After the second Lebanese war Israel 2006 After the second Lebanese war

This was my twelfth trip to Nahariya, Israel, my second home This was my twelfth trip to Nahariya, Israel, my second home. After the second Lebanese war, I dreaded seeing the destruction wrought by the terrorists’ rockets

But I went anyway.

“Welcome to Israel”

Protesters erect tents and condemn the sloppy way that the heads of the army and government conducted the war.

“Olmert, Peretz, Halutz – RESIGN!!”

“Don’t abandon our soldiers.”

Entrance to Nahariya Hospital.

Alternate entrance (the one I use.)

My room.

Luxury, it aint.

As the trauma center for this area, helicopter arrivals of patients are common. The sound always startles me.

A portable isolation room for bioterrorism victims.

Andre recommends a psychiatrist to stop my coming here.

Ivona Horn – director of ward Aleph.

Achmad Mugrabbi – director of ward dalet.

X-ray review with the dalet staff.

Two patients.

A lecture on basic statistics.

Pizza and soda – shameless bribes to attract an audience.

The sign above says “No Smoking”

For his sweetie coming home from the hospital.

NAHARIYA NEWS From America With Love. Dr. Zvi Zaks (64), physician from California, volunteers his vacations at Nahariya Hospital. Zaks: “For me, to be on the ground of the holy land and to treat sick people, that is something special.”

I don’t think the terrorists specifically aimed their rockets at the hospital. I don’t think they aimed them at all. After all, Nahariya has no military targets. They fired the 4,000 rockets just to try to hurt Israelis.

Regardless of intention, the hospital got hit.

Entrance to the underground hospital used during the war

“I have a dream – peace.” (It rhymes in Hebrew.)

Can a clown cheer up children after a war?

Nahariya is actively rebuilding.

Having come over 5,000 miles to the Hospital in Nahariya, I have to visit Jerusalem also and say hello to the Kotel.

The Hass Tyellet - in a Jerusalem suburb.

Jerusalem – from the Hass Tyellet

Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City

An Arab ‘Shuk’ (market) in the Old City

Armenian Quarter path to the Kotel (Western Wall)

Induction ceremony at the Kotel.

Soldiers? With weapons???

Each year, I visit two religious friends who live in Maalot.

Gadi Ben Dror and two of his seven children.

Simchat Torah in Gadi’s shul.

Simchat Torah (rejoicing in the Torah) is supposed to be a joyous holiday, and this man, Mindy, did his part. He danced and sang, and pounded his fist on the as only someone touched by divine ecstasy could do. Or someone a little nuts. Or both.

Simchat Torah in the streets of Maalot.

Jon Singer, another religious friend Jon Singer, another religious friend. I seem to be studying, but one of the books is upside down

From Maalot back to Nahariya

Almost every day, I walk from the hospital to the town Almost every day, I walk from the hospital to the town. First, I greet the guard.

I think alleyways like this have a human quality the streets lack.

You can meet cat lovers.

The building is a home for Shoah survivors.

The Penguin Restaurant in downtown Nahariya.

One of the hospital secretaries who lives in town told me she has always wanted to play the violin. So I gave her a few lessons, and loaned her my spare fiddle.

Her husband did not thank me.

“Remember the terrorists’ victims who fell in Nahariya”

The Gaaton runs through Nahariya...

… and to the sea.

The End