The Baga

RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER

Dr. Jim and
Ellen Labes
prepare for
the 10-day
trip to Israel.

14

Metro Detroiters
pack up for the
Miracle Mission.

8:

ake it from someone who's
been there at least 200 times.
You won't need a sports
coat. Leave the tie at home. Don't
bring jewelry.
Such advice doesn't come
cheap. It's free. Free to chronic
over-packers from Miracle Mis-
sion director Jane Sherman. She
and other leaders of the upcom-
ing Mission to Israel have spent
hours during the past two
months coaching 900 metro De-
troiters on how to pack.
Sponsored by the Jewish Fed-
eration and The Jewish News, the
Mission will occur May 7 to 17.
As the countdown continues, trip
participants are removing suit-
cases from storage and preparing
for lift-off.
Gila Gelfond, an artist, won't
forget to pack her sketch
pad, colored pencils and mark-
ers. Dr. Jim Labes, who is trav-
eling with his wife, Ellen, will
come equipped with a pharma-

ceutical bag full of over-the-
counter pain killers, bandages
and cortisone cream for rashes
and sunburns.
"Everybody should remember
to take medications with them,"
Dr. Labes says.
Bus captain Penny Blumen-
stein advises travelers to stash a
journal in their bags. For over-
sleepers, a battery-operated
alarm clock might mean the dif-
ference between touring with the
group or flying solo.
And don't forget your passport,
Mission leaders advise. Whatev-
er you do, DON'T forget your
passport.
Len Nakisher, a self-described
Jewish beach bum, will pack a
bathing suit. He says he's trav-
eling light. Five pair of under-
wear. Maximum. Outside-in,
inside-out. That'll do just great
for 10 days.
"And if you see me in the same
shirt twice, that's OK," he says.

(His wife, Hazel, stresses that
Mr. Nakisher is joking.)
Veteran traveler Jane Sher-
man will pack some oddities. In
her bag? An electric toothbrush,
chewing gum and coffee candies.
"I'm addicted to them," she says.
Ms. Sherman also brings along
individually packed coffee singles.
The Israel cup o'Joe is too strong
for her, she says.
Luxuries aside, there are some
essentials Mission participants
are loathe to forget. Besides the
ever-important P-A-S-S-P-O-R-T,
travelers must bring lightweight
cotton clothing, as well as a
sweater for cool evenings. Eilat, in
southern Israel, warms up to 85
degrees Fahrenheit this time of
year, but Jerusalem's tempera-
ture can fall to 40 degrees at night.
Comfortable shoes. Sunglass-
es. Sunscreen. And don't forget
the camera, extra film and more
extra film (Dr. Labes says he nev-
er brings enough.)

Kevin Elbinger, a Wayne State
University senior, is one of about
30 young adults who will meet up
with the Michigan Miracle Mis-
sion during a special B'nai B'rith
Hillel-sponsored trip, May 8 to
18.
Like Mr. "Beach Bum" Nak-
isher, young Elbinger cites un-
derpants as some of his most vital
travel companions. During a pre-
vious trip to Israel, Mr. Elbinger
got a bit repugnant when a
stereotypical stern-faced, hard-
boiled, no-nonsense Israeli cus-
toms official rifled through his
suitcase. To Mr. Elbinger's dis-
may, she lifted his underwear
into full view.
"UGH!" said Mr. Elbinger "I
wouldn't even touch that."
Embarrassing moment. Mem-
orable result.
Says a triumphant Mr. El-
binger: "I made the customs offi-
cial laugh."

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