Dimona, First Visit

Meir Hazan invited us to Dimona. 

I hadn’t been in decades. 

Perhaps I’ve never been. 

I took Hagai Cohen. We are good travel companions. 

Meir Hazan is head of all the cultural activities in Dimona. He grew up here and knows everyone. 

This is Meir (left) with Charlie. Meir went to school with him. 

Charlie is cool. He sells headware (headwear?). He told me that he would give me a discount on a hat if I sang him a Sinatra tune. A no brainer. I sang him “Fly me to the Moon”, but on second thought, I should have sung “You go to my head”. 

The city hall is in the center of town (I think that’s a good place for a city hall, don’t you?). 

Meir organized a meeting with all the wonderful people in town who are in charge of education and culture. 

Right to left:  Sigal, Ella, Leah

And more wonderful people…

from right to left: Shuli, Ella, Daniel and Meir

And even more…

Right to left: Rafael, Gila and Mazal, and elbow of Hagai. 

Dr. Ruti Kalman, head of the library, came briefly. We would meet her later in the library. We brought my book exhibit from Holon (project of Michal Chill). Ruti told us it would soon be up. In this space. 

Should I believe her?

Meir took us on a lovely walk through the ‘old’ part of town. 

On the left you can see some of the early residences from the 1950s. 

Here, on your left. 

At the center for performing arts, we ran into performing actors, Tzachi and Noa. 

We passed fountains, 

And monuments…

Meir gave an emotional and moving speech at the Center for the “Middle of Life” crowd about chronicling the stories of their families and life. 

Hopefully, Ourboox will soon have hundreds of amazing Dimona stories!!

Leah, we are waiting!!

We had a poignant visit to the center for fallen soldiers.

In the heritage center, I learned that the famous song “Simona from Dimona”

is really based on a real girl named Simona…

or maybe two…

Here’s the wonderful song. 

We met a Prince!

And an AIPAC delegation…

Oh, and Dr. Ruti Kelman did keep her promise. 

After just one day, my book exhibit was up. Wow!

Need to come back for “Dimona, Second Visit”. 

Stay tuned!!