RE: Shalom

Shalom,

We're just about to book tickets and finalize our schedule, and wanted to give meshpuchah & friends an opportunity to make suggestions -- including changing travel dates -- in case there's a reason to either get to Israel earlier, or to leave later than our current plans (below):

| March | 5: | San Francisco to London (Virgin Atlantic) |
| March | 6: | Decompress in London |
| March | 7: | Easyjet to Tel Aviv. |
| March | 8: | First full day in Israel |
| March | 11: | Begin NFTY 'Parent Tour' based at Tzuva (Rachel's school) |
| March | 19: | Last day of 'Parent Tour' with Rachel |
| March | 25: | Pesach w. Danny Gewurtz & fam. |
| April | 3 | Last full day in Israel |
| April | 4: | Tel Aviv to Athens (Aegean Airlines) |
| April | 8: | Athens to Paris (Aegean Airlines) |
| April | 14: | France London (air or chunnel) |
| April | 18: | London to San Francisco (Virgin Atlantic) |

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We'll probably book these tickets on Sat. night or Sunday. Again, if any sees a reason we should alter our dates (Israel from March 8 to April 4) then please let us know ASAPractical.

In particular, if there's time(s) & date(s) when it would be convenient for you to meet up with us, please tell us (we don't want to be in the wrong place at the right time :-) Our constraint is that Rachel's school discourages her leaving (eg for visiting relatives) except for their 'days-off' on Fridays & Saturdays.

These are our current plans. We haven't made firm plans on exactly what we'll see or where we'll go in Israel, so we haven't booked lodging yet (except for the 'Parent Tour' from March 11--19) and so we appreciate all and any suggestions. If anyone has a favorite destination, motel, kibbutz, or B&B (particularly one that's discounted during the Pesach season :-) please let us know.

While we're in Israel we'd like to meet with the Yad Vashem folk (et al) about recognizing Anton Roder (aka 'Toni the Priest) as a 'Righteous of Nations' for the many favors he did for our family (and many others), which earned him de-frocking from the Church and a sentence to Ravensbruck concentration camp. Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Finally, we'd like to visit Hebron, so any suggestions (eg: safe transportation?) would be great.

Looking forward to seeing y'all Nur simchas!

--Ron

email: ronreisman@gmail.com
phone: 650-839-3825
skype:

PS: Alain & Gumby: any suggestions about places to stay (& see :-) in Paris & environs?

PPS: Al: Are you still living in Paris? If so, would you like to get together when we're visiting?

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Hi Ron,

Some ideas:

There is an organization called "Shovrim Shtika" (breaking the silence) that organizes tours to Hebron. The orientation is left wing. Here is the link http://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/tours/4 You can balance it with a tour organized by the Jewish Settlers in Hebron. Here is the link http://www.hebron.com/english/tour.php

Other then Hebron - I would suggest you spend some time in saner places like Tel Aviv. There is a beautiful boardwalk from the old port till Jaffa and weather in March will be great. You can walk Rotchild Blvd up to Neva Zedek, relax and have great coffee in one of many coffee shops and do a lot more. Great night life as well. You can do all that either on foot or you have a lot of bike rental stations around the city where you can rent a bike on hourly/daily base and return in another station. Bear in mind Tel Aviv was declared by lonely planet as one of the most fun cities in the world. And it is.

Any of you into off road biking? -- If so you can join me (the bikes on me) in the area where we live - a little bit north to Tel Aviv - to do some trips along some easy and beautiful trails.

It seems that "classical Israel" - Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Masada, lad Vasham, etc. are covered by the trips of the program.

Other things you might consider: Akko (Acre) in the north - walk the crusaders tunnels. Desert Trip on 4X4 in the Ramon crater. (If interesting I will send you a phone number of somebody who organizes such tours). Cross to Petra in Jordan for one day There is lot more to see and tour. The north - Galilee will green and beautiful

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in March, many sites to see. And there is the Negev....

Please remind Rachel to call us if it suites her to join us for Friday dinner and overnight.

If you need anything else - information, advice or what not - just let me know.

Call us when you arrive - 972-54-6682900

Danny