Celebrating Tel Aviv's 100th Birthday

CCAR Convention - Day 3

Today's entire program was located in Tel Aviv, Israel's first modern Jewish city. We began in groups of four or five, and were led on walking tours of various areas of the city by Tel Aviv residents. The group I was with found its way to a lovely beach front coffee shop. There our hosts shared their story of surviving the shoah, making their way to Israel, settling in Tel Aviv and, in recent years, helping to build a Reform synagogue in the city.

After our tour, we spent time at Mishkenot Ruth Daniel, a center for progressive Judaism in Jaffa. There we heard from the mayor of Tel Aviv and enjoyed seminars on such subjects as Arab-Jewish Coexistence in the city, Liberal Jewish Education in Tel Aviv schools, and an exploration of Tel Aviv/Yafo's historic marketplaces.

The highlight of the day came that evening before dinner during a visit to the Nalaga'at Deaf-Blind Theater. A performance of the play "Not by Bread Alone" by a troupe of deaf-blind actors was a moving and enlightening look into the world of ability and dis-ability. It is a theater troupe that is unique to Israel. Among the more fascinating aspects of this non-profit is that it is supported in part by proceeds from a restaurant and cafe staffed by deaf-blind waiters.

After the play we had the chance to meet personally with the actors and break bread with them. It was an unexpected and unique experience which my colleagues and I agreed would be a meaningful one to add to any of our Israel tours.