The Anne & Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto

האקדמיה העברית ע"ש טננבאום

 

Through this page we will update you regularly with news of the trip, pix, and links to places that the trip visits. Please pass the link on to your family and friends.

CHECKLIST -- Early morning -- check if there is another SNOW DAY. No? Tough....

When you get home from school: throw out at least half of what you have packed. Check your luggage for weight. Make sure you have all that is necessary. Say goodbye to your cell phone.

REPORT TO PEARSON T3, EL AL AREA AT 6:00PM. Say goodbye to parents. You will have a great time. They will worry. Be sympathetic .......

11:15AM -- flight has arrived safely -- all is well.  More details to follow towards evening.

 

12:06:  Spoke directly to the bus. Flight was absolutely fine.  The plane was half-empty, which meant that the kids could stretch out and sleep. Landing was easy; cleared immigration quickly.  When I spoke to them they were heading north on Route 6 (the new N-S toll road, same technology as our own ETR), and heading for a "scrumptious supper".

Spoke to the trip at 00:15AM Toronto time, 07:10AM Israel time. They had a 'great' meal at the restaurant en route to Kibutz Lavi (See Map 3 on the interactive map). They had a social 'ice-breaker' exercise, and then turned in for a good night's sleep. All "settled, well and happy". As I spoke to them, they were just getting up for services and breakfast, and preparing for a day on the Golan .... Further update later today.

Midday Toronto - 7:000PM Israel: The trip had a great time today in the area of the Golan and the Kinneret. They had a guided tour of the Golan Heights, and drove along the Jordanian border. understanding the strategic importance of the Golan. They stopped at the seminar centre in the Golan and saw the film "Oz 77" about the Yom Kippur War. At the town of Katzrin, they were given money to have lunch at their choice of local pizza /falafel shops. Somewhere along the way they visited the 'Mei Eden' ("Waters of Eden") spring water bottling plant. Weather was not good. But at the end of the day they had a fabulous time in the natural hot springs at Hammat Gader (bottom S.E. corner of Lake Kinneret). When I spoke to them they were just getting back to the hotel for evening meal and programme. Three birthdays have been celebrated so far... Tomorrow they have a great day -- tour of Tzfat (=Safed=Sfat), and then they go south to Jerusalem for Shabbat.....

Please note that in addition to the links posted below, you can 'explore' the interactive map site (link at top of page) which will also give you access to all sorts of historical info, photos etc of the places the trip is visiting. After Shabbat we will also be giving parents (and bubbies, zaidies etc) the ability to post your comments on a 'Parent Blog'!

Next update Friday before Shabbat.

 

Scroll down to see the modern Hot Springs...

SUNDAY -- for some reason this site is down. We're trying to fix it, but the problem is on a remote server.

 

First pix! From airport, plane and hotel. No pix of Israel itself, but lots of pix of kids ! To view -- click on this link, then click each date at the top of the opening screen. To view the MOVIE --- you may have to download a Quicktime player -- your computer will you instructions.

8:10 Toronto / 15:10 Israel: This morning the trip started in the northern city of Sfat, with its rich history of Jewish mysticism (where the Friday night 'Lekha Dodi' was composed). They visited the old Jewish Quarter, and the centuries-old 'Ari' synagogue. They found time to "check out" the modern, less mystic, Sfat candle factory... Toby Bongard says that there was a slight drizzle in the morning, but the sun came out "and we saw the sun for the first time in the trip". Then they headed south to Jerusalem, and went to the Kotel (Western Wall). It was apparently an inspired and moving experience, "even for the kids who had been here before". They had time to see something of the environs of the Old City -- the walls and the Mount of Olives, and when I spoke to them they were just about to check in at the hotel. After unpacking, they will go back to the Kotel for Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat, and then walk back to the hotel for dinner and programme (about a 30-40 min walk).

Next update will not be until Sunday sometime. From Jerusalem, Toby asked me to wish all parents Shabbat Shalom on behalf of the kids. Everything is going well.

See also the very good material on Safed by clicking on the blue dot next to the name of the town at the very bottom of Map #1 on the interactive map.

-- this is from the interactive map site.

There are many Jerusalem 'overview; websites -- this on efrom the Hebrew U is short, comprehensive and readable!

... is already in Shabbat mode! Revisit on Saturday evening to see the Kotel in real time!

The link below will take you to the Parent Blog ( tchat2008.blogspot.com ), where you can share yur experience of having a child on the trip .. tell us what you are hearing ... make comments, suggestions etc. Please email me at

pshaviv.tchat2008@blogger.com (live link below). It will take a couple of hours or so for contributions to be posted.

09:15 Toronto / 15:15 Israe; Here is a long update, with lots of news.

We left our group on Friday just arriving in Jerusalem. They went down to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat and candle-lighting. Apparently they had a 'fabulous' time, dancing with a group of soldiers on the Kotel concourse. They walked back to the hotel for a 'yummy' dinner, andspent the rest of the evening listening to stories and experiences told by the Israeli guide and some of the Israel experiences of our teachers. "We just hada wonderful, wonderful Friday night", reports Toby. On Shabbat morning they woke up to a bright and sunny morning, and split up to go to one of two synagogues -- the Moreshet Synagogue (Conservative) near the hotel, or the historic Yemin Moshe synagogue just down the road (where the Rabbi is the brother of our own Rabbi Yeres). Then they met up at the hotel and walked over to the Old City, where they spent most of the rest of the day. They were able to visit the Davidson Center (see link below), which is a beautiful archaeological display center. At the center, "the guides were amazed with our kids. They know so much of the history -- they are amazed at how knowledgeable they are - stunned at how much the kids know about the history, about the Tenach.." The had lunch at teh Sefardic Cdentre in the Old City and then were taken on the famous "rooftop tour" of the Old City. All in all, "they had a fabulous day". Back to the hotel. By late afternoon, a number of TCHAT grads whoa re studying or living in Jerusalem turned up to visit our kids at the hotel, and over Seudah Shlishit ('Third meal" - late afternoon) some of them talked to the students about their experiences at a variety of Israel programmes - study, work and volunteer. After 'touchy-feely' Havdalah at the hotel, they headed out to ben Yehudah, where they "Shopped, shmoozed and ate felafel, shwarma". A number of families came to visit -- but the great event was the appearance of MANY TCHAT grads who came to see the students and the teachers. So it was a great social evening.

SUNDAY: the morning was pent at Har Herzl, seeing the graves of herzl, Rabin and other Israeli 'greats'. They moved along to yad Vashem, where they toured the Museum and had a tour. Once again -- and TObi really stressed this -- both at Har Herzl and Yad Vashem the guides (and the teachers) were "blown away" at the students'knowledge, their "level of engagement", and their intelligent participation in dialogue. (Example was one student who was able to tell the guide at Yad Vashem the complete story of Janos Korczak.)

When I spoke to them they were en route south to the Bedouin tent / camel ride; tomorrow they should risse early, climb Masada and spend the day in and around the Dead Sea.

In general -- no health issues; excellent behaviour.. showing up where and when they should.... hotel staff commenting that they are cleaning up after themselves (yes, your child!) etc etc.

See link to Davidson centre at top left. An outstanding website

For some reason this is down. We are trying to get it working again! Sorry.

Sorry for the late post 10:15AM Toronto / 5:15PM Israel -- from where we left off .. good arrival at the 'Bedouin Tent'. Lots of fun riding on camels and donkeys. They had a chance to play some games (?) and then settled down in the Bedouin Tent (see yesterday's link) for a (kosher) Bedouin Dinner. This was alaso lots of fun, and was followed by a presentation on Bedouin life and culture, including a chance to play various musical instruments. They built a bonfire, and had a singsong. Overnight was spent sleeping in the 'Tent', and they got up very early. Services, followed by 'Bedouin breakfast' (eggs, cheese, olives..)and then on the bus to Masada. They climbed on the Roman ramp, and toured the top. Here all their G9 Jewish History came into play! After a comprehensive guided tour, they came down the famous Snake Path, and were met by the bus at the bottom, with copious supplies of orange juice. They travelled a little south to the oasis of Ein Gedi, and hiked into the waterfall. Dan held says it was 'magnificent'. Lunch by the Dead Sea, followed by MUD, and floating in the chemical bath aka the Dead Sea. Weather was hot, sunny, but somewhat windy. When I spoke to them they were on the bus heading to kibbutz Ruchama, where they will spend tonight. Tomorrow they will be in the Negev. Reports are that the group is having a great time; mercifully free of any health issues, and exceptionally well behaved!

No mud, but an excellent article with good satellite pix!

We'd love to get some input from our parents -- what are you hearing from the trip? What is your feedback? Comments? Suggestions? email to: pshaviv.tchat2008@blogger.com

 

We have relocated the pix -- please click here and click on the dates ABOVE the picture to see each day's pix and movies .. thanks, and sorry for the problem.

First -- we have some FABULOUS pix from CIE -- click HERE:

http://www.canadaisraelexperience.com/PhotoGallery/Gallery.aspx?Mode=3&AGID=12&AID=292&WF=1http://  (this is a different site than the previous pix link ...)

Update 10:30AM Toronto/ 5:30PM Israel:  Another fabulous day!  In the morning, after overnight at Kibbutz Ruchama, they went to an archaological dig at Beit Guvrin, where they unearthed some pieces of pottery. Then they went 'spelunking' (= rappelling) nearby, and arrived "muddy and dirty" at Kibbutz Gat for lunch.  After lunch they went on to Kiryat Moshe to do their 'Tikkun Olam' project, which was spending an afternoon with 10-11 year old Ethiopian kids packing 'Care Packages' for soldiers.  All the material brought from Toronto (t-shirts, pins, bracelets, candy etc) was faithfully packed; some of the students wrote letters to enclose, and a "fantastic" time was had by all. When I spoke to the trip, they were en route towards Ma'ale HaHamisha (just outside Jerusalem), where they will overnight.  This evening's programme will be "retracing our steps" -- asummary of where they have been and what they have seen.  Tomorrow, weather permitting (Jerusalem is in a 'snow storm' - 5cm of snow - much mirth at the news that Jerusalem schools have a "Snow Day' today) -- they will spend the day in Tel Aviv, and at midnight or so they LEAVE FOR TORONTO!

 

Arrival:  Thursday morning 06:45AM El Al #103 Terminal 3

08:30 Toronto / 3:30PM Tel Aviv -- well, this is their last day! This morning they started at Neot Kedumim (see below), where they started with a'Biblical Breakfast' that was termed "Well, it was interesting..." They then had a short tour of Neot Kedumim, and were shown how grapes were pressed, wine made, wheat ground and milled etc in Biblical times. From there they went into Tel Aviv to Rabin Square. Shopping and free lunch in the Israeli Mall, and when I caught up with them they were walking along She3inkin/Allenby, due to visit the Carmel Market. At 5:00PM they have a ceremony in the 'Independence Hall' -- and then on to the Maganda restaurant for their closing dinner........and straight to Ben Gurion. End of trip!

Please remember that the flight arrives tomorrow, Thursday at 06:45AM at terminal 3. You can check online this evening to ensure that it will be on time. We wish them a safe and quiet journey.

Again -- if you have any comments, reactions from your children -- please send them to me (live link below) for posting on our Parent Blog.

Thanks to all our parents for their support, and for your interest in this Diary, which has had about 3,000 'hits' during the week. We hope you have enjoyed it.

Where David ben Gurion made the Declaration of Independance in 1948

-- all luggage checked in, passport control completed, everyone well and sad to be leaving!  Boarding shortly.  See you at Pearson .......

06:45 Terminal 3