the weekend I fell in love...with Tel Aviv

Every time I go away for the weekend I think "why don't I do this more often?"

well...this semester, I have decided to do just that. This weekend my friends Molly, Bess, Lauren and I went to Tel Aviv.

Thursday evening we saw a play called "not by bread alone" at the NaLaga'at Center in Old Yaffo. This theater is extra special because its actors are blind and/or deaf. Their play is very touching and meaningful. Before the play, we ate at their cafe where all of the waiters are deaf. They also have a restaurant where they turn all the lights off during the meal to simulate what it might feel like to be blind. For more information on the NaLaga'at Center, go to their website: www.nalagaat.org.il/home.php. If you are visiting Israel- this is a MUST SEE!

Lauren and I stayed with a friend from Portland, Ann Bardacke, who spends a few months a year in Tel Aviv. It was wonderful to see a familiar face! And also, she took us to some of the best restaurants in Tel Aviv!

Friday morning we went to the Palmach Museum. The Palmach was an underground military organization that fought for the Independence of Israel from Britan during the War of Independence. Their museum is probably the coolest history museum I have been to. It's an experiential museum so you really get a good idea of what the members of Palmach stood for and how they fought for Israel's independence. here's the website: http://www.palmach.org.il/

After the Palmach museum we went to the Nachalat Binyamin street fair. At this far, the artists hand make their own work and present it for sale at the market. The work varies from blown glass to beautiful jewelry to Judaica, and much more! I got a beautiful clock made of Dead Sea stone and Turquoise from Eilat in the shape of Israel. I ended up having a 10 minute conversation with the artist about what I am doing in Israel, and how he thinks Reform Judaism is so wonderful because it brings people back to Judaism who otherwise wouldn't be involved in the Jewish community. I couldn't agree with him more!

A glass blower at the marketmaking an alligator

Friday evening to bring in Shabbat, we went to a jazz club at Hanger 13 on the Tel Aviv Port. Wine + Jazz+ beach + Shabbat = winning combination.

Saturday morning we had a delicious Israeli breakfast on the Pier, and then went to the Tel Aviv Art Museum. I have to say- I am a sucker for a good art museum, and this one is fantastic! they have a special Chagall exhibit in town- which was a great coincidence since he is one of my favorite artists! We also saw some Picasso and Monet paintings- definitely a highlight of the museum (and of my weekend)

for more pictures, visit my picasa site: picasaweb.google.com/kcummingenator