Merav attended a summer session at Camp Tel Yehuda, in Barryville, New York. Her trip was heavily subsidized, and she went with her friend, Aylona, from Neve Ilan. Merav searched in vain for some sign to prove to her that this was the same camp Jodie attended many, many years ago, but there was no signature to be found in her bunk.
Raute travelled to the States in mid-August with her Saba and Savta. She enjoyed a few days of touring New York City, before driving with Uncle Abe to pick up Merav and Aylona at the Camp. All three enjoyed their time in the big city, seeing the Statue of Liberty, F.A.O. Schwartz and especially, ChinaTown.
Next the girls travelled by train to Baltimore, where they spent time with cousins, David and Sandy, and Julie as well. They had a chance to visit the Aquarium in Baltimore, and got down to Washington for visits to the Holocaust Museum and the Air and Space Museum. Especially enjoyed was an excursion to a Six Flags amusement park.
Back in New York, the girls attended the special celebration dinner for Uncle Abe and Aunt Leni's 50th anniversary. The party was held on a cruise around the New York Harbor - and the girls said it was great. Also there were cousins Howie and Hinda and children, and Rachel and Jeffrey as well.
Next the girls flew up to Buffalo, to spend a week with Debby and Barry and family. They travelled to nearby Niagra Falls twice, managing to do everything there and get great pictures as well. A good part of the time in Buffalo was spent shopping. Raute and Merav split up, each attacking different sections of the malls and department stores. The two managed to not only spend all their money, but come home with nice clothes to show for it.
WWhat about Erez? Erez spent a nice three weeks at Camp Noam, near Kibbutz Lavi. But that camp is not America, so Erez is hopeful that he will be the one travelling next year.
Our special thanks to all our family who made the girls' trip possible, and entertained them royally on this exciting journey.
Jodie continues to work in the accounting firm of Feldman & Brody, in downtown Jerusalem. She doesn't particularly enjoy the commuting, but does manage in the job. Last year Jodie studied graphology - handwriting analysis - and hopefully she will continue these studies in the Fall.
Ellis still works in the Accounts department of the Neve Ilan Hotel, and fills in extra hours serving as the Duty Manager. The hotel recently underwent a management change - for the first time there is a hired Manager, not from the members of the moshav. While Ellis does get along with his boss, there has been some friction in the hotel as a result of this change. The bottom line is whether the hotel does well - and unfortunately tourism is quite bad this year.
But that is not all that Ellis is doing involving the Internet. Ellis has begun writing a monthly column for a new Israeli print magazine, "MagNet". The only problem is that the second issue of this magazine is now six weeks overdue, and it is not certain whether it will see the light of day.
Ellis is involved in some other tentative projects as well, and hopefully the new year will see these ideas take root.
March 1997 edition - THE HELICOPTER CRASH THAT BROUGHT GRIEF TO AN ENTIRE COUNTRY
Also read the January 1997 edition of The Shuman News.
You can read the October 1996 edition of The Shuman News.