Shalom from Israel. Land of a dozen kinds of dates

Written January 11, 2011

 

Hello to all my dearest children, grandchildren, family, neighbor, friends.

Yes, I miss you all, I am coming back within two (2) weeks.  My time,here, in Israel went fast. I Had a wonderful time full of "cultural" events, many trips & tours in the country & out, visiting family & friends, cooking, knitting, reading and just doing NOTHING.  

Last evening I went to to the Mann Auditorium - the Heichal-Hatarbut (culture center) in Tel-Aviv to hear the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra "playing" the Opera:  The Barber Of Seville.  What a concert / opera was that.  The actors/ singers all wore black, mingled with the orchestra players, & aside from singing, they really acted.  Acts like the the housekeeper, Berta, who sang her aria holding a feather duster, ended up her act, going between the orchestra musicians dusting their instruments. Or Figaro himself, went down to the conductor (Roberto Abbado) to hand him a paper note to safe keep for Rosina.  As the actors sang, on a large screen above the stage, the translation in the MODERN every day Hebrew was printed.  I called it A Opera with a twist. Three (3) hrs of fun & enjoyment.   And  p.s. 3000 + seats full to capacity.

During the time I stayed in Israel, I was in Eilat, the most southern city, on the tip of the red sea, and to the Galilee mountains in the north. I went down to the Jordan Valley, visiting  Tiberius and the sea of Galilee,having Brunch in a Glatt Kosher Eatery called Oogata, in Kibbutz Kineret ,a non observant Kibbutz.  One of the main industry of Kibbutz Kineret is dates. The entire area is covered with Palm trees. I think they are so powerful in their beauty, just to see them one must like dates. I shopped in the factory store -a beautiful establishment. I never knew we have that much kind of dates. ( Gastronomically speaking, one can not taste more then 4 or 5 at a time).  Aside from dates, there was Silan (Honey made from dates), date spread, date wine, date liquor, date candies, date cakes, dates , dates, dates.

My last memorable part in Israel is my neighbor Bertha. Although, may be only 5 or 6 years my senior, she acts like a mother to me. When one morning I did not knacked on her door to greet her good morning, she called her daughter Nechama to check on me. When I told Bertha, that I am a "big girl"familiar with the ways of this world and no need to check after me, she answered  " I am responsible  for you" . I was thinking of her answer and I do appreciate the sentiment, for there is much to say about the Israelis. With all the political bickering, the religious differences,  we are responsible to each other.

It is late. I will be in Jerusalem tomorrow, visiting (and shopping) in the famous Machane Yehuda Market.

Again, I miss you all. see you soon. To you, living in NYC, I wish a "easy snow storm".

Love,  Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika,  Ludmilla, me Esther.