By Rosalie Whitehill
Thursday, after another fine day at school, we visited a Samaritan  community of about 700 people in Holon where we gathered in the home of one of the community leaders to listen to him tell of the community and their beliefs.  The Samaritans do not consider themselves Jewish….rather they are Israelites ……..remnants of the tribes of Ephraim and Menasha, who never left the kingdom of Israel,……. they speak, read and write in Paleo-Hebrew, old Hebrew not in use by Israelis and he had his granddaughter come in and read for us.  The menorah, and not the Magen David (Jewish star) is their official symbol.  After the talk, we walked to the community center and synagogue.  We noted that mezuzahs were plaques over the doors of houses with prayers that the owners felt were appropriate.  At the synagogue, were shelves for shoes as they must be removed before going in to pray.  Fascinating stuff!!!
Dinner was at a favorite restaurant where the food is great and the wait staff are all very charming young people formerly considered “at risk”……a double reason to enjoy our meal!!
Rosalie 

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, toursa 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.

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