The Israel Diaries: Day 2 & 3 – Exploring Mystical Tzfat, Yad Vashem & Tel Aviv at Night

Our second full day in Israel, we woke up in Tzfat at the Ruth Rimon Hotel. I loved being up north and was excited to explore Tzfat. I was tired, having gone to bed after arrival and a very full first day. I’ll admit I am not an early riser by choice. However, we had a full day and we had to get started. I would have liked more time at the Ruth Rimon Hotel, but our schedule was packed.

To fuel us first, we enjoyed a delicious Israeli Breakfast.

We had tons of choices — including many salads, spices, cheeses, egg dishes – you name it, we had it! It was incredible.

A whole table devoted to spices? Yep. It’s a thing. I have to admit I didn’t sample any of these and would love to know more about what is used for what.

We had a class with our wonderful spiritual leader, Adrienne Gold to talk about the Kabbalah of Love: What do our mystics say about love and relationships and how those lessons can bring us closer to those we love.

Then set off to explore Tzfat.

Our tour guide, David Sussman, who was fantastic, showed us around. Tzfat is supposed to be a very mystical place. We toured around and David gave us a history lesson.

Spy the red string bracelets?

There was a synagogue right in Tzfat by all the shops.
Note: When in Israel, ladies – always have a shawl or a long skirt in your bag, your arms and legs should be covered when you are in holy places.

Next, we went to the hospital to speak to one of the doctors, Dr. Ran Katz of Ziv Medical Center.

What I didn’t know is this medical center, with close proximity to the borders with Lebanon and Syria has created a long-standing cooperation between the hospital and the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Thousands of Israeli citizens, members of the security forces, residents of the Golan Heights and Southern Lebanon, Syrian citizens and UN soldiers and personnel suffering from severe war injuries, victims of hostilities, accidents, and illness, have been treated at the Ziv Medical Center during periods of war, emergency situations and routine circumstances. Since February 2013, Ziv Medical Center has been treating wounded and ill Syrians, providing them with humanitarian medical assistance. Ziv’s staff provides medical treatment to the casualties including children, women, and men, suffering from complex war injuries following the lack of medical options for treatment in Syria. Dr. Katz told us that everyone deserves to be helped, which was a pretty amazing attitude. We had an opportunity to speak to a refugee, but I declined. The reason that I declined was that after my son’s emergency hospitalization at the end of August is still very fresh for me and I couldn’t handle being at the hospital. I thank the Ziv Medical Center for all that they are doing for the Syrian refugees — please continue your lifesaving work.

On the way back to Jerusalem, we stopped for lunch at Medita and it was delicious.

We headed to Jerusalem (which took a while) and then checked into our hotel, The Leonardo Plaza. I was pretty pleased with my nice, spotless room.

 

Then we headed out to 1858 Restaurantfor a delicious dinner.

 

We ate, we chatted, we bonded some more. Exhausted and happy, we went to bed, ready for another day.

The next day we visited Vad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum.

While this was a very solemn trip, I’m glad I went. With the state of the world, the US, and with leaders of countries trying to stop free speech about the Holocaust (yes, I’m looking at you, Poland) it’s more important than ever for us not to forget. It was a very hard museum to visit, but if you are going to visit Israel, this is a must. We had a guided tour and even though I had been to Yad Vashem back in 1993 when I visited, it was a totally different experience. I looked at it through a mother’s lens and it upset me even more.

Out of respect, I only took a few pictures.

Yad Vashem is designed so when you leave, you gaze out at the beautiful view. It’s to inspire hope and show the greenery of Jerusalem.

After the visit to Yad Vasham, we went over to Mount Herzel to hear Miriam Peretz speak. Miriam Peretz is the mother of two slain Israeli Soldiers and she was so inspirational. Her oldest son, Uriel, was killed in the Golan by a Hezbollah bomb at 22 years old. Another son, Eliraz, 32, a major in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Golani Brigade and a father of four, had been killed in a Hamas ambush near the Gaza border. His youngest child was just 2 months old and she never got to meet her father. Heartbreaking.

For more info about Miriam, check out her book, Miriam’s Song. To be able to go on after such loss. I just don’t think I could be as strong. This mother of 6 and a former educator is someone that has this strength. May her sons’ memories be a blessing.

After we got to meet Miriam and hear her speak, we had lunch at Medita. The food was beyond amazing.

Can you say Halavah Ice Cream! It was dairy free (we were at kosher meat restaurant) and so delicious!

We headed back to Tel Aviv for the late afternoon night. We visited We Work (they started here!) and had a visit with Tikkun Olam Makers. As a mother of a child with a chronic disease, the way that makers look at problems and try to solve them really fascinated me.

And then we headed over to visit David D’Or, a famous Israeli Singer for a private concert and to view his art. He was amazing.

Take a look at the Facebook Live I did.

Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner on our own (I had a wonderful time with Deb of  @askdoctorg ) and just got back to our hotel in Jerusalem after a long, but productive day.

Ruth Rimon Hotel
Tet Zayin St 1aTet Zayin St 1a
Tzfat, Israel

Medita Restaurant
Derech Hebron 101, Jerusalem
http://www.medita.rest.co.il/

Thank you to the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project for making this all happen and sponsoring me for this trip. As always, all opinions are my own and this trip will be shown through my own lens. 

Read my first post:

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Main Trip Sponsors

These are the organizations that made Media Magnets happen. 

 Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project
Facebook: @JWRPofficial
Twitter: @JWRPMomentum
Instagram: @JWRP_Momentum  

Hashtags: #MediaMagnets #ItStartsWithWomen #VisitIsrael

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism
Facebook: @goisrael
Twitter: @IsraelTourism
Instagram: @visit_israel   Hashtag: #VisitIsrael

Partners and Contributors

**These are the companies and people who made sponsorships and contributions.**

EL AL
Facebook: @ELALGlobal
Twitter: @el_al_airlines
Instagram: @elalisrael

Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel Aviv
Facebook: @crowneplaza
Twitter: @CrownePlaza
Instagram: @crowneplaza

Talia Zoref
Facebook: @fashionscissors
Instagram: @taliazorefstyle

iTravel Jerusalem
Facebook: @itraveljerusalem.global
Twitter: @ilovejerusalem
Instagram: @itraveljerusalem

David D’Or
Facebook: @daviddor.official
Instagram: @daviddorofficial

David Citadel Hotel 

Facebook: @thedavidcitadel

Twitter: @thedavidcitadel

Instagram: @thedavidcitadel

Speakers

**These are the people who inspired you with their words.**

Ilanit Melchior, Director of Tourism for the city of Jerusalem- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015419238511 or https://www.itraveljerusalem.com/

Michael Eisenberg- https://www.facebook.com/eisenbergmichael or https://aleph.vc/

IsrAID Senior Director of Programs, Naama Gorodischer- https://www.facebook.com/naama.gorodischer or http://www.israaid.co.il/

David Saranga- https://twitter.com/DavidSaranga?lang=en

Sivan Yaari- https://www.facebook.com/Yaari.Sivan or http://www.innoafrica.org/

Miriam Peretz –

SWAG

**These are the companies and people that gave us fantastic freebies.**

YAELOMAMY– anchor

Instagram: @yaelomamy

LoveKess Clothing– black racerback tank

Facebook: @LoveKessclothing

Instagram: @lovekessclothing

Shlomit Ofir Designs– necklace

Instagram: @shlomitofirdesigns

TALIA– kapara notebook

Instagram: @taliasaraf

Ofek Wertman– magnet set

Facebook: @ofek.wertman.israeli.gifts.tel.aviv

Instagram: @ofek_wertman_israeli_gifts

Rebekah Price Designs– bracelet

Facebook: @rebekahpricedesigns

Twitter: @rpjewelry

Instagram: @rebekahpricedesigns

Gali Maor- framed art

Etsy- https://www.etsy.com/shop/galilove