Shabbos with the Katz family, Bayla riding a Bike and The Golan Heights

                     Friday afternoon we were off to Hashmonaim

 to spend Shabbos with the Katz family.

We would like to thank Stuart, Carol and the

 kids for welcoming us into their home, their shul and

their lives and making our Shabbos a very special one!

Sunday afternoon, Yonaton had a visit from his Israeli

Aunt and cousins....bringing with them enough chips

and nosh to satisfy even Yonaton's appetite.

Monday Bayla received a bike riding

 lesson from our good friend Kyle.

Wednesday we were off to the

 Golan Heights for the day.

First stop was an abandoned

Syrian village

Next, a short visit to the

 Golan Heights Winery

After, we had a chance to tour the DeKarina

Chocolate Factory and not only watch chocolate

 being made, but to try to make it ourselves.....

and to eat it of course!!

DeKarina, originating from Argentina, has been

making chocolate by hand for more than 100 years.

Last stop of the day was to a memorial for

Israeli soldiers who died fighting against Syria. 

 The memorial is locted at the sight of old Syrian

 tunnels and fighting trenches.

Hike, BBQ, Art and Zichron Yaacov

Friday morning's hike was to a small

mountain on a neighboring Kibbutz

Saturday night we invited the high school kids

 from the Kibbutz for a barbecue at our house

Sunday night Art class

Tuesday we went to Zichron Yaacov for the day. Our first stop was Ramot Ha-Nadiv (Heights of the Benefactor), located  at the southern end of Mount Carmel.  Ramot Ha-Nadiv is a living memorial dedicated to the memory of Baron Edmond de Rothschild who had a consequential role in the establishment of the state of Israel; including many towns and agricultural settlements developed under his sponsorship.

Beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Apple break!!

Ramot Ha-Nadiv contains some of the most
 beautiful gardens in Israel, including the Cascade
 Garden, Rose Garden, The Palm Garden and The
 Fragrance Garden...all meticulously nurtured.

 



The Rothschild family motto appears below the
shield in Latin...Concordia, Integritas, Industrias
 (Harmony, Integrity, Industry)



The main street in Zichron Yaacov (Memorial of Jacob..

named after Baron's father) is considered by many to be the quaintest in all of Israel...with its cafes, craft shops, restaurants and beautiful homes.  Zichron Yaacov was founded in 1882 and has the distinction as being one of the first agricultural towns to be developed in Israel in modern times.

Beniamins Pool was inaugurated in
1891 when new technology was used to bring
 water through pipes to drinking fountains and
 to this beautiful pool in the center of
 Zichron Yaacov.

"You scream, I Scream, We all scream!!!!"

Tel Aviv & Jaffa

                      Our day trip to Tel Aviv started out by

the beach and we walked our way to the

beautiful Old City of Jaffa (Yafo)

Jaffa has existed as a port city for more than

4,000 years and is the only one that can boast

 uninterrupted inhabitation throughout its entire

 existence. Old Jaffa has since become one of Israel's

 more popular tourist attractions with its quaint

 picturesque paths and gardens leading to artists'

quarters, studios and art galleries.  Its narow alleys

are named after the signs of the Zodiac and are set

 against a backdrop of modern Tel Aviv.

                  
                       Mr. Wollis hugging  the "Hovering
                    Orange Tree", which is a tree completely
                       suspended by ropes that is thought to
                             symbolize Israel's prosperity.





A little fun in the sun!!!

Last stop of the day is the Design Museum

in Holon to see some cool exhibits about

craftsmenship and building.

Robots made out of vacuum cleaner parts.