Touring Atlit – Immigrants Detention Camp

Shalom Friends and Family,
Today is Tuesday, January 21 and yes it is another day of rain.  Our leaders quickly organized  Plan B, as we were supposed to go to work in the forest.  We made it to our community service  places. During heavy rain, taxis are in high demand and we seem to be low priority, but all got resolved.  The children are always so happy to see us.  Those working in the Botanical Gardens are anxious to get outside to do some weeding, but today they are inside working on sorting seeds for an international project.  The dogs would love a long walk , but today it was only short walks.


After lunch at the hotel, we drove north to a national heritage site, Atlit.  You might be familiar with the book written by Leon Uris, ‘ Exodus’ or perhaps saw the movie with Paul Newman.

This internment camp, from the late 1930’s,  served as detention center for illegal immigrants who were apprehended during their attempts to immigrant to Israel by land and sea.  Our guide took us through the restored center, where several of the buildings are preserved. 

There is also a ship and a plane on the site, similar to the ones used by the immigrants.  This is now an educational center, telling the story of  immigrants voyage fleeing Europe. Many of us had never been here before and we found the site to be informative and interesting.  Now, we understand, the CAARI takes us to well-know sites as well, as ‘hidden gems’! 

Tonight we had dinner at a restaurant in Caesarea, nice to have non- hotel food!

immigrants also arrived from Iraq and Italy by plane 
Social media from the 1939 – immigrants would leave messages on the walls, letting others, know they were alive

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.

Contact Us at: [email protected]
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CAARI-Volunteers

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