Visiting the Cohen's at Kvutzat Yavne

After visiting the Azrieli Center, I started my journey to Kvutzat Yavne, home of Dvora, Eli and their four daughters.  They are friends I met in Vancouver, during their experiential trip to our beautiful city. Being neighbours of my darling Ofra, from the moment we met we connected and now in Israel, they opened their arms to greet me.  

The train ride was short, 25 min. at the most.  

Connecting bridge from Mall to Train Station

Tahel and Osher came to pick me up and in no time we arrived to the Kibbutz, but not without making a requested stop at the supermarket. I was determined to bring along a watermelon, since Dvora had reminded me of this tradition, and I made sure to keep it.  When they lived in Vancouver, I had brought watermelon to their home which turned out to be so sweet and delicious, that Dvora filed this in her memory bank.  I also recall visiting their home for a Mimouna gathering, and seeing the girls making Moufletas, one at a time, for all of us guests.  Their hospitality was amazing.

Osher reminded me that she had driven my car to Seattle, so that Eli could pick up the rented motorhome that would later drive the whole family down south, from Canada to the US, before boarding the plane back to Israel. I had truly forgotten about this, and felt reassured of my kind gesture that obviously planted a seed of friendship amongst us.

The Kibbutz grounds looked rural and park-like. When I found myself facing Dvora and Eli, I was overwhelmed with emotion and started to cry, but repressed my tears as best I could. It felt as though I was meeting old friends, whom I trusted and respected, and being away from home they offered me the feeling of importance and respect.  Eli and Dvora posed a lot of questions about my move, expectations and plans for the future, all with the intention to support me. 

W e hen headed down to their front yard, facing their complex, where Dvora had set up a dinner table. We made a l'Chaim toast for my safe arrival and adaptation to my new life. The meal was simple and tasty: BBQ steak, salad and home-made french fries. 

At the table sat the next door neighbours, with whom the Cohens share a lot of time. They are a middle-aged couple, with two sons and two daughters. The man spoke to me about the running of the Kibbutz.  His job is to buy all of the food for the residents, as the Kibbutz kitchen feeds 600+ families!  He also told me that the Kibbutz produces 20% of Israel's cucumbers, an interesting fact, and that everyone in the Kibbutz works to make sure their home remains viable.  Unfortunately I did not get the opportunity to tour the Kibbutz, as it was getting late, but I certainly hope to come back during the day and experience the surroundings.

I truly enjoyed seeing the girls and sharing a bit of time together.  All four of them –  Odeya, Osher, Tahel and Rona – are educated, polite, kind and sweet. I was automatically invited to Odeya and Ilan's wedding, which will take place on May 30th at the Kibbutz. I feel elated about having the opportunity to experience a wedding not only in Israel, but also in a Kibbutz.  

During this visit I also learned that Osher and her husband who was away at the army), will be moving to Vancouver in the summer.  Dvora told me that Rabbi Shmulik had visited them recently, and hand-picked this lovely young couple to assist him in the running of the Community Kollel.  I feel happy about this, as I like the idea that the Cohen family will develop new ties with the Vancouver Jewish community.  I also know that Carol and Nadia will love to have them there.

It was getting late, and thank G-d I asked Dvora when the last train left the station.  Eli checked and rushed me to the door, practically shouting that I had limited time to catch the 9:30pm train.  Osher and Ilan drove me speedily.  When I arrived to the station I basically walked into the wagon.  Had I arrived 30 seconds later, I would have had to take a cab or sleep in the Kibbutz.  

Amongst the gifts I received that night, I carried with me two cans, one containing pickles and another green olives, and a large bottle of olive oil.  All these products came from the soil of Kvutzat Yavne, and Dvora handed them to me gracefully as I was leaving.

Beautiful H and Osher

Dinner outside complex

Dvora & Eli

The soon to be married, Odeya and Ilan

Thrilled to be with good friends!

Pickles, olives and olive oil produced by Kvutzat Yavne

Visiting the Azrielli Center, More than a Mall

During Pessach, I ended up at the Azrieli Center, given its proximity to the HaHaganah Train Station, transportation that would take me to Yavne East, the home of my good friends Dvora and Eli and their five gorgeous daughters. So why not explore this state of the arts architectural landmark?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azrieli_Center

The Mall was packed given the Passover break and I felt overwhelmed with the noise, the crowd, and the feeling of being trapped indoors when the sun was shining. So, I to's ok myself to the rooftop and discovered an entertainment park. There, I found a bench and enjoyed my coffee and delicious slice of pizza (kosher for Pessach) made of potato flour.

During this experience, I was so engaged in my photography, that I lost a plastic bag containing cookies and chocolates for my friends. I felt frustrated, but had no choice but let my loss go. And I kept going and filling my eyes with amazement.

Some of the photos are taken inside the mall, and the others atop the Mall where I caught a view of Tel Aviv.

Enduring Passover Spirit

I have been enjoying the Passover spirit, an experience unlike any other I have had in the past living in the Diaspora. Because schools are closed, families crowd the streets, malls, parks and markets.

Throughout the city, families gather in outdoor mini fairs where children jump inside inflatable tents, have their face painted, do crafts, and devour ice cream. The more religious mothers are well dressed, and look perfectly in control of their little caravan of children, the youngest still in the carriage, and the others running around her having good fun.

Eating out in Israel during Pessach is a breeze. Would you believe it if I told you that food outlets and restaurants kosherize their  kitchens and convert their menus into Pessach delicacies and bakeries sell a variety of cakes and cookies that are nothing but the bread of affliction?  When I spotted a sandwich bar open, I asked Yaffa how come they were serving bread.  She replied that they make a kosher for Passover bread that is so tasty, that most will not notice the difference.  How about a slice of delicious fresh pizza on a cushiony potato flour base, all kosher for Passover?  I treated myself to one, and I can assure you that it beats any Domino Pizza crust, anytime. I love it!

On my way to find a decent store to buy spinach, I stumbled into a park, filled with families having picnics, apparently a very common recreational activity during Pessach. I was attracted to the field by the smell of BBQd delicacies, Mizrahi music blasting out of speakers, and the sound of human voices, children laughing or crying and adults chatter gathered around rectangular picnic tables covered with food and more food. At the distance I spotted a group of observant men and their children playing Soccer, all dressed in their traditional garments, in spite of the hot sun.

At the end, I did not find the store where I could find spinach to make my Mother's RIP traditional Mina de Espinaca, so without hesitation I boarded a bus that took me to Shuk Hatikvah, an outdoor market in a very busy commercial area of Tel Aviv.  I was able to find fresh spinach from one of the vendors that was still open, as during the Holiday they close early, and many merchants were already gathering their crop to close shop.  When I questioned my spinach man about the freshness of the spinach, he ran inside the shop to get me three "fresher" packages which I came home to wash, leaf by leaf, all fresh and perfect. Interestingly, spinach in Israel is not like I am used to. The stem is long, thick and strong, and the leaves attached to it are abundant and bold.  As I write this blog, my Mina de Espinaca is ready to be baked for a women gathering I organized at my temporary home. I always like having guests, but in this case I wish to acknowledge show gratitude to a few women that have shown me their support, namely Yaffa and Miriam, and a few others that I am getting to know but who are already in my bucket list for good people.

Enjoy a few shots of Passover goodies to be found in the beaten track streets of Tel Aviv.