"Mission to Israel" Philanthropic Travel Blog

8/8/2019 "Mission to Israel" Philanthropic Travel Blog

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Women's Alliance 2007 Mission to Israel

What does one experience on the spiritual journey of a lifetime?

It's been said that the world was created in six days and together, in six days, we will experience an

historic journey to our homeland. Take the adventure with us. Check out our site for daily updates and

photos. This transformative journey will touch the hearts, minds and souls of each and every one of us.

Hear impressions from pilgrimage participants and see first-hand how your gift supports the most

vulnerable members of our extended community and helps them rebuild and revitalize their homes and

economy in the North. Celebrate Shabbat at the Western Wall and experience Tel Avivs night life with the

women of the Federation.

Meet the 25 women on the journey

See more photos

Many of the women are on their first trip to Israel

Eve Cohen, Womens Alliance President

This is my 11th trip to Israel, and I have seen and done just about

everything that a visitor to Israel does. But what is new and different

and magical this time is the experience of bringing women who have

never been to Israel before; and watching them open their eyes and

hearts and souls to the miracle that is this state. I have seen them laugh

and seen them cry; I have seen them support and encourage each

other; and I have seen the seeds of service to the Jewish people take

root and grow before my eyes. Their Israel is my Israel a place where

our brothers and sisters nurture the future leaders of our children and

our childrens children and I know now after the week that we do

indeed have a brilliant future to look forward to.

Left: Group picture

Friday, March 16, 2007

Yad Vashem and memorial service

The journey through this museum began with pre-war Jewish life in

Europe and then continued on the downward spiral with photos and

video clips, artifacts, and survivor stories. The museum was a powerful

evocation of our feelings. It reminded us of our purpose as Jews to

replace those who were lost, and the equally important mission to

replace their progeny and their descendents, said Alyssa TaubmanRothman, daughter of Lola Goldstein Taubman, Holocaust survivor from

Svalova (Soyra), Czechoslovakia. The women then held a memorial

service in the outdoor monument commemorating communities

destroyed in the Holocaust.

Left: Group at Yad Vashem


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Women explore Machane Yehuda and a neighborhood

adventure

The participants explored the crowded market Machane Yehuda as the

city was preparing for Shabbat. The smell of freshly baked challah and

rugellach filled the air. Overflowing baskets of dried fruits, candies and

spices line the narrow marketplace. After lunch, the women embarked

on a competitive neighborhood adventure. The teams followed intricate

directions and answered questions. Susan Guthart, who was on the

winning team of five, says winning felt really good, We all jumped up

and down. My favorite part of the scavenger hunt was counting as many

Jewish stars as we could find all along the route.

Left: Baskets at Machane Yehuda

Thursday, March 15, 2007

History comes alive on spiritual journey

History came to life Thursday as the women of the Federation took a

walking tour of the Old City. Guide Muki Jankelowitz explained various

archeological sites and related them to current times and issues.

Walking through Jerusalem and seeing the history that surprises you

around every corner, were lucky to be able to walk through it, said

Marilyn Dobbs Higuera, Womens Alliance Campaign chair.

Left: Historical tour

Women pray at the KotelThe walking tour ended with a spiritual visit to the Kotel, the Western

Wall, where the women put prayers in the wall from the children at

Brandeis Hillel Day School. Time folded in on itself and I connected with

the memories and the people who had been there before, explained

Deborah Stadtner, who has never before been to Israel. It was a very

spiritual and moving experience and an even deeper spiritual experience

in the rain.

Left: Kotel in the Rain

Snow and hail in Jerusalem

Despite beautiful temperatures in the Bay Area, the 25 women woke up

to snow in Jerusalem. The group persevered through rain, sleet, hail and

snow to pray at the Wailing Wall. Following lunch overlooking the Old

City, the women explored the Israel Museum. The highlight for many

was seeing and learning about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the model of

the Old City. It was an amazing collection. The clarity of the writing was

remarkable, said Carol Weitz, currently on her third trip to Israel.

Left: Snow in Jerusalem

80-year old Orthodox feminist Amuta member educates

women

Israel Amuta member and Orthodox feminist professor Alice Shalvi

spoke to the participants about the importance of women in Israeli

government and society. If only women were more involved,

particularly in the negotiations (for peace), I think we would see a

different picture, said Shalvi. Currently, 14 percent of the Knesset

(Israeli government) is made up of women. Shalvi outlined various

womens political groups and encouraged the separation of religion and

state. It took me a long time to learn that sometimes evolution is better

than revolution.

Left: Alice Shlavi

Women party until early morning at Ehud Banai concert

Thursday night the women experienced a night out Jerusalem style at a

concert featuring Ehud Banai. The popular Israeli singer crooned in the

style of an Israeli Dave Matthews Band until 1:30 a.m. It was wonderful

to be in a room full of Jewish youth appreciating one of their folk heroessinging in Hebrew. The audience was electrified and singing along, said

Jamie Myers who is returning to Israel after 36 years.

Left: Ehud Banai in concert

Wednesday, March 14, 2007


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Children dance and drum with Federation women

On Thursday the women traveled to Ha-Megenim Elementary School in

Kiryat Shmona, funded by JCF. The children put on a dance performance

and drum circle in the bomb shelters where people took shelter during

the war. I want to thank you very much for your longstanding

partnership. Together with you this school is going to make a big

difference, said one of the teachers. The women and children also

planted a garden together and ended the work with a blessing.

Left: Ha-Megenim children drumming

Manhigut Esre teens tell about their wartime experiences

The women met with the Israeli teens in the Manhigut Esre Leadership

program, a parallel group to the Diller Teen Fellows. The teens told

about their experiences during the war and their volunteer work planting

trees in cooperation with the Federation. The two groups then watched a

documentary about a young local Israeli soldier killed during the war.

There was not a dry eye among the teens or the women.

Left: Manhigut teens and SF women at lunch

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Working toward a better Israel

JCF Israel Director Gila Noam spoke to the Mission group Tuesday

morning. Israel is in the midst of the worst social crisis the country has

ever known. One in every three Jews and every second Arab child aregrowing up in poverty. And secular Jews have lost touch with their

Jewish identity. Fortunately, Federation is bringing us that much closer

to realizing the dream behind the State of Israel through programs

promoting democracy, pluralism and economic opportunity for all

citizens. Federation is setting a great example for Israeli philanthropy.

Left: JCF Israel Director Gila Noam

JCF helps poor Bedouin families in the Negev

Participants heard Bedouin mothers gratitude for JCFs Echad program,

which is enabling them for the first time ever to meet as a group of

women, speak about their feelings, and learn from each other and a

social worker about parenting, child development and nutrition. One

mother thanked JCF: You have taught us how to listen to our children

and realize our role as their teachers. Echad trains preschool and

kindergarten teachers to detect and address the high rate of growth and

developmental deficiencies among Bedouin children.

Left: Group meets with Lakiya women from Echad Project

Monday, March 12, 2007

Israeli defense correspondent outlines threats to Israel

Day two began with an overview of the political situation and security

issues with Alon Ben David, senior defense correspondent for Israeli

Channel 10. Despite the war over the summer, the country feels much

safer today. That is our major achievement in the last six years, saidBen David. He also expressed that Iran is the greatest threat to Israels

security.

Left: Speaker Alon Ben David

Women walk into history in Neve Zedek

The participants traveled to Independence Hall, located in the home of

Meir Dizengoff, the first mayor of Tel Aviv. Here David Ben Gurion,

Israels first prime minister, announced the Declaration of Independence

on May 14, 1948. Many women were visibly moved while listening to the

recording of Hatikva sung for the first time as the national anthem.

Left: Women at Independence Hall

80-year-old feminist artist lunches with Lions

Following a walking tour of the Neve Zedek neighborhood, six Israeli

Lions of Judah gathered at the Rokach House museum. The women

enjoyed a lively luncheon with 80-year-old Lea Majaro-Mintz, one of


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Israels first feminist artists. Israeli Lion of Judah chair Ruth Salomy

spoke of her happiness and appreciation toward the women visiting.

Left: Lion lunch speaker Lea Majaro-Mintz

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Women arrive in Tel Aviv to begin a six-day journey

The Mission kicked off in Tel Aviv Sunday evening with a welcomereception at the David Intercontinental Hotel. Liki Abrams, JCF board

member, and Eve Cohen, Womens Alliance president, were there to

greet the 25 pilgrimage participants. For many of the women, this is

their first trip to Israel.

Left: Welcome reception with Liki and Eve

Deputy mayor of Tel Aviv personifies tradition and

transformation

The 25 women walked to Maganda Restaurant in Old Jaffa for a festive

opening dinner and to hear Yael Dayan, deputy mayor of Tel Aviv,

highlighted the somber mood among Israelis today. Dayan also praised

JCFs work in Israel and encouraged us not to give up hope. Youll seedreams coming true again. Much of this is thanks to you, said Dayan.

Left: Welcome dinner with Speaker Yael Dayan

Documents

"Mission to Israel" Philanthropic Travel Blog