Thirty years ago, I walked into the dining room at the Park and met Simha and Rachael Pearlmutter and their two sons, Ari and Dari. The walls were painted blue and have since been repainted several times.  But the floor hasn’t changed from the original when the building was constructed by the Jewish Agency.  It has been an eyesore since we've been there.

A major change is taking place with the pouring of a new cement floor and then tile will be laid that matches the walls. This wonderful new floor was made possible by multiple donors.  We say thanks for their generosity!

Blossoming Rose really needs a backhoe.  That is a “large” need both in the amount of money and in “size and weight.”  There has been a little indecision about which is needed more – a tractor or a backhoe – but it has been decided that our old tractor can hold out a little longer and a backhoe is greatly needed for many projects.  A medium sized backhoe costs about $30,000 in the US, but in Israel, it will cost more.  It is important for service and maintenance that the backhoe be purchased in Israel.  A good used one would be acceptable.  The plan, if the money is raised, is to purchase it in November in Israel, but the need to know the plan is much sooner.  There are four very experienced men, on the weekly Operations Committee, who will decide which backhoe is the best deal and most appropriate for the Park.

Close to $16,000 has been raised, but an additional $24,000 is needed.  You may go to our website at www.blossomingrose.org to donate, or you may send a check to Blossoming Rose, Box X, Cedar Springs, MI  49319. 

Thank you in advance for your financial assistance.

Many of the visitors and volunteers who fill their plates with delicious food in the dining room at the Park would never guess that Cynthia Hillson is not a cook by profession.  Cynthia actually stopped at Tamar for another purpose.  She needed a place to spend the night while she attended a scientific conference at the local Hatzeva Agricultural Field School near the Park.

While at the Park, there were volunteers planting trees, repairing buildings, and working on other projects and she was deeply touched by their love for Israel and their devotion to the mission to make Tamar a great historical Park in the south of Israel.  Cynthia is the President of Precious Oils and she produces and markets rare incenses, spices, and oils internationally.  She had traveled to the Arava to meet some of the agricultural scientists and also learn more about the ancient spice routes. 

Little did she know that within a few feet of where she was walking, there were two rare bushes of balsam, a spice bush thought to be extinct after the Roman legions exterminated all the Jewish farmers in the Arava. They had grown the bush to harvest the balm for temple worship and medical purposes. When she heard that we were also going to plant frankincense and myrrh at Tamar and several other rare spices that only grow in parts of the Middle East, she wanted to return.

She told me that at home in North Carolina she also cooked for large family gatherings and reunions. It wasn’t long before she showed us her great cooking skills and now we have a specialist in rare spices as our cook! You will have to go to Tamar with us to taste some of the best prepared food in southern Israel.

Ty and Amy Henderson travelled to Israel on their honeymoon with one of our first volunteer work groups in the 1980s.  If you were ever at the Park back then, it’s difficult to imagine how anyone took a liking to it, but Ty and Amy did.  They became involved in our symposia in the USA and Amy teamed up with Louise Scholtus to cook for the people that were attracted to our seminars. Ty was there to fellowship and learn about the Hebrew Scriptures and he began to teach what he learned in his local church. After raising a family and having limited involvement with us for the past 15 years they have returned at a perfect time.

Ty is skilled in mechanics, carpentry, auto repair, and management.  Soon after returning to Tamar and realizing how much work there was to do, he agreed to serve as Project Manager and to work with Rob to supervise construction and other projects at the Park.

Having learned during the 1980s that Amy was a good cook, we were doubly blessed when Amy agreed to serve as a cook again.  Her food is delicious and nutritious and it makes eating together an even more enjoyable event.

With the number of tours increasing as well as groups who rent the Park, it is not always easy to find a cook.  This means that we need Jodi Coxon and her daughter, (our granddaughter), Chaya, to be ready at all times to hop on a plane and get over there to cook and do housekeeping chores.  Jodi has cooked for large groups for many years and she is a very good cook.  She has many friends in her hometown of Cedar Springs who depend on her whenever they get together for a meal.   Her church and her community have called on her when a big event is being planned.

Jodi likes to try new recipes to surprise her family and friends, as well as sticking with the favorites that are so often requested.  It’s nice to have a home-grown, in-office, in-family, cook to send over at appointed times and in times of emergencies.

Chaya does whatever is needed.  She assists in the kitchen, she cleans rooms, and she does whatever the need of the moment might be.  (As you may have noticed, Chaya publishes this monthly Newsletter.)

This attractive 54 page coloring book is on-sale for $3 each plus $2 shipping. For 4 - 10 copies, total shipping is $4.