Calling all Children and Teens in Israel!

With Brush & Pen: an Exhibition of Art by Children & Teens in Israel

Do you like to draw or paint … or sculpt … or embroider … or collage … or write … or … ???  Would you like your artwork or story to be seen by hundreds of people? Would you like the chance to win a prize? Then bring your creation to the AACI center to enter it in our Children’s and Teens’ Art Exhibit, “With Brush & Pen.”  But hurry – the deadline is next Sunday, March 11th!

We gratefully acknowledge the generous donation by Gordon Sugarman in memory of Betsy Sugarman   ז”ל to support this program.

Click here for more information about entering the art exhibit.

The exhibition will be open to the public April-May, 2012 at AACI.

The AACI-Dr. Max and Gianna Glassman Family Center is at 37 Pierre Koenig/2 Poalei Tzedek, in Talpiot, Jerusalem. Telephone (02)5661181.
Click here for a map.
Buses # 21 & 49 stop on Pierre Koenig across from AACI; 71, 72, 74 & 75 stop  at Tzomet Habankim, a 10-minute walk away.

Reverse Mask: an Art Project for Kids 

Here is a fun artistic activity to get you in the Purim spirit. Usually on Purim we wear masks to disguise our faces, but this reverse mask will show your face and disguise the rest of you.

On the largest sheet of paper you can find: lie down with your arms slightly stretched out and the top of your head at least 5 cm below the top edge of the paper. Have a friend or parent trace your silhouette (outline) with a pencil. Try not to wiggle!

Cut out a hole where the face would be, then decorate your silhouette with paint, markers, glitter, fabric scraps … whatever you want.  Use the decorations to show who you really are, or who you would like to be. Be as creative as you like.

When you are finished, have someone take a picture of you peeking out the face hole of your “self-portrait.” You can print small versions of the photo and use them to decorate your mishloach manos.

Have fun!

L’Briut! — Women’s Health Day

 

UPDATE:  Did you see the coverage about AACI’s Women’s Health Day in the newspaper? Click here to read it! Thanks Haaretz!

Go to the AACI website  and type “health” into the search box. You will be surprised at the number of results that show up!

AACI is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles for our members and the general public. We offer:

•  ongoing exercise classes several times a week, including Tai Chi, Feldenkrais and exercise for 50+
•  information for new olim on the various kupot cholim (health funds) in Israel
•  blood drives (the next one is coming up on March 25)

Now, in honor of International Women’s Day,* AACI is cooperating with Hadassah Medical Organization, Jewish Diabetes Association, Efrat Women’s Health Center, Bishvilaych and Ha’aretz to present an entire day dedicated to women’s health.
High-level experts, including physicians and researchers, will speak in English on a wide range of topics geared toward women of all ages.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

9:30-10:15       Heart Disease Prevention in Women, Tzipi Morris, MD, Director, Efrat Women’s Health Center

9:30-10:00      Feldenkreis, Shoshanna Lederman

9:30-16:30       Reflexology, Rolene Segal, 15 minutes; every hour and ½ hour

10:30-11:15     Self Care in Health Care: Whens & Whys of Screenings & Check-Ups,

Elisheva Langer, PhD, Director of Research and Education at Bishvilaych

11:30-12:15     Fitness for All Ages and Stages, Harriet Scher, Exercise Director of YMCA Great Shape

11:30-12:00    Feldenkreis, Shoshanna Lederman

12:30-13:15    Healthy Lifestyle, Part I: Prevention & Awareness for Diabetes Health & Related Issues

Nechama Cohen, Founder & CEO: Jewish Diabetes Association, Naturopath and Nutrition Coach

12:30-13:15    Intro to Journey, Meira Golbert, MS, Certified Journey Practitioner, Polarity Therapist
17:30-18:15

12:30-13:15     Osteofit, Harriet Scher, Exercise Director, YMCA/Great Shape

13:15-14:30    Healthy Lifestyle, Part II: Pesach Cooking Demonstration & Discussion,

Nechama Cohen and Chef Udi (to be confirmed)

13:30-14:15    Pelvic Floor Exercises for Incontinence, Marilyn Cohen, Certified Fitness Instructor

14:30- 15:15    Genetic Testing and Counseling, Michal Sagi, PhD, Senior Genetic Counselor, Department of Human Genetics & Metabolic Diseases, Hadassah University Medical Center

14:30-15:15    Lecture on Tai Chi, Nancy Harel

15:30-16:15   Menopause: Taking Charge of Changes, Tzipora Wolff, MD, Women’s Health Physician

15:30- 16:00    Feldenkreis, Shoshanna Lederman

16:30-17:15    The Latest in Plastic Surgery, Michael Feinerman, MD

16:30-17:15    Fitness Design for Life, Rena Sered, Health & Wellness Director, International YMCA

16:30-17:15    Fusion Strength Training & Pilates, Di Katz, Group Exercise Instructor & Personal Trainer

17:30-18:15    The Sandwich Generation, Daniel Sullum, MD, Board Certified in General & Geriatric Pyschiatry

18:30-19:15    Skin Care: From the Inside and Outside, LeeOna Fisher, MD

19:30-20:15    Questions & Answers You Always Wanted to Ask Your Gynecologist, Michal Rambau, MD

20:30-21:15    Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Your Pelvic Health, David Shveiky, MD

20:30-21:15    Birthing Options in Israel, Nancy Novik, Nurse Midwife, Hadassah Hospital

The price is very modest – admission for the whole day is only NIS 50 for AACI members/NIS 60 for non-members. Individual sessions are NIS 30 for members/NIS 40 for non-members. Payment by cash or check only.

AACI is conveniently located across the street from Canyon Hadar, in the center of the Talpiot shopping & restaurant district, with plenty of dining options.  MAP

Bring a friend and make a day of it! Gentlemen are also welcome.

Women’s Health Day
Monday, March 12, 09:00-21:00
AACI Jerusalem – Dr. Max and Gianna Glassman Family Center, Pierre Koenig 37, corner of Poalei Tzedek 2, Talpiot    MAP
Buses # 21 & 49 stop on Pierre Koenig across from AACI; 71, 72, 74 & 75 stop  at Tzomet Habankim, a 10-minute walk away.
For more information, please call (02)566-1181.

* International Women’s Day honors the social and political achievements of women worldwide. Though it is normally marked on March 8, this year we are celebrating a little later in Israel, to avoid conflict with Purim.

Purim Smarts

by  Deborah Rubin Fields

(This is an edited version of the article previously published in AACI’s April-May 2011 edition of the VOICE)

Purim:  a holiday that Jerusalemites love, but the environment hates. Why? Because of the wastefulness that goes with the holiday. This Purim, let’s try to “go easy” on the excessive plastic gift packaging and disposable table service. Below are some suggestions for making Purim into more of an eco-holiday.

• Send e-blessings, rather than (cutting down trees to make into) paper cards.
• Choose healthy mishloach manot items which can be used as part of your friends’ seudah (think whole grain crackers or containers of hummus, for example).  Many health-conscious recipients end up tossing sugary junk food into the trash.
  

• Wrap your mishloach manot in a reusable cloth towel rather than cellophane or other plastic wrap, which would sit in a landfill for more years than you can imagine! Package in reusable containers, such as attractive mugs or netillat yadaim cups, rather than  disposables — your friends, and the earth, will be grateful to you all year round.
• Borrow costumes from a neighbor or a gemach, rather than buying (and discarding) flimsy new ones each year.  If you are handy with a sewing machine, make your own costumes, which will be unique and creative, as well as sturdy enough to outfit little pirates or princesses for years to come.
• “Green” your seudah table in a number of ways:

Napkins and tablecloths: Consider using a cloth tablecloth. If you use cloth napkins and tablecloths, they ideally should be made of organic cotton. If you use paper products, make sure they are unbleached products. The point here is to reduce the reliance on environmentally harmful petroleum-based pesticides and chlorine.
Cups and Plates: If you do not have a permanent, reusable set of cups and plates in your home or congregation, or the means to acquire them, then purchase only paper or compostable products. Read the label on the paper dish package to ensure that they do not have a plastic coating. Currently, disposable dishes that are acceptable for composting are composed of sugar cane, maize or potato products. In Jerusalem, for example, you can find compostable tableware at Gindhi’s paper supply store on Agrippas Street and Party Time in the Achim Yisrael Mall in Talpiot.
Cutlery: Instead of using plastic forks, knives and spoons, put out wooden toothpicks. Needless to say, using wooden toothpicks will require you to carefully consider what holiday refreshments may be served with such utensils. Leave out a small container (marked “Toothpicks for Composting”) so that congregants can dispose of their used pieces.  Alternatively, use a permanent, reusable set of cutlery or arrange a refreshment table of just “finger foods.”  Finally, you may also purchase compostable cutlery at the above mentioned stores.
Beverage Bottles: Recycle glass wine/grape juice bottles and plastic water/soft drink bottles. Teach your guests to turn over the empty plastic bottles to check that the bottom has the triangular recycling symbol. Point out the recycling triangle, as well as the code name PET or the number 1.  Take your glass bottles back to your grocery. Redeem the deposit. Donate the returned change to your favorite charity.
Leftovers: If your neighborhood has a compost container, collect non-dairy and non-meat based food leftovers to throw into the compost box. Do not, however, put in oily foods or foods that have seeds. Alternatively, you can take your organic waste to the City’s Recycling Center in Givat Shaul across from Herzog Hospital. This center is open daily, throughout the day.
Clean-up: After everyone leaves, tidy up using environmentally friendly cleaners. These products generally have a plant base. They contain no phosphates, no animal ingredients, no chlorine, and no petroleum. Furthermore, they have not been tested on animals. After the floors have been scrubbed, nourish your garden with the gray water.

Deborah Rubin Fields is a Jerusalem based educational writer and copywriter. She is the ebook author of Take a Peek Inside: A Child’s Guide to Radiology Exams.

*********

AACI will  be hosting 2 Purim events this year.

1.     Songs, Stories & Snack for Purim! (Children’s Programs with Mimi)
When: Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 from 15:30 – 16:30 PM
Who: For children ages 3 and up
Where:AACI Jerusalem – Dr. Max & Gianna Glassman Family Center, Pierre Koenig 37, corner of Poalei Tzedek 2, Talpiot   MAP
Cost per child: AACI members NIS 25/non-members NIS 30. Family price (3 siblings or more): AACI members NIS 60/non-members NIS 75

Please pre-register so we know how much snack is needed. To receive more information, to register or to volunteer with the children’s programs, call 02-566-1181 or 052-754-7111 or email AACIKidslibrary@gmail.com.

2.     Rabbi Ada Zavidov: A Feminist Perspective on Purim (AACI Jerusalem Retired Active Persons )
When: Wednesday, March 7th, 2012, at 11:00 AM
Where: AACI Jerusalem – Dr. Max & Gianna Glassman Family Center, Pierre Koenig 37, corner of Poalei Tzedek 2, Talpiot   MAP
Cost:NIS 10A weekly update of RAPS programs is sent by email. To receive these, please e-mail
warner2@zahav.net.il

Chanan Mazal – Art Studio Update, February 2012

UPDATE: An Inside Look at the Exhibit

Opening night was an exciting event. Meeting the artists and hearing them speak about their inspiration and techniques helped me to look at the paintings more thoughtfully. Both Chanan and Ron use layering, for example, which creates texture and depth. I also appreciated the Israeli feeling evident in their art – Ron depicts the landscapes surrounding his home in Kibbutz Urim, while pomegranates, figs and other types of Israel’s Seven Species frequently appear in Chanan’s work.
All in all, a very enjoyable evening and an interesting exhibit.
The exhibit will continue through April 5 at AACI Jerusalem.

Thanks go to KJ Hannah Greenberg for her blog post at the jpost.com. Click here to read it.

Dear friends,

Please come to the opening of the new show in the AACI Gallery on Tuesday evening, February 21 at 6 pm and bring your family and friends.  The artists are Chanan Mazal and Ron Gang – the work looks great and it should be a wonderful show. 

 Instead of having a Gallery Talk on a different evening, both Chanan and Ron preferred to talk in depth about their work at the opening.  Chanan sent me the following blog – it is food for thought and gives us a taste (if you will pardon the pun) of what is in store for us on Tuesday.

 See you there!

Donna Grushka 

map to AACI

Chanan Mazal – Art Studio Update

February 2012

 

Dear Friends,

I would like to share some of my recent artwork with you.

Last May, at the opening of my show at the Jerusalem Theater, I spoke about the border between ornament and art, and about my exploration of ornament’s potential as a vehicle for emotional and artistic expression. I have found this subject to be even deeper and more gratifying than I had imagined. While applying more and more layers to each painting, I alternatively create denser layers of pattern, or masks to hide or mutate them. Like a toddler building a tower of blocks, building, knocking down, and building again. At the same time, my own levels of raw emotions vacillate with a desire to return to a well behaved and pretty aesthetic. Like the naughty child in Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are”.

My goal is to stop working at that enigmatic point in time when I feel that this tug of war has reached a perfect tie. The war is between impulsive, yet engaging, “bad taste” and refined, pleasing “good taste.” The moment when our tense concentration breaks into a humorous, joyous smile.

I use the power or delicacy of pattern, to counterbalance my deliberately coarse execution of earlier layers; to correct my deliberately imperfect compositions, and to make peace with warring colors. I prefer to initially attack the canvas as quickly as possible, from my gut. Then I patiently, thoughtfully and joyfully build up the painting to that moment of equilibrium. Perhaps we all get gratification from fixing broken things.

When artists paint portraits of others, in a sense they are always painting themselves. Likewise, I feel that even when I paint the most neutral of objects, these works reflect my own search for self identity. Our teenage self definitions get redefined over time, as we mature, change our family and work roles, and re clarify our values.

I find that self humor is a great tool. Perhaps that is why so many of my works contain either a well balanced, symmetrically placed object, over a joyfully chaotic undercoat, or impossibly off balanced bowls, about to roll off of the canvas.

If any of you folks are here in Jerusalem, please join me next Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the opening of my newest exhibition at the AACI. Details below.

Best regards,

Chanan

Chanan Mazal

C. Mazal Art Ltd.

11 Rivka St.

Jerusalem 93461

Israel

www.mazalart.com

www.mazalart.blogspot.com

Tel (972)2-6719715

Fax (972)2-6719779

Mobile 054-6374751

Going Once … Going Twice …

Going once … going twice … are you going to AACI’s 60th Anniversary Gala Auction? Here is your personal invitation!

On Thursday, February 23, 2012, AACI will be presenting this entertaining fund-raising evening.  A conventional “sold to the highest bidder” auction will partner with a Chinese auction, which is more like a raffle.* The net result – fun for everyone and items for every budget!

A wine and cheese reception at 6:30 PM will kick off the activities and give you the opportunity to inspect the auction items and enter tickets for the Chinese Auction. The main event starts at 7:00 PM.

Come and bid on a wonderful array of goods and services! The eye-catching offerings (a few of which are pictured in this post) include:

• original artwork
• exciting tours
• Israel Opera tickets
• fine dining experiences
• exquisite Judaica items
• beauty packages
• an invitation to a Maccabi Electra basketball game as the guest of the great Tal Brody
• and the grand prize – one airline ticket to the US!

Online bids are being accepted for items in the conventional auction until midnight (Israel time) on February 15. See the catalog and/or submit your bid.

The catalog shows just a limited selection of the offerings. Many more goods and services, donated by our generous and creative supporters, will be available for sale ONLY on the night of the auction.

All sale proceeds will go to support AACI’s programs and activities.

The charge for this exciting and fun event is NIS 30 for members/NIS 40 for non-members, including two free 10 NIS tickets for the Chinese Auction.  Additional tickets can be purchased at the event – and you’ll surely want more when you see what you can win.

We’re expecting a crowd, so please call the AACI office at (02)566-1181 to reserve your place today!

The Gala Auction will be held
at: The AACI-Dr. Max and Gianna Glassman Family Center, 37 Pierre Koenig/2 Poalei Tzedek, Talpiot, Jerusalem (see map)
on: Thursday evening, February 23, 2012, beginning at 6:30 PM.

* NOTE: The Chinese “auction” is really a type of raffle; after purchasing tickets, YOU decide which items to focus on. The more tickets you buy, the more chances you have to win.

Happy New Year to the Trees

“The almond trees are blooming!” I excitedly emailed my mother a few days ago. She lives back in Montreal, my snowy alte heim, where the traditional first sign of spring, spotting a robin, usually doesn’t take place till some time in early April.

But, after twenty years in Israel, my heart still lifts when I see gnarled almond branches sprouting delicately lovely blossoms — and in January! This charming sight, even on the coldest, bleakest day, reminds me that warmer weather is coming.

A notable characteristic of shekediot (or Prunus dulcis, to give their botanical name) is that unlike many other fruit trees, they flower before producing leaves. As a result, their five-petaled white or pale pink blooms are all the more visible. Also, almond trees do not shed their old fruit. Instead, fresh young flowers share space with the leftover almonds of yesteryear. When, as part of some New Age-y, get-to-know-your-inner-self exercise, I was asked to draw the tree I most resemble, I chose an almond. Connection to the past and growth in new directions, as well as sturdy rootedness in the Land of Israel, are qualities I try to … well … cultivate in myself. I liked my new alter ego so much that I began using “shekedia” as a nom de plume (pen name) on the Internet – or maybe on the Net they call it a nom de souris (mouse name).

Wikipedia’s article about almond trees taught me an interesting tidbit: almonds are not horticulturally nuts, but instead are members of the peach family! If you have a look at unpeeled almonds, either in the shuk or on the hoof, as it were, you will see that they are encased in two layers – a fuzzy outer covering coats a woody shell somewhat similar to a peach pit. The almond seed itself closely resembles a peach kernel. Wild (bitter) almonds contain dangerous amounts of hydrogen cyanide, as do peach kernels, and their cultivation and sale is banned in the United States. So admire our Israeli wild almond trees from afar, but don’t be tempted to sample a taste.

However, whether nutty or peachy, domesticated almonds are a delicious tree fruit and as such, are often eaten as part of celebrations of Tu B’Shvat. Tu B’Shvat, the New Year of the Trees when the age of a tree is calculated for halachic purposes, falls on February 8^th in 2012. This festive day is traditionally marked by eating fruit, especially olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates, sometimes as part of a seder, or ritual meal. Many charitable organizations raise funds at this time of year by selling attractive platters of dried fruits and nuts. In addition, schoolchildren in Israel often go to the forest to plant trees. I have happy memories of joining my kids years ago on a tiyul to the woods next to Har Nof, where we proudly planted tiny saplings.

AACI Jerusalem is offering three Tu B’Shvat activities this year:

1) A talk by Tomer of Victor’s Landscape Center – Wednesday February 1, at 11 AM. “All You Ever Wanted to Know about House Plants and Did Not Know Who to Ask!” Potted kitchen herbs will be offered for sale. Hosted by AACI Jerusalem Retired Active Persons. NIS 5 admission for members, NIS 10 for non-members, plus NIS 10 per plant purchased.

2) Tu B’Shvat seder for kids — Tuesday February 7, from 4:30-5:30 PM, Cost is AACI Members NIS 25 / non members NIS 30. Please pre-register so we know how much snack is needed. Elana or Rafi, Program Coordinators. 02-5661181.
jlmprog@aaci.org.il

3) Special Tu B’Shvat seder with Rabbi Barry Schlesinger — Wednesday February 8, at 11 AM. Hosted by AACI Jerusalem Retired Active Persons (RAP). Please call for more information 02-566-1181.

All three events will be held at AACI – Dr. Max & Gianna Glassman Family Center, Jerusalem, 37 Pierre Koenig 37, corner of Poalei Tzedek 2, Talpiot. 02-5661181.

Tu B’Shvat sameach, everyone, and Happy New Year to the trees!

BIRTHDAY OF AN AISHES CHAYIL

The very special (80^th!) birthday of a very special person, Bryna Franklin, was celebrated at AACI on January 11, 2012.

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A Master’s level college graduate from back in the 50s – when it wasn’t so common for a woman even to go to college – she became the lady of a manor and continued to demonstrate her creative flair in politics. However, much of her wisdom also comes from the School of Hard Knocks. What she likes to do more than anything else is to reach out and touch others.

Bryna chose AACI as the venue for her celebration because of her many friends in the AACI community: her fellow seniors and bridge club buddies.

One hundred and fifteen guests attended the party. Many more had to be turned away.

Bryna was toasted by Rabbi Moe from Ascent in Safed and Rebbetzin Gila Rosen, on behalf of herself and her husband, the late Rabbi Mickey Rosen z’l, Rosh Hayeshiva of Yakar inJerusalem.

Sara Peters led all the guests in singing “You Are My Sunshine” to Bryna and then read her a wonderful poem about turning 80, reminding us that Sara herself was 80 once, 14 years ago.

Entertainment was provided by a husband-wife dance team, Jill and Amnon Damti, whose outstanding credentials including performing at the White House. They involved the audience, who loved it. Amnon’s work as a dancer choreographer is all the more remarkable because he has been deaf since birth.

A notable attendee was Rabbi Robert Weiner, author of 9 1/2 Mystics: the Kabbala Today and a personal friend of Bryna’s.

Bryna asked that donations be made to the Anne Scully Williams Scholarship Fund, which she has just established through ESRA (English-Speaking Residents’ Association) in memory of a dear friend.

As a highlight of the event, Bryna’s close friend, Yehudit Chava, read her updated and personalized version of “Aishes Chayil,” the description of a valorous woman traditionally sung on Friday night.

Aishes Chayil – Bryna

January 11, 2012

A woman of valor who can find?

Her price is far above rubies; she shares her wealth like fairy dust.

Hashem’s heart trusts in her; she starts every day with her morning prayers.

She works willingly with her hands; she blesses those with hand massages!

She visits the sick and walks the elderly home. Her community calls her happy.

She is like the merchant-ships; she brings food when it’s needed; either from her own kitchen or by spending her last agarot. She has traveled the world and delights in sharing with other cultures.

She stretches out her hand out to the poor, and puts forth her hand out to the needy (that’s all of us folks, you and me). She truly believes that through tzedaka and mitzvot everyone gets a little tug on the heart and then that tug continues to get passed down to the next generations. She even established a Scholarship Fund for young adults through ESRA, in memory of her dearest friend and inspiration, Anne Scully Williams.

Her lamp does not go out by night; she contemplates the next 10 things she can do for others, and also remembers those who will never know of her kindness.

She took her place in theHoly Landby making aliyah some 30 years ago. She shuns no responsibility; she is still paying off her college loan!

She plants vineyards everywhere she goes, and then speaks to the plants so they grow well and don’t get lonely.

She girds her loins with strength and makes strong her arms at the gym, pool or tai chi class. Her diet is healthy. She walks all over town after a hip replacement, still always balancing packages and bags with no hand left to use her cane.

She is fearless, not afraid of hard times for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet. Strength and majesty are her clothing. She hosts many gatherings, always with elegance, style, and perfect social grace. This includes sending out the old fashioned “bread and butter invitations and thank you notes” — she hand makes her own cards, each stuffed with personalized love. Then she addresses them all by hand to people all over the world, especially on their birthdays. Want to be added to her mailing list?!

She also has kept up with modern technology. She emails from her laptop, SMS’s messages from her cell phone, attends many classes and events, AND she still plays bridge like a wiz.

Favor is false and beauty is vain but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. She does only good and not evil all the days of her life.

She doesn’t fear the time to come and opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of loving-kindness is on her tongue. No lashon hara there!

She does not eat the bread of idleness … at any given time, even while standing in line or on a bus, you will see her meditating, and nurturing her energy, while maybe squeezing a ball or standing on one leg to reinforce her strength and stability for one more day.

She is true to her word. She cherishes life and shows deep affection to her friends. She shows a high level of respect to all. She qualifies her words with “I don’t mean to be unkind.” She thanks taxi drivers for their kindness and tells waiters that they made her day.

She walks the talk. She is the friend who comes in when all others have gone out. Hashem rewards her. Her sweet partner, of blessed memory, Elchanon, was known at the gate when he sat among the elders of the land. He praised her, saying: Many women have done worthily but thou excellest them all.

May this modern-day aishes chayil continue to be an inspiration to all of us until 120 plus!

Reflections — Four Artists View Their Worlds

by guest contributor Laura Firszt

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Entering AACI’s new offices is a pleasant surprise – the premises feel bright and functional but not sterile. The walls are enhanced with the colorful works of four exciting Israeli artists. The impression is of visiting different areas of our country; the widely varied styles of the artists seem to reflect the variety of landscapes and people in Israel.

Shoshana Meerkin’s watercolors delicately depict light and shade. Many of her paintings embody a theme of Israeli doors and windows, often partly open, inviting the viewer to imagine what lies beyond. Similarly, in “Let’s Go There,” two elderly women sit on a seaside bench, backs to the viewer. Despite their relaxed pose, their attention to the sun-dappled boats in front of them creates a sense of forward motion and thought.

The rich bright colors of Ruth Gesser’s oil paintings portray the almost jungle-like exuberance of Israeli gardens. Her watercolors seem drenched in the intense sunlight that is so characteristic of summer in this country. A versatile artist, she also combines watercolors and watercolor pastels to create intriguing semi-abstract works.

Ruth Keusch uses oils to create paintings of human figures or flowers with strong, almost harsh lines. In true Israeli fashion, she is rigorously honest, yet sympathetic, in her interaction with her subjects. As well, she produces earthy sculptures. In the words of one of the viewers of her exhibit: “Exciting!”

Esther Weiser Kreisman combines her traditional art school background with modern technology to produce big bold “urban landscapes.” Photographs of a scene at various times of day are melded to create paintings that are alive with motion and energy, from the lighthearted, bright “Coca Cola Beach Tel Aviv,” to the fluid familiar/unfamiliar feeling given by “Jerusalem 2008.”

Many of the original paintings, as well as posters and giclee reproductions, are for sale. A percentage of all sales will be donated to the AACI.

The works will be on display until February 15, 2012 and are open to the public free of charge during AACI’s opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm and some evenings.

A gallery talk from 6-8 pm this Sunday, January 22nd, will allow art lovers to hear the artists discuss their works and their creative process, followed by a question period.

Phone 02-5661181 for hours and directions or check our website: www.aaci.org.il.
A new exhibit is presented approximately every six weeks, making the works of contemporary Israeli artists easily accessible to the general public.

Welcome to our newest guest Blogger, Laura Firszt. We hope to be reading lots more from Laura on a regular basis.

Distribution of Gas Masks

January 9, 2012 – Thanks to Alan Schleider for this updated information:

“I now have better information.  *171 is indeed out of service but *2237 is working but it is a very long wait.  You might have better luck trying the web site, http://www.israelpost.co.il/oref-calls.nsf/callme3?openform“

originally published in the September-October 2011 edition of AACI’s VOICE

The Home Front Command (Pikud HaOref) had announced that you can get your masks delivered via The Israel Postal Courier Service to a convenient address.  

 

Orders can be made by telephone to the distribution center between 07:00-22:00 and on Friday between 7:00-14:00. Dial *171 or *2237 for someone to contact you.

Date of delivery will be determined in coordination with the client. Delivery cost is NIS 25 per household. To leave contact details use this link:

Gas Masks will be provided at no cost for all eligible residents.

Residents who have not returned their old gas masks will be required during the distribution period to return them, or if lost, will be required to pay.

There are plans for a free program for those who are homebound, living in special institutions for health reasons defined by the Home Front Command in cooperation with relevant ministries. 

 

Note to the Public: The above is a service notice and by no means should be taken as a sign of imminent danger and to cause alarm to the residents of Israel

IICC – Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center

With special thanks to our newest contributor, Jack Cohen of AACI’s Netanya branch.

Jack has many talents and interests, and among them, he has a blog called Isblog at http://commentfromisraelblog.blogspot.com/. This is from his December 8, 2011 post. Posted with permission.

    On Tuesday we went on a trip (tiyul) with AACI to the IICC. AACI is the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, our English-speaking club in Netanya and IICC is the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center. I have lived in Israel for 15 years and had never before heard of this organization, that was established in 1985 to commemorate the Israeli heroes who died in the service of the State while carrying out intelligence operations.

    The IICC was formed by the three arms of Israel’s intelligence services; the Shin Bet (responsible for internal security), the Mossad (responsible for foreign intelligence gathering and analysis) and Aman the Intelligence Corps of the IDF. More than that, the IICC sits in an obscure location on a small side street, which I used as a short cut going home from work and passed it many times without realizing that it was there. It would indeed require information and intelligence to find it.

(click here for video)

    It was founded by former intelligence officers to commemorate their fallen colleagues. The memorial consists of a stone maze with the names of the deceased carved on the walls.

    There is also a small synagogue containing a 120 year old Syrian Torah scroll that was one of over 100 rescued by the Mossad during the rescue of Syrian Jewry, and adjacent is a library containing a file on each individual, that contains official letters as well as material added by family members and friends. It should be emphasized that all this information is now public, although some individuals still cannot be named.

    Part of the Center includes the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center that has a large library on intelligence and terrorism information as well as a tiny museum on terrorism (see www.terrorism-info.org.il) . This is a private organization that has ties to the formal State intelligence organizations and produces reports on various topics that contain only publicly available information. For example they produced the Report that was submitted as the official Israeli reaction to the Goldstone Report.

    We were shown an introductory video on the Center, then a video about one of the successful operations carried out in 1953, soon after the State was founded, in order to rescue Jewish children from Morocco, under the aegis of “Nativ” that was a part of the Mossad given the responsibility to rescue endangered Jews from anywhere in the world.

    For this operation the Mossad recruited a young British Jew named David Littman, code-named “Mural,” who was living in Switzerland with his wife and child. David was anxious to help Jews who were endangered, partly because as a historian he had studied the Holocaust. He was asked by the Jewish Agency to go to Morocco and see if he could rescue 500 Jewish children, but he was unaware that he had been recruited by the Mossad.

    He took his family with him and posed as a British Christian under a false identity. He set up an office in Casablanca that was a charity offering free holidays in Switzerland to children under stress. He made contacts with the Swiss and British diplomats and Moroccan authorities. He was accepted as genuine by them and he then signed up children for the holidays, all of whom incidentally were Jewish. The Moroccan authorities granted him mass visas for 100 children at a time, and he successfully rescued 530, some by boat and some by plane. From Switzerland, from a genuine holiday villa, the children were then transported to Israel. Neither the children nor their parents actually knew that Israel was their destination, although many suspected this. After the success of Operation Mural, the Moroccan authorities, maybe partly out of embarrassment and partly out of the realization that they could not prevent the Jews from leaving, allowed 100,000 Jews to be transported by sea via France and Italy to Israel. The parents of the rescued children joined them in Israel.

    Incidentally, Littman’s wife, Gisele, who was expelled from Egypt with her parents in 1957, writes under the nom-de-plume of Bat Yeor and authored a famous book entitled “Dhimmi,” the Arabic for protected minorities.

     After lunch we also heard a lecture by Prof. Yoram Kahati on “Radical Islam”, in which he described the modern origins of radical Islam from Hassan al Banna who founded the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 and Said Kuttub (Sayid Qutb) in Egypt in the 1940′s to Yussuf Qaradawi, the Muslim cleric who has justified under Islam much of the current terror used against Israel and the West. He also explained the symbolism that is used by the terrorist groups such as Hizbollah and Hamas in their flags and slogans and described their world-view. Altogether not a pleasant subject but very interesting and informative.

(You can expect to hear more from Jack who was born in London, UK, lived in suburban Washington DC area for 30 years, moved to Israel in 1996. A retired Professor. Thanks again, Jack!)