MONDAY, JULY 6-OUR LAST DAY IN TEL AVIV
For 90 minutes we experienced a guided, multi-media presentation, which explained the forming of Palmach from its meager beginnings. The program illustrated the dedication and personal commitment that the young members of the group courageously and wholeheartedly exhibited. We experienced their pride and their heroism, along with their joy and their sadness.
“The Palmach (Hebrew: פלמ”ח, acronym for Plugot Maḥatz (Hebrew: פלוגות מחץ), lit. “strike forces”) was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv (Jewish community) during the period of the British Mandate for Palestine. The Palmach was established on 15 May 1941. By the outbreak of the Israeli War for Independence in 1948 it consisted of over 2,000 men and women in three fighting brigades and auxiliary aerial, naval and intelligence units. With the creation of Israel’s army, the three Palmach Brigades were disbanded.”
Some of Israel’s greatest leaders were members of Palmach, including Yitzchak Rabin & Moshe Dayan.
The Eretz Israel Museum is a historical and archeological museum in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel and it is about 100 yards from the Palmach Museum.
“Eretz Israel Museum, established in 1953, has a large display of archaeological, anthropological and historical artifacts organized in a series of exhibition pavilions on its grounds. Each pavilion is dedicated to a different subject: glassware, ceramics, coins, copper and more. The museum also has a planetarium.
We loved the beautiful contemporary glass art and the exhibit and narrative about Baron de Rothschild’s 5 visits to Palestine.
| Edmond de Rothschild financed two of the original settlements in Israel, Rishon LeZion in Tel-Aviv and Zikhron Ya’akov in Carmel. By 1934, the year of Edmund de Rothschild’s death, 125,000 acres of land and more than 40 settlements were purchased under the auspices of the Rothschild’s Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PICA). Edmond de Rothschild became known as the “Father of the Yishuv” because of his involvement in early Israeli settlements. |
wow!
OLD CITY OF JAFFA GUIDED TOUR
This bakery is an institution in Jaffa and is in the same location for 400 years.The family has lived in Jaffa for 4000 years! Walid, the owner of the bakery was proud to show me photos of his daughter graduating from Columbia. One of his sons is a graduate of Harvard and another is at the Wharton School.
When last summer’s war started Walid had tee shirts made for his employees with the statement “Jews & Arabs refuse to be enemies”. Walid’s manager Avi, told me of Walid’s great generosity to Jewish causes. The family has founded The Abouelafia’s Co-existence Association.
I know some can be cynical, but our experience in Tel Aviv-Yafo was comforting. 
Differences are put aside for the good of all parties. Even if it is an illusion, the vision of peaceful co-existence is empowering, imagine the possibilities!
Back to the tour, for 2 hours we walked the old city streets. Our guide, Samuel form England, is very knowledgeable, funny and a wonderful teacher, a real pro.
Jaffa Orange trees have left town. The were nurtured and developed in Jaffa but the real estate is too valuable for farming, so know they are grown elsewhere in Israel.
We loved Tel Aviv, but we can’t wait to get to Jerusalem and the same apartment on Rechov Abraham Lincoln, that enjoyed so much last summer.
Pictures of the Tel Aviv apartment are coming tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Cantor Bruce
We also loved the Palmach museum!
No pics of Stacy!! Let’s get some whole family pics please.
Enjoy!!
Xoxo Cindy and Neal
Dear Cantor Rockman, Stacey, Bashe, and Rafi,
Thanks so very much for keeping us posted of your travels.
We feel like we are there.
And we will be soon. Thanks to you, now we know where to go.
Thanks for sending the beautiful pictures. Everyone and everything looks great. We look forward to hearing about your travels in Jerusalem.
Shalom, Sandy, and Yitzhak