Testimonials
Carine Chitayat
For years now, I have been trying to share the experience of my trips to Israel—a feeling that words can barely describe. These trips have nothing to do with tourism or vacation. They are necessary, in order to share and experience the lives of our families, for only a moment. Every time I land in Israel, I am no longer Adopt a Family Foundation’s representative and “adopter”, but rather I become Carine, who has been adopted. The love, hospitality, friendship and appreciation given by our families have no limits. They all stand strong and are there for me—for us. I feel protected and at peace. All these families have lived tragedies, and even though the road to recovery is long, painful and challenging, they are there with an open heart. We share hugs, jokes, talks, laughs, tears—lots of tears—and smiles again.
Our families have shaped the person I have become: stronger and appreciative of the little things that surround me. On that last trip in Israel, I was especially appreciative of: the sunset on the bare hills surrounding the fantastic retreat of Zman Midbar and the hot desert breeze. A smile. The color of the sky. The scent of a cream from the Desert Daughter. A Bedouin lady, who created cosmetics and healing products. A laugh. The Shabbat dinner at Yaniv’s. The singing, the love, the hospitality. The emotion at the Kotel. And of course, the friendships.
The trip taken with our group has definitely enriched my life. If I couldn’t find words to describe my trips, this trip said it all. I am grateful for this experience shared with our committee members, my friends, with whom I shared many laughs, talks, hugs and tears. Thank you for being there with an open heart!
Our families have shaped the person I have become: stronger and appreciative of the little things that surround me. On that last trip in Israel, I was especially appreciative of: the sunset on the bare hills surrounding the fantastic retreat of Zman Midbar and the hot desert breeze. A smile. The color of the sky. The scent of a cream from the Desert Daughter. A Bedouin lady, who created cosmetics and healing products. A laugh. The Shabbat dinner at Yaniv’s. The singing, the love, the hospitality. The emotion at the Kotel. And of course, the friendships.
The trip taken with our group has definitely enriched my life. If I couldn’t find words to describe my trips, this trip said it all. I am grateful for this experience shared with our committee members, my friends, with whom I shared many laughs, talks, hugs and tears. Thank you for being there with an open heart!
Sheryl Goodman
“When I said I would join in on our first Adopt a Family trip to Israel, I have to admit, I was a little nervous about traveling to the areas that our adopted families lived, but I knew if I didn't go with the group, I would probably never go to the South. I was fearful because these are the very same places that have affected our families for years. What I can say now is I am so thankful that I went.
It was so wonderful to see where our families live and to see first-hand how we have touched their lives. For years, I have heard all of the stories of our families and all that they have been through, but to be there and see where many of the events took place made it all more real. The families we visited were all so warm and welcoming. It truly felt like we were visiting family.
There were so many highlights but if I had to choose one that really stands out in my mind, is the evening we took many of our adopted families to Mides for dinner. I was sitting there quietly and watching all of our families, hugging, kissing and happily mingling as if they were all related. I realized at that moment, that even if we, as a committee, were to disappear from the room, what we have done is bring this wonderful group of people together. Most of them did not know each other before they became a part of Adopt, but now they are family. They not only have us here in San Diego, they have each other. It was really a beautiful thing to see.
This trip not only connected me to our families in a deeper way, but it created a bond with the amazing ladies that make up our committee. Seeing and hearing the stories of our families in the places where they have had trauma or lost loved ones was very emotional, and that has given us a deeper bond than ever before.
Thanks to Carine and Iris for organizing this trip and giving us all the opportunity to experience how Adopt a Family has changed lives.”
It was so wonderful to see where our families live and to see first-hand how we have touched their lives. For years, I have heard all of the stories of our families and all that they have been through, but to be there and see where many of the events took place made it all more real. The families we visited were all so warm and welcoming. It truly felt like we were visiting family.
There were so many highlights but if I had to choose one that really stands out in my mind, is the evening we took many of our adopted families to Mides for dinner. I was sitting there quietly and watching all of our families, hugging, kissing and happily mingling as if they were all related. I realized at that moment, that even if we, as a committee, were to disappear from the room, what we have done is bring this wonderful group of people together. Most of them did not know each other before they became a part of Adopt, but now they are family. They not only have us here in San Diego, they have each other. It was really a beautiful thing to see.
This trip not only connected me to our families in a deeper way, but it created a bond with the amazing ladies that make up our committee. Seeing and hearing the stories of our families in the places where they have had trauma or lost loved ones was very emotional, and that has given us a deeper bond than ever before.
Thanks to Carine and Iris for organizing this trip and giving us all the opportunity to experience how Adopt a Family has changed lives.”
Iris Pearlman
“I travelled to Israel with a phenomenal group of women. I discovered new places, met familiar and new people, encountered a multitude of different cultures, experiences, and emotions. The impact this trip had on me and the optimism and breath of fresh air it delivered, was tremendous!
If I had to choose one impression to tell you about, I would have to choose our excursion to Arad. We arrived by bus along with many of our “adopted” Israeli family members, to a cultural center. It was located high on a desert mountain, a circular structure, overlooking the vast desert and the Dead Sea. The vision, as well as the feeling imparted, was one of peace and calm. One activity that we participated in was of stone balancing. The environmental therapist that taught us the technique of building stone towers explained how this simple act of connecting with the earth and focusing your mind on a single task, can not only clear your mind, but can be meditative as well. I am the constant skeptic, but in truth, once we were set upon the task of finding the rocks, building the tower, working on balancing them one on top of the next, it truly did exactly what our guide suggested. He also explained that if the tower fell or became unsteady while we were building it, we should persevere and try again. He advised us to change out the rocks, find others, use our imagination, and reach back into our memory banks of childhood. We should remember how we used to build towers just to knock them down and start over. This experience opened my eyes. I watched our adopted families relax, focus, and persevere. I learned that we are resilient people in general and when hardship falls upon us, we pick up and start again. I treasured every minute of our days together in Israel. There is truly no place like it on earth. Thank you, Adopt a Family Foundation for this opportunity!”
If I had to choose one impression to tell you about, I would have to choose our excursion to Arad. We arrived by bus along with many of our “adopted” Israeli family members, to a cultural center. It was located high on a desert mountain, a circular structure, overlooking the vast desert and the Dead Sea. The vision, as well as the feeling imparted, was one of peace and calm. One activity that we participated in was of stone balancing. The environmental therapist that taught us the technique of building stone towers explained how this simple act of connecting with the earth and focusing your mind on a single task, can not only clear your mind, but can be meditative as well. I am the constant skeptic, but in truth, once we were set upon the task of finding the rocks, building the tower, working on balancing them one on top of the next, it truly did exactly what our guide suggested. He also explained that if the tower fell or became unsteady while we were building it, we should persevere and try again. He advised us to change out the rocks, find others, use our imagination, and reach back into our memory banks of childhood. We should remember how we used to build towers just to knock them down and start over. This experience opened my eyes. I watched our adopted families relax, focus, and persevere. I learned that we are resilient people in general and when hardship falls upon us, we pick up and start again. I treasured every minute of our days together in Israel. There is truly no place like it on earth. Thank you, Adopt a Family Foundation for this opportunity!”
Véronique Benchimol
“Meaningfulness, Enrichment, Light, Deep Connection, Gratitude, ... these are a few of the words that come to mind, when I try to relive the moments and emotions of our trip, this fabulous trip to meet the families who greeted us as their loved ones... So much love between our group and the family. An incredible moment was shared at Zman Midbar a magical place protected due to its bareness. Just like Zman Midbar, it was our families–who protected us, surrounded us, opened their homes, their hearts, their privacy... and with such beauty, color, and creativity! Dazzled to dizziness by their strength, the respect and the attention to each other.
Learning, observing, being touched by them, and by you, my dear friends, triggered in me a deep transformation process. Words won’t do justice to accurately depict the range of emotions I experienced, from smile to laughter to tears and even sobbing!
The warmth of a Shabbat in Sderot, the sweetness of the mint tea and the cookies in Kfar Aza, the Brazilian dinner at Mides, the delicate taste of the prickly pears, surprising contrasts, back-and-forth’s, sadness and joy, the whole and the nothingness, life.... Thanks to all these memories, I feel connected to all of you, and then, the Jerusalem visit, where, our shivering and crying bodies mingled with the past, present and future.
Thank you to all of you, to our families, to you, my dear Carine, my friend, for taking seriously the sound bite cast some time ago: “So, we go there?” and all of you: “Next year in Jerusalem”
Much Love
Learning, observing, being touched by them, and by you, my dear friends, triggered in me a deep transformation process. Words won’t do justice to accurately depict the range of emotions I experienced, from smile to laughter to tears and even sobbing!
The warmth of a Shabbat in Sderot, the sweetness of the mint tea and the cookies in Kfar Aza, the Brazilian dinner at Mides, the delicate taste of the prickly pears, surprising contrasts, back-and-forth’s, sadness and joy, the whole and the nothingness, life.... Thanks to all these memories, I feel connected to all of you, and then, the Jerusalem visit, where, our shivering and crying bodies mingled with the past, present and future.
Thank you to all of you, to our families, to you, my dear Carine, my friend, for taking seriously the sound bite cast some time ago: “So, we go there?” and all of you: “Next year in Jerusalem”
Much Love