Kibbutz Gevat Brenner

We met my cousin (my mother's cousin, so what does that make us? I'm bad with figuring that out)
We, along with Yehuda and his son David drove into Kibbutz Gevat Brenner. We saw Levana and Aaron, who's mother, Lily, came to Israel in 1932. She is 96 years old and her awareness drifts in and out. We called my grandmother (Lily's sister) back home in New Jersey from there and all said hello.
We had a wonderful time with them and they were gracious hosts.
Aaron collects clocks and gave Natalie and Noah each a clock to take with them.

Aaron is a curator of the museum in Givat Brenner. He and Levana took us on a private tour and along with Yehuda, filled us in on the history of the place. The Kibbutz has gone through many changes over the years from the way the the families are organized to what they produce to earn an income. In the early years, young children lived in one place, ate in a dining hall and were together most of the time. Within the last 25 years that changed to children living with their families. Many older children eventually moved away and the population of the kibbutz is in decline. The kibbutz used to process orange juice and other agricultural products. Now they have a commercial nursery and sell trees and flowers.

Yehuda and David took me shopping to get a good map and a cooler. Prices are very expensive here. (And so is gas, but I haven't had to fill up yet)

We got back to Ben and Bethami's place late and then headed back to Jerusalem to Sarah and Menachim's place. It is quite late and we have an early start for a guided tour of the city.