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Wendy Yedwab, A.J. - Goldman, Joanne Klein, Rabbi Paul Yedwab and Marty Haenick.
M-16s. It gives me a feeling of securi-
ty that I don't have in the States."
Last summer, the threat of ter-
rorism prompted many Americans to
cancel their plans to travel in Europe
and Israel. But as the Temple Israel
travellers saw, such fears diminish
upon arrival in Israel, where everyone
enjoyed a feeling of safety.
"My Mom was worried about ter-
rorists," allowed one participant, "but
I feel completely secure here?'
"I expected Israel to be a great big
desert;' said Robyn Beltzman, 16, in
a surprised tone. Looking around the
forest in the Judean Hills near
Jerusalem where the group had gone
to plant trees, she added, "It's not. It's
a really pretty country!'
Many NFTY groups from across
the U.S. spent a day at NFTY Hill,
where they cleared brush, prepared
the earth for trees, and planted sapl-
ings as part of the Jewish National
Fund's continuing efforts to conquer
the desert and make Israel bloom.
Francie was thrilled by the mor-
ning's activity. "I'm glad that I am ac-
tually planting trees with my own
hands," she said during a quick break
from brush-clearing duty. "I feel good
that I can say I did it myself?'
Debby Poisson, 16, and Becky
Lash, 15, took charge of watering the
tiny trees after they were planted.
Taking care to water from a distance
of at least 10 inches in order to pro-
tect the young roots, the girls went
about their work with the caution of cher of clear liquid, someone asked,
"Is this water?"
surgeons. -
After lunch, several kibbutzniks
Steve Rosen was enthusiastic
about tree-planting. "I'm not much of invited the group into the lounge,
a tourist;' the 17-year-old said. "I where they heard a brief description
prefer to be participating in of the kibbutz way of life. Many peo-
something. That's why I really like ple had questions.
"Isn't it a lot like Russia?" so-
planting trees or working in an ar-
cheological dig. At a dig, we helped to . meone asked.
- The kibbutznik smiled. Clearly he
crack down a wall to reach an ancient
floor that was buried underneath it!' was used to the question. "The big-
Steve was not unique in wanting gest difference between-kibbutz and
to roll up his sleeves and get involv- Russia," he said patiently, "is that our
ed. The group was enthralled by Yad members are here voluntarily. This is
leKashish — Lifeline- for the Elderly a completely open society!'
"I don't understand something;'
— where their visit brightened the
faces of many frail elderly ventured Chad Zamler, 16. "What's
your overall goal? To make money, or
Jerusalemites.
"Sometimes our kids are too in- just to be happy?"
The kibbutznik replied that mak
tent on getting to know people," Rab-
bi Yedwab said with a laugh. "We had ing money was important, but "we
a lot of trouble pulling them away don't view profits just for use toward
from Yad leKashish. The old people present expenditure. We reinvest most
of our profits to assure the future of
loved them!'
In the early part of the trip, near- our children and grandchildren!'
That answer impressed a lot of
ly everything seemed foreign. One
day, during lunch at Kibbutz Tzora, .people. •One young man went so far as
it took on almost comic proportions. to offer, "If you had a hockey rink in
Sitting at long tables in the com- the kibbutz, I'd move here!'
The first week in Jerusalem was
munal dining room, members of the
group seemed unsure of whether or followed by a lengthy hiking trek
not Israelis use the same condiments through the Negev desert and a stay
in their food as Americans use. Poin- in a Golan Heights, Field School. For
ting to a small shaker filled with most of the participants, the hikes,
white granules, someone asked, "Is rock climbing and outdoors life open-
this salt?" Someone else at the same ed new worlds of experiences.
Setting out for a tour of Tel Aviv,
table wanted to know if the tub of
margarine was margarine, and — the the bus was filled with T-shirts from
height of caution — pointing to a pit- faraway places: Maui, UCLA, De
Paul, OSU, Hard Rock Cafe, but the
conversation was about Detroit. Many
rushed for copies of The Jerusalem
Post to check the American League
standings. "How are the Tigers do-
ing?" No matter how far you travel,
it seems that certain things remain
top priority.
Many people call Tel Aviv Israel's
only "real" city. With its tall
buildings, wide boulevards and cons-
tant pulsing activity, it reminds many
visitors of European capitals. To
16-year-old Gerry Levin, Dizengoff
Center, a massive three-story enclos-
ed mall in downtown Tel Aviv, "is just
like Eaton Center in Toronto!'
Throughout their journeys,
members of the group were eager to
meet Israelis. Adam Lutz, 16, said,
"In Eilat, we met a bunch of Israeli
kids, and we talked about the dif-
ferences in culture between us and •
them!"
Jon Klein, 16, reported that,
"Most of the Israelis we've met are
friendly. They all talk about basket-
ball, but it seems like soccer is the
biggest game here. They think foot-
ball is a crazy game?'
Brad Hyman, 14, and Matt Paletz,
15, took advantage of a weekend visit
with friends of Brad's family to see
how Israeli teenagers live.
"At first, I was worried that I was
imposing on the family," Matt said,
"but they were so nice and they made
me feel very welcome. I got along real-
ly well with the two boys our age and
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS '43