Satell Trip: Day 10

Day 10: Saturday, July 1, 2006

(Photos posted below) 

Little did we know that Israel's new Ben-Gurion airport comes with free wireless internet! Now we can write to you for the next 45 minutes if we wanted to!...... but we won't. We might just go duty free shopping. After all, we know you all want some Elite chocolate bars.

Anyway, our last day in Israel was quite memorable. We spent time this morning traditionally planting trees in the Jewish National Fund forest near Netivot so we could leave our mark in Israel with our Partnership friends. The trees, themselves, were of the Olive variety, so will take quite a long time to grow and bear fruit. However, that means we will have a lasting effect on Israel.

Afterwards we went to the Kaiserman Center in Netivot that focuses on integrating the Ethiopian community into mainstream Israel. We had a nice discussion with an Ethiopian man about their work there.

We then toured around Kibbutz Sa'ad, one of the first kibbutzim in Israel, and one quite close to the Gaza Strip. We learned about the history of the kibbutz and its strife with its Arab neighbors.

Well, we would love to tell more, but we are about to board our flight home. Ask your kids about Independence Hall and our discussion with Linda Gradstein's husband on our time here. See you soon!

The Conga line around the bonfire

Playigng drums in the drum circle

Fellow Lauren Pfannenstiel is excited to roast marshallows

Fellow Adam Cohen is WAY excited to roast marchmallows

Beth Razin and Brian Cohen playing drums

Dancing around the bonfire