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July 31, 2006
"Moments of Tranquility" | An Escape from Terror
Over a million people in Israel are now spending part of their day in underground bomb shelters. We at ARZA World have decided to provide "Moments of Tranquility", out of harm's way, to the residents of Northern Israel.
Many habitants of the region have relocated to the homes of relatives further to the south and are now not in danger. However there are many Israelis who either do not have relatives in Israel or lack the financial ability to relocate; many of these are new immigrants.
In the spirit of "Tikkun Olam" ARZA World has created the "Moments of Tranquility" program designed to provide hundreds of residents with an escape from the terror that is rained upon them daily.
Earlier today residents from Kiryat Atta, Kiryat Shmona, and Ma’alot as well as other Northern communities arrived in Jerusalem for a four day fully paid vacation far from harm’s way; the vacation includes accommodations, meals and guided tours of Jerusalem. ARZA World has been working closely with the social services departments at the municipal level to locate those who are most in need and has identified hundreds of families who can be beneficiaries of the program.
This morning six ARZA World tour educators and drivers who volunteered for the risky trip to the north and who would usually be guiding Congregations from North America during, what was supposed to be, a busy tourist season found themselves standing on buses and guiding Israeli “refugees” in Hebrew. When Doron Ezra, one of the volunteer tour educators, was asked if he was concerned about his trip to the danger zone he commented, “I was most concerned about the fact that I had never guided in Hebrew, but, as time went by, I sort of got into it.” Ezra Korman, an educator and DAAT’s VP, who coordinated the complex logistical operation said that “when we crossed into safety and out of the range of the rockets we made an announcement, and the people on the buses roared with happiness.” As an afterthought Ezra added, “I can only imagine the relief they felt; it truly moved and inspired me to be part of this effort which provides security and joy.”
The first six buses arrived in Jerusalem today, a little later than expected because upon the buses arrival in Ma’alot the sirens sounded. Our educators and bus drivers had to head for the nearest bomb shelter to wait it out, but, as soon as it was safe, they began filling the buses with people eager for a break from the rocket attacks.
"We are planning to offer this break for many other residents of the North in a number of towns and cities in the days to come" said Ya'acov Fried-President of DA'AT.
One of the participants, Oxana (seen here with her family upon their arrival in Jerusalem), came on our program with her extended family. They live in Kiryat Atta and made aliyah recently from Irkutzk in Siberia. Guy Millo, ARZA World’s Executive VP, spoke with Oxana upon her arrival in Jerusalem. When Guy asked her how they were coping with the rocket attacks in their hometown Oxana replied, "I am strong. It was difficult for me, but I could handle it. It was terrible for my children. Thank you."
We would like to invite you to join ARZA World in supporting “Regaim Shel Sheket | Moments of Tranquility” and helping to offer some peace of mind to even more residents of the North.
Many aspects of this project have already been donated by the companies we work with in Israel, and ARZA World is covering the remaining expenses. However sponsorship opportunities still exist and your help is needed!
We invite you to sponsor one person ($120) or even a whole busload ($5400). Any group or organization sponsoring a bus will have their name on that bus’s banner. Contributions of any amount, large or small, are greatly appreciated by both ARZA World and the people in Israel benefiting from this program.
If you want to help you can forward this article to a friend or to your entire contact list.
To contribute you can email Brianna Becker at bbecker@arzatravel.com or call at 888-811-2812 x205. For more information feel free to contact Brianna in our New York office. Or if you would like to speak to one of the people in Israel spearheading this project please call Guy Millo at 011-972-54-539-4375 or ARZA World’s President Ya’acov Fried at 011-972-52-520-0900.
Hopefully, these difficult times for all will be over soon, and we will see you again in Israel on an ARZA World Tour. We pray with you for more peaceful times and the return of travelers to Israel’s beautiful North.
*Please make all donations payable to ARZA World - “Moments of Tranquility”. Your donations will be used solely to fund the “Regaim Shel Sheket | Moments of Tranquility” program.
In summary we thought that pictures speak volumes and leave lasting impressions...
Posted by ARZA World Team at 08:10 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2006
The 2006 Award for Ecovillage Excellence has been awarded to Kibbutz Lotan by the Global Ecovillage Network
The 2006 Award for Ecovillage Excellence has been awarded to Kibbutz Lotan by the Global Ecovillage Network in recognition of its work in promoting ecological building, waste management and environmental education; and also for its work in promoting sustainability through the building of bridges between different ethnic groups in Israel.
Kibbutz Lotan was founded in 1983 by graduates of the Reform Jewish youth movements from Israel and overseas, with the idea of creating a community based on a modern liberal approach to Judaism that strives to fulfill values of equality between the sexes, equality in work, and genuine communication between people. The kibbutz maintains a cooperative lifestyle with shared means of production and resources. During a period of community redefinition in 1995, a few dedicated members began advocating greater emphasis on environmental concern and ecology within the activities of the kibbutz. A waste management program and organic vegetable garden were established, and alternative building methods utilizing waste and sustainable materials were promoted. Lotan became a member of the European branch of the Global Ecovillage Network in 2001.
With increasing interest being generated from outside the kibbutz, Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology was established as an expression of its Progressive Jewish orientation. Rooted in “Tikun Olam”, the Jewish concept for repairing and transforming the world, the Center expanded to include an ecological theme park, migratory bird reserve, nature trails, and an ecological education center that combines hands-on, experiential environmental education with Jewish values. The Center runs seminars, workshops and courses of varying length for adults and children of all ages, both from Israel and from overseas, with the aim of empowering participants with practical tools in order to promote positive change within their own communities. In 2000, the Center won the Shield award of the Ministry of the Environment in Israel for work in environmental education.
Development of a bird reserve in an adjacent deserted sand quarry has been made possible through partnership with the Jewish National Fund and the Israel Ornithology Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel as part of the international Birdpark Without Borders program. Currently under construction with support of the European Union’s LIFE fund is a constructed wetlands that will naturally treat all of Lotan’s wastewater via plants and will be the center of a new educational migratory birdpark.
Educational activities of the Center for Creative Ecology have included sustainability workshops for Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian youth in partnership with Friends of the Earth Middle East. The idea of combining environmental education with working towards peaceful coexistence and promoting environmental justice has also been behind Lotan’s partnership with the Bustan (Orchard) for Peace organization, which resulted in the building of a straw-bale medical clinic in the unrecognized Bedouin village Wadi El-Na’am. Lotan’s educational center has also established a successful 10-week permaculture and ecovillage design course called “Green Apprenticeship” that attracts participants from all over the world. For further details on the Center for Creative Ecology’s educational activities, see the Lotan website: www.kibbutzlotan.com.
Posted by ARZA World Team at 12:35 PM
July 14, 2006
Update
With the news of the last week, we, at ARZA World both in New York and in Jerusalem, want to address, up front, the situation that has developed in Israel during the last few days. The Gaza scenario, already several weeks old, has been pushed off the headlines by developments on the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah attacks on Israeli military positions, the abduction of two Israeli soldiers, subsequent Israeli losses, and the wide-ranging Israeli retaliation fill every front page, and TV screen.
We, at ARZA World, would not want to insult anybody's intelligence by playing down the seriousness of the recent developments. The long-term ramifications are not yet clear, but they do seem to suggest a shake-up of the status quo. Most of what we are hearing on the news reflects political and military issues but does not have significant impact on day-to-day life in Israel. Being in Israel, being closer to the situation, having access to more information, and feeling the pulse of the country on the ground is easier than being here watching from afar with sensationalized and selective information.
We, at ARZA World, are not given to heroic gestures. We will modify the itinerary as conditions dictate, avoiding problematic areas. Safety is our first concern, and we will not put anyone in harm's way. Our staff has been and will be checking in with military and security personnel several times a day, and you should be assured that ARZA World, both in New York and in Israel, have a prudent, cautious approach; we would much rather change a day’s program, miss a site, or change accommodations than take any risks.
As of today we have made alternate plans for all of the trips traveling to the North. Groups that were scheduled to stay in the northern Galilee right now have been rerouted to a southern track, and reservations for groups coming to Israel in the near future have been booked for these alternate arrangements as well. Hopefully, the situation will improve and this will be unnecessary, but we want you to know that we have already made alternate arrangements in case they are needed. We have also been working to develop alternate itineraries to make sure that everyone has a safe and wonderful time in Israel. We understand your concerns, and you can be assured that we will be assessing the situation every day, many times a day, and will act with corresponding prudence. In the meantime, we wanted to update you on the situation. We pray for peace and security!
Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions or concerns.
Posted by ARZA World Team at 05:45 PM | Comments (0)
July 11, 2006
Beaches and Zionists and Dreams
By Rabbi David Nelson-Associate Director of ARZA
For an hour and a half I walked on the beach in south Tel Aviv. I watched and listened, so carefully, trying to figure out how Jews go to the beach. Do they tie tzitzit onto their bathing suits and towels? Or recite a berakhah before building a sand castle?
Are they particularly concerned about the kashrut of the ice cream being sold by the guy who trudges along with a cooler slung on his shoulder? Perhaps they discuss the Talmud's response to seeing the sea, or stepping on a jellyfish? But no, they do none of these Jewish things.
Instead they smooth suntan lotion all over, and work on their tans. They nap, and chat, and snack, and wade into the water when the sun gets too hot. The muscular boys eye the bikini-clad girls while the little kids squeal and chase each other and dig holes and tunnels and they all spend endless, endless hours smacking a little rubber ball back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth, with wooden paddles at the edge of the surf.
I saw all this and came to the conclusion that Jews go to the beach pretty much like everyone else. But then I looked out to the sea, out to the endless expanse of calm, green water, and then up and down the beach at the soft, hot sand. I was struck by how similar this beach, and this surf, and this ocean are to every other beach, every other surf, every other ocean. Then I turned around and saw an endless parade of high-rise elegance, concrete and glass, asphalt and steel hotels, office towers, stores, and traffic, so much traffic, and people and city noise and city tumult, and business and pleasure, and life!
I tried to imagine what it was like for the early settler-builder-pioneers to stand on this beach, not quite a century ago, and dream Tel Aviv. I tried and tried. I failed.
But now I understand how Jews go to the beach, sometimes. Sometimes, we go to the beach, and we stand among the dunes and the gentle waves, and we look out at the beach-scape, and we dream that one day we will build a home.
Posted by ARZA World Team at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)
