Dear all,

I (as usual for those who know me) am pitching in my bit and bringing into the loop my 'people'.

On Thursday Oct 19th I arrived at the start of the walk complete with husband and kids. A line of busses were waiting on one side of he road, one was loading people on the other. A line of registration booths were buzzing with activity. My family were directed to the lady who wrote both for me and my eldest daughter a pink note to attach to my T shirt (mine for the time being - we got the Hila ones at the end). [We walked in memory to my mother who died 13 years previously - hol Hamoed Succot of breast cancer].

We got on the bus that drove off as soon as it had filled up and drove up into the hills overlooking Karmiel. The weather was amazing - the sun shining but not too hot. We kicked off and started walking by Male Zvia - one of the Misgav community settlements that is governed by the IMEN way of thought. We continued through the Bedouin village of Housaina and ended up in Karmiel. Along the way we stopped to hear about Male Zvia, drink tea and eat Pitta breads, hear about the village and just enjoy the scenery.

The walk took a couple of hours of easy walking (my little daughter of 6 managed the whole way - and we are proud of her), and I have not enough warm word of respect and admiration for Sheila, Tali, Bilha, Bat Sheva and the rest for the amazing event they all organized. I am proud to have participated (for my mother) and proud to be able to claim a tiny minute connection to the walk.

ISHAR KOACH - all of you

Sheila Zetler Adds:

With all the best intentions in the world to write to you last night I was so tired that I did not manage to do it. Please forgive me. Yesterday was like a good dream. While it lasts, it seems to take forever but when it was over it seemed to have been so short. The honours go to Batsheva and Tali and lots of volunteers who did a superb job. The final count is about 2000 participants. It was so well organized that although we arrived at 9am there was very little to do until the people started arriving. Those who did the long route enjoyed it so much that they were convinced that it was much shorter than it actually was. The short route of course was fine. Even the weather was in our favour.

The wrap-up meeting showed that we did it well. The few hitches were very minor and the only thing that was missing was you the participants from Baltimore and Pittsburgh. It was fabulous having the Judy Palkowitz, Weinberg family, Lou Weiss and girls Zur and especially Karen who came just for and hour or two to be with us.

We missed you but look forward to you being with us next time. This coming week we will do a "post-mortem" and will let you know. Now it is back to regular mundane activities like taking in the laundry because it is about to rain and cooking for Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom and love to you all,

Sheila

Tishrei 5761 - October 2000