Sunday, May 22, 2011

 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.       
     

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