Our virtual tiyul will take us to the neighborhood of Katamon. Established just before World War I by Arab Christians who had built large mansions here, Katamon was the site of some of the fiercest battles in 1948. Our tour will start with a short introduction accompanied by a Yehuda Amichai poetry reading at Gan Hashoshanim (The Rose’s Garden); While walking towards Palmach street, we will start exploring street names along our way; Kovshey Katamon, Ha’shayarot, Ha’Portzim, Ha’Matzor, Ha’Maapilim. As we uncover the meaning of these names the story of the 1948 war will start unfolding. Winding our way to the San Simon Park… The garden, the secluded monastery and the stories they harbor, will be the backdrop for our literature session of excerpts from “A Pigeon and a Boy” by Meir Shalev and “1948” by Yoram Kanyuk. These readings will open a window to the layers of lingering memories of the Battle of San Simon; a battle that may now be forgotten by most, yet continues to surface, as Israel learns to deal with the impact and lessons of its wars. We will conclude our tour by walking just a few steps to the alley between the Monastery and the Patriarch’s home to remember one of Israel’s greatest poets, Shaul Tchernichovsky, who lived and died in this house. His poem “Creed” will offer hope and consolation as we get ready to celebrate Chanukah.

Rachel Korazim is a freelance Jewish education consultant in curriculum development for Israel and Holocaust education. She engages audiences worldwide through innovative presentations built around the stories, poems and songs of Israel’s best writers. Her thought-provoking online and in-person presntations open a window onto Israeli society, inviting listeners to engage with the country and its history in new ways. A graduate of Haifa University with a PhD in Jewish education, Rachel teaches at Israel’s well known learning centers such as Pardes and the Shalom Hartman Institutes as well as in numerous Jewish communities worldwide. In her free time, Rachel enjoys scuba diving in the cenotes of Playa del Carmen in Mexico and the amazing coral sites of the Red Sea. Rachel is also a very active grandmother of eight grandchildren who all live in Israel.

There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, CA, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)