Thursday - Saturday 26 - 28 February 2015 good byes

Dorit came to the center to tell us good bye.  Dorit is the new director at Kol Haisha. It is a week of good byes and many mixed feelings.  Anne Marie sent me a quote " How lucky I am to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard." Winnie-the-pooh  That's exactly how I feel.



Fahmi Family Library board came to meet our replacements, the Smiths.

 The women of the Arab Orthodox Society with Nora Kort

 Sister Susan and Sister Pascal from St. Vincent's in Ein Karem

Blaine with Bashir Bashir, the Palestinian culture teacher

Gary and Alexis Nickel came over on the same flight.  They are staying 2 more months.

The student's formal talent show Thursday night

Jennifer Hansen was always eager to help with humanitarian work.

Reyna McGhie's family is from Alpine

Joe McKay is a brother to Anna McKay from our first semester.

Kenzie Earl (Mauri Earl's neice) and Kylie Marks

One last view from the auditorium

Blaine with Avi Moradov from the maintenance department.

Neomi Weinstein is over the concerts and art gallery.  She does a wonderful job of scheduling artists and performers and making it all happen.



Alex Stein is part of maintenance and loves the Sunday night concerts.

Hani Abu Juma'a and Murad Abu Sara (maintenance and custodial)

Our dear friend Samia Abu El-Hawa kept the 8th floor spotless.  Her quick smile and laugh were always contagious.  She tried to teach us Arabic but Linda  was a slow learner. Samia lives next door.

Mohamad Zahaykeh  (Mr. Z)

Jamal Zablah and Raed Ashhab.  Raed's wife recently had a baby girl.  They invited us to dinner but we never worked out a time.

Sami Eweissat (maintenance),Mohamad Obeidat, Qassem Qassem, and Usama Mustafa 

Sadek Halawani, his mother and sisters (December 2014)

Murad Abassi and Bashar Mudbar in front of the security booth 



Ezz Abu Diab also worked at the YMCA

Firas Roustom

 

Ra'ed Abu Juma'a (maintenance)



Tarek Safadi was director of security and a big teddy bear.

 

 Azzam Salhab and Ashraf Abu Ghannam in the Oasis serving area

Ahmad Saheen, head chef in the Oasis 



 Gardening - Mahamad Mohana, Samer Shweiki

Dan Herman, head gardener, has been at the Jerusalem Center from the opening

Eran Hayet, director of the Jerusalem Center


Tawfic Alawi, associate director of operations



David Whitchurch, associate director for academics, has a three year assignment at the center.

Rana Hallak

Avital Offir

Ghalib Nubani

Firas Qara'in (security)


George Shkeir (security)


Bassam Abu Ghannam who sadly passed away a few weeks after we left. He was diabetic.



Mahmoud Abu Ghannam, security, rides a bike to work and takes care of all the cars.


Mohannad Qara'in and Bashar Mudbar


Jamal Shami


Sa'ed Abu El-Hawa and Qassem Qassem


Nassif Asfour and Rami Naber

Itamar Attar



Goodbye little cell phone.  I'll miss your missing keys. You were a simple and loyal companion.

Second floor outdoor hallway

Hair cutting station in the bomb shelter


Washing machines- I could do 3 loads at a time and be done with all my laundry in less than an hour.



I will miss my kitchen.  It's the biggest one in the apartments- spacious and lovely.



I will miss the simplicity of our apartment.



Entry hall



My closet cleaned out

My view

Good bye Old City



Good bye apartment 206



When we walked out to the garage to leave, the students surprised us by forming a human tunnel.  I was moved to tears as they sang "God Be With You Til We Meet Again".

Good-bye our last semester of students and thanks for the tender farewell.

  

Marybeth and Brent Jones took us to the airport.  Moshe and Rachelle were there to say good-bye.  Moshe was a pilot for the airlines so he had his badge to help us through the check points of the airport. It was Sabbath Eve (Friday evening) so the airport was relatively quiet. The Jewish airline does not fly on the Sabbath.  We could take a lesson from them on how to keep the Sabbath holy.

After we checked in, Moshe and Rachelle visited with us until it was time to board.  What dear friends.  They have really taken care of us and shown us so much of the Jewish culture.



Goodbye Jerusalem.  We loved you and your people more than words can tell. Thanks for happy memories.



Our flight home was good and uneventful.  Because it was the Jewish Sabbath, our plane was not full.  Blaine and I had a row to ourselves. Here we are at the Salt Lake airport.

When we walked down the stairs, our family was there to welcome us home.  What a joy it was to see them all (minus Anne Marie and Kevin who are still in Hawaii).  It makes coming home all worth it.