAARI 2015

famous black iris – just beginning to bloom for spring

The Canadian American Active Retirees in Israel, CAARI, offers active seniors a unique opportunity to experience Israel. The program is designed to explore the biblical landscapes, follow the footsteps of the early pioneers, and envision the future of our Homeland. The CAARI Program includes community service, tours, a speakers forum and the camaraderie of the CAARI Family. The Program is designed for to feel, touch, hear and see Israel from the mountains to the desert, from sea to sea, and from ancient to modern.

Links: Jewish National Fund USA : https://www.jnf.org/