Israel Blog 1

May 2, 11:45 pm, Tel Aviv, Israel

Dear Friends,

Well, we made it to Israel!  A perfect on-time flights from Miami to Newark (nice new airport) to Tel Aviv where we arrived this morning at 9:30a  (that’s 2:30am Miami time!).  not to miss anything or waste even a minute, we drove from the airport to meet some of the rest of our group for a great start!

We walked through one of the earliest neighborhoods of Tel Aviv – Nevei Tzedek – and visited Independence Hall where on May 14, 1948, David ben Gurion read the Declaration of Independence for the new State of Israel.  We sat in the seats, were in that very hall where what it meant to be a Jew was forever changed!

We saw a movie and heard from an anima ted speaker about founding Tel Aviv 101 years ago last month, all the while, trying to keep our drooping eyes open from exhaustion.  (David Marks was able to catch up by sleeping for 14 straight hours!!!   At least he was rested.)

We then took a leisurely walk through the neighborhood and stopped in a falafel shop for a choice of 3  different “flavors” of this Mediterranean delight.   Regular, herb, and hot (of course my choice!).  it was surely one of the best, tastiest falafel’s I’ve had with PLENTY of falafel in it, the freshest pita, pickles (yes) and the rest.

Miri, our guide, is terrific, and she led us today and she and Ari (our tour provider) joined us for a buffet dinner.  Among the plenteous piles of food – chicken, duck, and veggie choices – (I don’t know how they did it, but had – probably to welcome us – flan on the dessert table.  I was a little surprised, but felt like home.

I took a stroll with our son David, saw Tebow (not the one from the NFL draft) who remembered me, and enjoyed the beautiful night, cool breezes and lively busy streets at night.

May have to take a pill to sleep on the right schedule so tomorrow doesn’t doze away!  To Old Jaffa (remember Jonah and the Big Fish! That’s where Jonah bought his cruise ticket.  To Museum of the Diaspora, Palmach Museum – some shopping and more eating.

WISH YOU WERE HERE!  OK, maybe next time!  (Seriously.)

Night Night,

Rabbi Mark