Just back from israel a week ago,
10 days with family and brilliant friends that try to help a lot. The Localls blamed me for bringing the winter to them as the temp just dropped from nice 26 to 19 with 200 mm of rain in 4 days (more than third of annual quantity). For me it was lovely 19cel.
One of the exciting things for me was to see my grand dad that riched 99, still fairly clear and care about us. A book with the story of his live was printed and I had few tears while reading- amazing story of jewish people story. Pogroms in Poland, and rusia that made his familly to move every few years. Years of severe hunger, and not even enough money for shoes - so had to share them with his sister.
yet invested a lot in studies and work till became professional electrician,as the risk to jewish life increased, at young age decided to move to israel, were he worked for the british army as electrician. he managed to bring his family too and saved their life from the Germans. Took part in developing the country and taking part in many wars.
Israel economy is very strong only about 4% unemployment and yearly growth of more than 4%- impressive.
It was strange to see that nearly all my friend and family seems to work a lot - after work - during the night and weekend getting phone call etc, and that while min weigh is still less than £4.00 while prices gone up a lot. Sad as it means it is economy that is better for rich ones.
Another thing that I really enjoyed was the vegetables- huge markets with veg that yet got wonderful colour , aroma and taste. I filled a bag with 12 red pepers and payed only ... 2 shekells - about 30 pence. (The lowest prices in the world for veg are In israel. 20- 30 pence a kg - hard to find in the UK) And I told the seller that I should fill my sootcase with peppers before coming back. Ha Ha.
I actually filled it with lots of snacks, cakes and gifts for the girls at home.
I also visited international water trade show- It was huge and very impressive- soi many new technologies - (many from israel) for clearing water/ irrigation and much.. I saw at last the new item that I am going to bring to the uk in 2012 but that is for next post.
Comments
Ofer sounds like you had a great time, I was in Herzilya 2 summers ago with the family and Eliat 3 years ago.. and the weather is normally great...My family on my dads side were from Belurussia and someone in the family is doing a family tree to find out excatly whos who....my mums side i've yet to fully find out were they originated but must be similar to my dad I would have thought as most Jews came from the east...
Hi Ofer, your post brings back memories for me of 6 months spent on kibbutzim (Nir David and Barkai) many years ago. Wonderful climate, beautiful country, great food, amazing wildlife, and I loved the life on the kibbutz: working outdoors, no materialism, living in community. But personally I don't feel I could go back now because of the politics. I wonder if peace will ever be achieved between the israelis and the palestinians. I don't mean to start a debate on politics, just saying how I feel personally!
Wow,
never thought I would get comments on such a post,
Many thanks.
Rose, Wow Nir david is one of my favorite places and for sure one of the most beautiful places, there are ( not just in israel).
I loved the time I lived in a kibutz - no money thoughts at all- just enjoying life. It is how I got to know my wife that was a volunteer ( like you - I guess) in the next kibutz.
While most of my friends were still fighting in lebanon I was the first one that was sent to work in a kibutz ( as I damaged my knees, and hearing- in the army - all fine now). I found myself driving a tractor with 2 danish girls sitting on each - coming from the army -It seemed like a dream about heaven.
I worked with a blind gardener that had over 30 years experience- He taught me a lot, and I was lucky at that age to manage a project that inc 14 people for 8 month- planting new gardens and installing irrigation system all around.
Politics, It is very safe in israel, the chance to die in road accidents is 100 times bigger (In israel or in the UK) yet we all drive/ cross roads.
But the chance for peace , very sad to say looks nearly impossible.... (but doable) Gazza will need massive investment with preventing extreme Islam from Iran. Rest of the countries, I am more optimistic - as we hear about changes inside- thanks to facebook- people can have their opinun in these countries- even been non democratic.
My personal concern , Is actually few very rich people that try to turn every part of the country to money machine- building enormous amount of buildings and factories- all around the place. But I hope people will be able to stop it from being too bad.