A Different Take
TRW
Family journey encounters enlightening slices of Israeli life.
ARTHUR M. HORWITZ
Publisher
Israel
ssues of war and peace dominate the air-
waves and mealtime discussions. However,
life goes on for most Israelis. A recent visit
to Israel offers these vignettes illustrating
that behind the headlines and analyses is a fascinat-
ing, distinctive country and culture.
network, especially on Thursday nights, for most of the
1980s. It seems peculiar that Tartikoff, who died tragi-
cally in his own prime, is remembered with a Jewish
National Fund forest in one of the most secluded areas
in the hills west of Jerusalem. Visitors to the remote
Soreq Cave could miss the sign in Tartikoff's honor
while navigating the narrow, winding roads.
Kibbutz Capitalism I
Fish farms and kibbutzim are often synonymous.
But in the new era of kibbutz-style capitalism, one
Not In The Brochures
kibbutz near Afula is raising "and lowering"
Dolphins. These, however, are not of the Flipper
What could be more refreshing on a very hot day
variety. Kibbutz Yisrael, just east of Afula, still has a
than kayaking down the tree-shaded Hasbani
big dairy herd. However, it has pioneered the cre-
River? The colorful brochures show pristine
ation of computerized swimming pool cleaning
scenery, whooshing water and
devices under the Dolphin brand name. These
untold adventure. The reality?
cur M. Horwitz
devices scrub pool bottoms and walls, quickly and
Murky, lukewarm, slow-mov-
- his wife, Gina,
efficiently.
ing water, horrific litter and
sited Israel with
dozens of picnickers. The
eir 12-year-old
Kibbutz Capitalism II
biggest adventure? Ducking
son, Adam.
Kibbutz Manara abuts Israel's border
the fishing lines and hooks as
with Lebanon. It also is perched atop
they whizzed overhead.
a very large mountain with command-
Medoozies
ing views of Kiryat - Shernona and the
Huleh Valley. How do you translate
While one could be excused for watching the beauti-
this
rocky terrain into dollars? Why,
ful people sunning or playing along beaches in Haifa
make
it into a mini-adventure park!
and Tel Aviv, the unexpected stars of the beachfront
A just-opened Alpine-style slide pro-
show were the medusas — jellyfish. Large, transpar-
vides a slalom-with-wheels feel.
ent and very globby, they always drew a curious and
A new cable car whisks passengers, in
stick-probing crowd. No one entering the
breathtaking fashion, from the floor of
Mediterranean exited without a sting or jellyfish-
the valley to the top of the mountain.
induced irritation. Because_of the hot weather, the
Folks, this one is five times higher than
jellyfish were out several weeks earlier than usual.
Masada. Along the way, the cable car
You're From Detroit?
stops to enable passengers to rappel
down a steep cliff (Israelis call this
Virtually every Jerusalemite has his or her favorite
"snappeling," but I confuse it with the
place for falafel. We were directed to a small restau-
American ice tea drinks).
rant in Ein Kerem, the now-hip village best known
At the top, you can adore the view,
as the address for Hadassah Hospital. The Lebanon
go mountain biking or visit with kib-
Restaurant lived up to its billing. Our Israeli Arab
butz member Rachel Rabin, sister of
waiter, Hussein, upon learning we were from
the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak
America, blurted out, "America? I have family in
Rabin. (Yuval Rabin, Yitzhak's son, recommended
Detroit!" He also mentioned he had a wife and fam-
Manara during his visit to Detroit in May.)
ily in Texas, in addition to his wife and family in
Israel. I wonder who's supporting whom?
Kibbutz Capitalism III
McFries, McShake And McCharge
That long line at McDonald's is not just for special
orders (hold the pickles). Most Israelis reach for their
charge cards for every purchase (could it be they are
earning frequent flier miles on El Al?). Hamburger,
fries, Coke and MasterCard. Remember the days
When you got change from your dollar at McDonald's?
Prime Time Location?
Brandon Tartikoff was the king of prime-time pro-
gramming for NBC, taking the network to the top of
the ratings heap. Millions of eyeballs were glued to his
8/4
2000
16
Kibbutz Sde Nechemia took the advice given to Dustin
Hoffman in The Graduate . . . plastics. Branching from
its agricultural roots, the kibbutz manufactures plastic
plumbing products under the Huliot name. But of late,
it has leveraged its plastics prowess and developed a line
of plastic office supplies, furnishings and furniture.
Situated at the point where the Hasbani River feeds
into the Jordan, Sde Nechemia also ran a tubing-on-
the-Jordan business before leasing it to others. What to
do with the empty storage structure? Why, raze it, of
course. It currently is home to the Jordan Pagoda, a
quality kosher Chinese-Thai restaurant. The pagoda
Above: Adam Horwitz
"snappels" down
a portion of Manara Cliff
overlooking the Upper
Galilee's Huleh Valley.
Left: One of several
glass sculptures by
Cranbrook School
alum Dale Chihuly
on display at the
Tower of David
Museum in Jerusalem.
Below: With coils
of barbed wire
as a backdrop, Gina
and Adam Horwitz
sit at the former site
of the "Good Fence"
in Metulla, between
Israel and Lebanon.
Nk,