Israel 2024 - Week Seven

Thurs, Dec. 19th - Visit to the JSCPCA with Sissy

Our friend Sissy is now the CEO of the Jerusalem SPCA. We went to visit her there.

Raoul is the dog whisperer- for sure!

Raoul speaks dog language.

This dog went from crazy to docile in a matter of minutes!

Sissy wants Raoul to come work there.

This dog didn't even know how to 'sit' before!

Now, fully obedient

Raoul is teaching this dog how to sit.

Another crazy doggie became obedient with Raoul.

These dogs are so precious.

I wanted to take this one home.

This puppy really loved Adri!

This doggie was kissing her and begging to come home with her!

Raoul was finding that this doggie loved ear scratches.

Fully submitted...

Happy puppies with Raoul

From crazy to calm

Please don't stop!

We want this one too!

Many of the doggies here were rescued from Gaza.

We all love Raoul!

Please take me home?

Alberto, from Argentina, was playing music for the doggies when we arrived.

He wanted to play guitar as well to accompany the girl's singing.

Gracie found the treats! She is their heeeeero!

Raoul taught the dogs to sit and now they are obeying Grace too!

If you want a treat, you have to sit!

What good doggies!

We love you, Raoul!

Alberto was learning dog training from Raoul.

Dogs are so loving.

You would never know that Raoul is allergic to dogs and cats!

This little shepherd puppy was the youngest in the pen.

Next was the cat area.

The cats were very well cared for.

They were loving and sweet.

This one lost his eye.

Super loving...

Please hold me?

Even after surgery for 2 broken legs, this cat was so loving!

What a sweetie!

They loved the attention

Michelle wanted to take this one home!

This care giver was so sweet with all the kitties.

Sissy and one of her happy employees

The veterinary area really needs a lot of work.

Military vehicle

Fri, Dec. 20 - Sat, Dec, 21 - Final Shabbat & Home Concert

The house has never looked as clean until guests come!

A little rest before everyone arrives!

We put out a very small spread of cookies, tea, and coffee! It multiplied! All of our guests brought more goodies to share from dates, to assorted nuts, to candied kumquats!

We did our "Holocaust Survivor" concert with a twist. We explained each song and the story behind it, along with the reason why we sing it for the Holocaust survivors.

This woman came with her friends - one of whom we met in business many years ago on zoom.

Sweet Polly brought a friend. She drove from 30 minutes away just to come! The woman has never met us before.

Raquel, a woman we met at the nail salon came with her husband. She speaks Spanish and her husband speaks French.

Gil's wife was very touched. She didn't know what event and who she was meeting! She came because her husband brought her!

Gil, in lavender, is someone we have known for a number of years through business and on zoom only. This was the first time we have met in person. He brought his wife and their 2 closest friends all the way from Ramat Gan - which is almost an hour away!

Touched by the music

Sweet Moshe drove all the way from Herzliya which is 2 hours away! As we sang he requested our Ukrainian song. As it turns out, his wife is Ukrainian! He sent her the video and she said we sang it very well!

She is recording us singing in Lsdino so she can show her mom. Her mom speaks ladino!

After the concert, Raoul shared context of what we are doing here!

They also got to ask us questions of who we are... They were all very curious!

We can't forget out sweet friends on the right - Helen and Eitan from the Kibbutz we visited in 2023! They are volunteers with Michal's holocaust group.

They were so happy to see us and are inviting us back to their kibbutz once more!

Polly who is as sweet as can be and with stories to tell of her life experiences in archeology!

Grace and Ronit! She was very happy she came!

Networking after the event

Gil was showing us photos. His father is a Holocaust survivor who is almost 100 and still alive today. His mother was part of the survivors who were on the Exodus ship that had to go to Cyprus. She was also a fighter in the IDF

This is his mother's document for the Exodus ship

In 2023, Moshe drove us to Herzliya for concerts! This year, 2024, he arranged the 2 concerts we had in Herzliya! He has received nothing but good reports from the people since then!

Raquel's husband in the middle (Jean-Charles) told me that he did not want to come. He was tired and it was very cold outside. Raquel insited he come and he said he is so glad he did! He was very touched by the concert.

A great miracle happened! Jean-Charles told Raoul that he is a dental surgeon and when we return to Israel, he will gladly help Raoul fix his teeth free of charge! Raquel sent us this text, "But on a different note, please tell your father that Jean Charles will be more than happy to treat him with no payment when you come next. Just make sure to contact me a month before if possible."

Everyone drove from many hours away to come to this concert!

Polly lifted Grace a pottery painting that she made!

Visiting with Polly after the event

We hug and say, "Until next year in Jerusalem!"

Sun, Dec. 22 - Concert in the German Colony

We arrived at the German Colony to do a concert for a group of Holocaust survivors. We began by offering massages.

This woman introduced herself as "Double Dutch" and flipped the tables on our offer of a massage.

First she told us where she needed the massage...

The next thing we knew, she was tying Michelle into a pretzel to massage her instead!

We turned it into a massage train!

Move your arm this way!

It was a fun group!

Everyone here spoke English!

They weren't shy about showing us where to massage!

Michelle was sharing the details of the 360 video canera

Everyone wanted to know more about Grace and Michelle.

Michelle shared why they began the concerts for Holocaust survivors.

They sang in Hebrew, Yiddish, French and Ladino!

The audience loved them.

Michelle brought each Person the love of God.

Michelle included the workers as well.

They felt God's love.

...even the organizer

Thank you for singing for us!

This was so much fun for us!

Telling us a joke- but couldn't remember the punch line

Please come again!

We loved the concert!

My father was so impressed!

We appreciate you coming here!

We felt God's love through you!

Telling jokes helps her deal with past pain

Thank you so much!

We will remember you!

Sun, Dec. 22 - Inbal Hotel Soup Restaurant

We heard about this soup restaurant. At the Inbal hotel.

concert, Raoul said "let's try it" if we can get a reservation.

It's a seriously popular place!

We were able to get in at 4pm!

Adriana's favorite was the mushroom soup.

You could add in little soup crackers.

Totally yummy Smoked Eggplant Cream soup was amazing!

Let's add in seeds!

Lots of cheeses and cream...

Fancy olive and tomato spreads

The Harissa spread is spicy!

Fabulous carrot spread

So many choices!

All were delicious.

Red pepper spread

Fresh French bread

Seasoned toasted crouton bread

To go with all the spreads

Beautiful selection of spreads

What a fabulous experience! Thank you Raoul!

Mon, Dec. 23 - Concert in Tel Aviv Jaffo

Tzippy asked us to sing at an Elderly home near Tel Aviv. We had no idea that it was an Alzheimer home for severe patients.

Although complete chaos upon our arrival, the residents calmed down as Michelle and Grace began to sing

The woman with her hand over her mouth is Ruti, mother of Iris, friend of Tzippy. She is the reason we are here.

The man in the hat came alive with the Yiddish songs!

It may be hard to see but some of the residents are held to the chairs with belts!

This woman was visiting her husband with Alzheimers and was so super sweet with him, even offering to massage him for us.

Look at the woman in the black jacket enjoying the music!

Poised for service!

Michelle and Grace began to draw their attention.

She approached the residents one by one.

Michelle reached out to touch their hands and hearts.

They began to feel the music.

They began to come alive.

They could feel God's love!

God's love penetrated the hardest shells.

Even the people most closed off began to come alive.

God can reach them!

Don't lose hope!

God's spirit descended upon the room.

The people began to move!

They began to sing!

Please sing to me!

Their eyes were following Michelle as she crossed the room.

Grateful workers were also touched!

Feeling the music...

Starting to come alive

His wife lifted his head to look in Michelle's eyes.

They felt something!

God's love is coming through!

Singing with Michelle

Joy began to come into them.

Overcome with emotion...

You are singing in my language!

Trying hard to turn my head...

I'm still here!

She is blind, but very aware!

Grace touched her with the French song!

This takes me back to my childhood!

Thank you for loving us!

I feel God through you!

Ruti, come alive!

Feeling God's love

She is not asleep- only blind...

The love of God

Feeling the joy Get Outlook for Android

Please let me dance!

I want to dance too!

Wow... they are alive!

Ruti loves the manager

Wait till her daughter Iris sees this!

Ruti loves the manager

Thank you so much for coming all the way here to do this concert. You ha v e no idea how much this means for us!

Karen Faith and Ruti

Mon, Dec. 23 - Dinner with Michal's Family

We took Michal, her husband Kuti, her son, Or, and her daughter, Eden, to dinner to being joy to the family. Kuti has been in the hospital for 3 months. Michal and Kuti are scheduled for cancer surgeries in 2 weeks!

Michelle was entertaining Or.

Michelle is the new best friend of Eden.

They bought us Chanukkah gifts!

Michal is shocked to feel this love.

Eden made us all jewelry!

Eden is a princess.

Princess pose with jewelry Eden made for Michelle

Eden made jewelry for Raoul too!

I feel so special!

Making Eden laugh

So happy to be together

Planning for Or's bar-mitzva this year

Lovely ladies- Sarah and Adri!

Eden adores her mommy

Michal feels she can't go for surgery at the same time as Kuti!

Who will take care of my children?

Or is so happy with his hot chocolate!

Or loves his daddy!

Or's favorite foods

Or you are so grown up!

Or you are so grown up!

No need to spend money, we will do this for you!

This is so much fun!

Kitties everywhere!

Shopping together as best friends do...

Or feels very special.

Singing for Rami, the owner

Another changed life

What a blessed night! Get Outlook for Android

Saying final goodbyes

Tues, Dec. 24 - Wed, Dec. 25 - Final Day in Jerusalem / Return Home

Vadim picked us up very early on the 24th! We drove from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion airport. God protected us from 3 accidents along the way!

Before we left town, we met with a Tolik, a professional screenwriter!

We engaged in deep conversation from film and media, w

Raoul and Tolik

Luda stopped by with special gifts for Michelle and Grace! So kind!

Beautiful harp pendants from Luda.

A lovely house blessing from Luda for Karen and Raoul

The view as we landed in Germany! Brrr!!

We made it to our hotel in Germany! We have one night of rest! I asked the man at the front desk if there was a special upgrade for us as the hotel was almost empty for the holidays. He said, yes he does! We got a bigger room!

We had the afternoon and evening ahead of us... so we got ready to have a special dinner together!

We had a wonderful and relaxing meal together the evening of the 24th! They had a special menu too!

One our way home!

From Tel Aviv to LAX en route to Dallas...

Thankful for all the wonderful memories

En route to Dallas!

Boarding our 3rd and final flight to Cabo!!

God was so kind with us. On our 3rd and longest flight - about 13 hours- we each had 2 seats to ourselves so we could each stretch out a little!

Flying on Lufthansa is great and quite a luxury compared to our previous Blue Bird flight! They gave us water bottles and chocolate!