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.
|
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment