Written May 22, 2011   Shalom to my dearest family, my friends, and my neighbor. How are you ? All is well here, getting ready to return to the USA for the Summer. Last week, my sister, Sarah, came for a visit. We meet often, usually for a home made lunch. This time, we decided, we will eat out, and I suggested a small outdoor, take out, with seating. The Menu is limited, Pita bread stuffed with Fallafel balls, or Shu'arma, with all kind of veggies &  Mideastern  flavored pickles. I did the ordering, while Sarah saved the outdoor table. While ordering, the proprietor kept talking to me in English while I answered in Hebrew. When I asked him, "why are you speaking with me in English ?" He answered " I can hear, by your Hebrew that you do have a strong American Accent"..... Well, I knew, time to return. I wish to share with you two events I experienced while here. I took a tour of the Weizman Institute in Rehovot. (a town south of Tel-Aviv).Considered one of the most important Science, Medicine, Physics research & technology in the world. Named after the visionary & founder,later the 1st president of Israel, Chaim Weizman. A Dr. of Chemistry, he moved to Israel, and established in 1932 the Institute,which was called then, The Sieff Institute. ( In Hebrew it was called Machon Ziv). Weizman moved to the area with his wife Vera, a Pediatrician. They bought a parcel land on the highest hill of the area, adjoining the Institution, and built their home there, in the Bahu style. The home was be-quested to the state of Israel after his death in 1952 & Vera's in 1966. Chaim Weizman was instrumental in persuading Lord Balfour in 1917, to declare the need for a Jewish Home, to be established in then Palestine.( It is called the Balfour declaration). Albert Einstein was his friend, laying the corner stone to the future Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His vision of building a Jewish nation, based on knowledge, Education, and higher learning, materialized in that Institution. (Please, open Google). The 3rd President of Israel, Ephra'im Katzir, was a scientist at the Institute when elected. (Most scientist at the institute live on campus, in  beautiful, but very modest, homes). Chaim Weizman's nephew, Ozer Weizman, was the 7th president of the country. If I am not mistaken, at least, 3 Nobel price winners, are Weizman institute scientists. Cancer research, and new Pharmacology development are ahead and recognized in the world.  After the visit, I had a feeling of Royalty amongst us, regular, every days Israelis. The next story, on a ordinary day, takes place in Jerusalem, the main Bus station. I Just arrived, went through the check point, bags, pocket book, through metal detector, etc.   I was on the 2nd floor, ready to take the escalator to the 3rd, were the terminals are located, I realized both escalators are going down. Not, yet, aware of what is happening, I was  wondering, how am I going to get to the 3rd floor with the UP escalator going down ??  At the same time I saw, that MASSIVE amount of people  coming down both escalators, I heard the announcement, identified as security, to clear, immediately the 3rd floor, because of a suspicious object found in one of the terminals. The 2nd floor in the Jerusalem bus station, is known for the Take out / Eating courts, candy stores, bakeries, "Chachkes", jewelry, cell phone, religious articles, books, CDs, etc, vendors. While the clearing of the suspicious object took place, the Israeli Economy was flourishing in the station. I was surprised to notice, no pushing, no yelling, very crowded but amusingly orderly. Until....the call: "All Clear". Like magic, Both Escalators turn UP, and the pushing was with all it might..... Later I was told that at least 5 times a day, the station is in emergency status, because of a suspicious object. Most of the time due to people forgetting their packages. As a rule, in Israel, a package with out a person becomes Suspicious. Only in Israel. I miss you all, See you very soon. (Arriving May 31st), Love to you all. From your Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Esterika, Ludmilla, Esther.

Written May 3, 2011

 

Shalom & hello to my dear children & grandchildren, family & friends,and neighbor.

Hi, I am fine, busy as usual,and having a good time.

I found, that every time I visit, stay, live, in this wonderful country, I learn something new. The Israelis, never cease to amaze me.

Yesterday, in Israel, we commemorate the Holocaust day. (Yom Hasho'a). It has been celebrated on the 28th day, of the Hebrew month of Nisan. The day of the start of the failed uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. It is a somber day in Israel. Regular TV & Radio programs are dedicated to the Holocaust. I am not sure, when this day was established as a memorial to the 6 Million, I think the decision was made after Eichmann's  trail in 1961. As a child , a teen, & a young adult in Israel, I, as well as many others who lived in Israel at the time, were not aware of the atrocities & the murder of the Jews in Europe during 2nd world war. What is so amazing, the survivors, who arrived after the war, did not talk either.  The concept "Remember" started in the 70th, when the war generation started to pass on. I am sure you are all aware of the many Holocaust Museums around the world. The Israeli museum, appropriately, named "YAD VASHEM"(memorial & a name).  The Spielberg witness project, movies on the topics, books & documents being compiled, are all for the purpose of "REMEMBER".

Israel, now, is taking steps to salvage the last remnants of survivors stories. The statistics are, that about 13,000 survivors died since last year, and the number is growing as the years passes by.

We, here, believe that our collective memory is not better then other nations, but because we are insisting of remembering the events & not letting it being forgotten,we will be able to stand the wear & tear of time that is known to be a vehicle for erasing and forgetting. 

Yesterday, at 10:00 am, through out Israel, a 2 minute siren was heard. Entire nation stopped whatever they were doing, and stood in silence.  The siren caught me on Jabotinsky road, main traveling artery, in Ramat-Gan. Buses, cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, all stood. (drivers & passengers got out of their vehicle to stand). Shopkeepers stood at the entrance to their establishments.

Now, you would ask, what was I doing on Jabotinsky Rd ?  Well, I went to buy fish. Mr. Yossi Aragi has a large "pool" inside the store, looks more like a whirlpool with live fish swimming in. We looked inside, and he picked for me the 2.5kg (about 5.5lbs) fish with his net. I will spare you the end of this fish story... Any one for a good fish recipe ?

Wishing you all good days to come, I miss you all, please write.

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