Check it out! The absolute best beach time along these Mediterranean shores is on bright sunny winter days – and yes, there are some swimmers too. My little pal was prepared to enter the turquoise blue waters – until – we found the jellyfish – medusa in Hebrew – lying in the sand. Oops! better re-think that, she said to herself as she backed away.

No swimming, huh? Dunes are better than swimming anyway, so we climbed, jumped, rolled (is that why my back is kaput?), dug, built, blew bubbles, and watched others bike, fish, jog and walk. [Read more...]

During a Chanukah vacation visit from our frequent-flyer family in the U.S., we decided to break the mold of touring and looking, with a hands-on workshop. Options were discussed until we unanimously voted to try our scissors at papercutting, a popular form of art practiced for hundreds of years by Jewish artists.

Intrigued by a Yehudit Shadur papercut hanging on my wall – how do all those teeny tiny cuts form an elegant meaningful composition? – we took up ruler, scissors, tracing paper, and secret tools of the trade.

Under the patient instruction and guidance of Susan, a student at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, we used tools that I, for one, had not held for quite some time.

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Talented saxophonist, professional open source specialist, and long-time good friend Danny Lieberman asked for our support of the annual Alyn bike-a-thon, Wheels of Love, when he and hundreds of others, Israelis and tourists, will be riding from Jerusalem to Eilat the week of October 29, 2006.

According to David Arnovitz, WOL 2006 Ride Committee Chairperson, this year over 425 supporters of Alyn will join the week-long bike ride from Jerusalem to Eilat – an increase in the number of supporters from 325 in 2005. $1,927,000 was raised then, but the bar has been lifted and this year’s goal is to raise $2,500,000.

Read the story of Tzur who benefitted from funds raised by Alyn in WOL 2005

Tzur aged 11 is a victim of terror. He suffered multiple injuries as a result of a drive-by shooting and was hospitalized in Alyn’s In-patient Active Rehabilitation Unit. As part of his personalized multidisciplinary rehabilitation plan he received intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, hydrotherapy, animal assisted therapy and even humor therapy with Alyn’s medical magician, “Magic Michael“!

Here is the letter we received so you too can support this excellent non-profit organization too.

Dear Friends,

I am riding a bike from Jerusalem to Eilat the week of October 29th.

We are raising money for the Alyn Childrens Hospital that specializes in intensive rehabilitation of children. Alyn’s work is especially important in Israel with many children having been injured by Arab terror and the recent war with Hezbullah.

I know that this difficult summer, you may have already stepped up to the plate to help; but these children depend on the expertise, love and hope found at Alyn and the money we raise helps make that happen.

Together we can do this. We have to because the children of Alyn are depending on us.

Every rider has taken a commitment to raise at least $2,000 and I’m hoping you will find it in your heart to help us reach our goal.

You can donate online here in Israeli currency or here in U.S. dollars or here in other currencies.
Shana Tova,

Danny

[Read more...]