A visit to this hotel was quite an experience for Lydia Aisenberg. With many large photographs of Tel Aviv in the British Mandate period, a doorman dressed in khaki shorts and shirt, and with her bedroom dedicated to Hannah Senesh, the atmosphere was very nostalgic.

ESRA Magazine's list of personal announcements including, new homes, get well wishes and family occasions and condolences

Family legends have the propensity to become myths, taking on a life of their own, becoming more colorful or more heroic over time. Eric Moss describes one such event that attained this status in his family in Daniel and the Knapsack: A Family Legend, and the subsequent story it inspired.

The Award for Lifetime Achievement for health workers was presented by the Minister of Health to Prof. Leonard ‘Lennie’ Blieden in appreciation of his being among the founders of modern pediatric medicine in Israel, a teacher and educator, and an example to all those working in the field of pediatric cardiology in Israel.

Gloria Deutsch describes Kay Wilson's very moving story in this booklet. Kay records in every agonizing detail the dreadful events of December 18, 2010 when she and her friend Kristine Luken were hiking in the forests near Jerusalem and were stalked and held captive by Arab terrorists. The book has no price and is probably not something you can buy in a bookshop, but can be ordered directly from Kay

Adele, a former chairperson of ESRA, and Mike Rubin were excellent hosts and guides for an ESRA group who recently visited Sderot where they now live. The history of the city was explained and its highlights were visited. The many public areas were impressive, especially the huge indoor play center. A short film of a rocket attack was shown.

A novel way to build stronger communities while supporting various charities, is described in Mini Bazaar on Mitzvah Day 2011. ESRA’s Students Build a Neighborhood in Herzliya held the successful event, a joint project of ESRA and the Municipality. Rosemary Rivlin reports.

An educated, successful businesswoman, Cynthia Yaakovi, wanted to use her talents after retirement for the good of the community. She found her niche in a project where university students are offered rent-free living quarters in return for tutoring Ethiopian children in Kiryat Nordau Netanya. This Was the Year I learned to Juggle tells about Cynthia’s challenges and experiences.