ter. Outside the walls of the Old City,
previous excursions. Some saw it for a camel shares a public street with
cars and trucks. Modern suburbs cir-
the first time last week.
"Everybody was really happy, tired, cle ancient ruins. Construction of the
but excited," said Mission chairman new and renovation of the old make
. Larry Jackier toward the end of the Israel a different sight to see for West
trip. "It makes me feel great. This is Bloomfield resident Alan Kandel.
Mr. Kandel first visited pre-state
just what (Federation) has been plan-
Israel
in 1934. He and his family
ning for more than a year."
The Miracle Mission brought exact- came to be with their elderly aunt
ly 866 people from Detroit to Eilat via who lived there.
"It was an open city," Mr. Kandel
El Al Israel Airlines. Like the first mis-
recalled
during the Mission. 'There
sion in 1993, it aimed to elevate and re-
was
no
war,
no border. I was 17 and
inforce Jewish commitment and
used
to
walk
through the Arab quar-
cultural life in metro Detroit.
ter
with
young
Arabs. We would or-
Mr. Jackier thinks it did just that.
der
Turkish
coffee
and watch belly
"People have approached me to ask
dancers.
where they can study Hebrew and how
"The hills outside of Jerusalem
they can get involved in their temples,
were
empty. Nobody could have pos-
synagogues and Federation. What
sibly
imagined what has taken place
more could I ask for?" he said.
in
50
years.
(The progress) reinforces
The trip cost $2,495 per person. Dr.
the
belief
I've
held since college days
Marc Borovoy thought it was worth
—
that
Israel
has a tremendous fu-
every cent.
"When I came here last time (20 ture."
The Mission took participants from
years ago at age 15), I wanted to stay.
Eilat,
the southern resort city, north-
When I went this time, I wanted to
ward
through
the Negev desert. Mis-
stay. I haven't felt this way in a long
sionaires
filled
21 buses in all. Some
time. I've been so caught up in my life
stopped
at
Mitzpe
Ramon, a remote
in Detroit," he said.
city
on
the
edge
of
an
arid crater. Oth-
Dr. Borovoy, who traveled with sev-
ers
hiked
in
the
Red
Canyon.
eral members of his family, said he
Buses reconvened in Jerusalem
would seriously consider making aliyah
where
Missionaires stayed in two
in the future.
hotels:
the
Holiday Inn Crown Plaza
"Living here, to generalize, is a pur-
(formerly
the Hilton) and the Ra-
er way of living than what we have in
mada
Renaissance.
Shabbat marked
the States," he said. "There's less con-
one
of
several
"mega
events" that
cern about material things and more
brought
all
866
Detroiters
together
concern about humanity."
In Jerusalem, population 570,000, in one place.
On Shabbat, that place was the
little boys wearing yarmulkes kick
Western
Wall.
around a soccer ball in the Jewish quar-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
•
The border between Israel and Egypt
as seen from a vantage point
outside of Eilat.
Miracle Missionaires uncover new meaning during
their 10-day Israel experience.
30
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER