The Levy's in marlboro NJ
Pasadena , CA, Outside Alexandria
Pasadena, CA, at Noah's
Pasadena, CA, Chez J
Pasadena, CA, Outside Peet's
Pasadena, CA, inside Peet's
Pasadena , CA, Chez Joie
SF, at the Golden gate
SF bay, Alcatraz prison at the back
SF famous cable car
SF Embarcadero (boardwalk)
UC berkeley
From the J-Camp in Palo Alto, Ca.
A manufacturing plant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, USA, near Chicago's O'Hare airport
Eagle Ridge marsh just west of Klamath Falls, Oregon
On the ferry to Sausalito, CA - with Alcatraz in the background
On the ferry to Sausalito, CA - with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background
Blondi at the Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley/Tucson Arizona USA
At the James Taylor concert in Tangelwood in the Berkshires which is in Massachusettes, USA
Lori At the James Taylor concert in Tangelwoodin the Berkshires which is in Massachusettes, USA
In front of the entrance to Sebring Raceway in Sebring, FL.
In our garden in Connecticut, USA
In a forest in New York State
My family of 5 took your beautiful son with us on a cruise to Alaska. This one at Icy Straight Point, Alaska – This was our first port of call. The ship we were on, Serenade of the Seas, is behind us.
at Icy Straight Point, Alaska
In Skagway, Alaska – This photo was taken at a dog sledding camp, where they train the dogs to be sled dogs and run races like the Iditarod. We are holding a sled dog puppy.
At the sled dog camp, with two puppies, one of whom was very interested in Asaf’s photo and tried to eat it!
In Skagway, Alaska – a view on the way back from the sled dog camp.
On the White Pass and Yukon Railway, a narrow-gauge railway that goes up a mountain to about 3000 feet and crosses from Alaska into British Columbia. The views are spectacular. At the top we were given champagne and we did a Le’Chayim to Asaf.
Here is one of three pictures that I've taken on my round-the-world trip so far. I didn't have any way to print out Asaf's picture, so I added his picture in through Photoshop, this one at San Francisco
Hawaii, On the beach
Blondi on Oregon beach
Blondi with Amanda and Glenn at Mossbrae Falls, Dunsmuir, CA
We chose to take the photo from the beach close to our home in California. It is very popular among surfers and your son would have enjoyed it. We would have also enjoyed having him with us.
New York Time square
Philadelphia rokcy's statue
Philadelphie Hershie's factory
Harley davidson Pennsylvania
US capitol Washington DC
Washington memorial in the mall Washington DC
Ocean drive Miami
Key west Florida
Epcot center Orlando
At the beach in Point Pleasant, NJ
Enjoying the excitement of the boardwalk at Point Pleasant, NJ
Six Flags, NJ
NY Yankees Stadium in the Bronx during a game
Vinalhaven, Maine, an island 15 miles off the coast of Maine, U.S.A
Wedding of Ruth K., Luddington, Michigan
Niagara Falls, Canada
Ruthie the Cow, Traverse City, Michigan
National Cherry Festival Traverse City, Michigan
My son and I hiked to Twin Falls in the state of Washington, USA. We carried Blondi's picture with us up the trail. He would have loved the falls; so much water because of the heavy snowfall this last winter.
I enjoyed fishing with Asaf last week in the Sierra Mountains here in California. Rock Creek Lake is at 10,000 plus feet.
I enjoyed fishing with Asaf last week in the Sierra Mountains here in California. Saddlebag Lake is at 10,000 plus feet. Saddlebag is located just a few miles east of Yosemite Valley.
Blondi is on the shore of Corpus Christi Bay. The Texas Gulf Coast. I think Blondi would have like it here. The ship in the background is the USS Lexington (retired)
Blondi is on the shore of Corpus Christi Bay. The Texas Gulf Coast.
I recently went to Hume Lake in California. This picture is looking over Kings Canyon, It was a pleasure taking your son on our trip!
This picture is looking up towards Buck Rock, which is a fire watch tower that looks out for fires and such that may be going on in the canyon. We hiked up over 150 steps to look out over the beautiful landscape.
NYC with Eyal
Blondi at the Capitol in Augusta ME USA
Blondi's world tour took him to Illinois and the far west suburb of Chicago: Naperville. We started our afternoon walk along the banks of the Du Page River. Here is Blondi stopping to rest and admire the dandelion fountain that is part of the well-known Naperville Riverwalk, a lovely pathway along this river that was developed in the early 1980s.
Blondi then stopped at Naperville's memorial to the events of 9/11.
Teens are all over the world and we thought Blondi would like to meet American teens. So we walked over to a high school in Naperville.
Our final stop was a park with one of the few bell towers in America--the Millennium Carillon (yes - erected to mark the new millennium). When Blondi were there the bells began to ring the U.S. National Anthem - The Star Spangled Banner.
Picture from St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Photos taken in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State, USA The first is of Asaf with the Zaiser family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the top of CAT Mountain overlooking Lake George, the Queen of American Lakes.
Asaf with the Taitel family at the top of Prospect Mountain, also overlooking Lake George, 32 miles long.
Blondi at the site where the TV series Dallas was shot
NYC
Climbing anf hikinig in Mt. Whitney, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the United States outside of Alaska
Amos in Sedona Arizona
Yuval (and Ayala) in Hawaii
Asaf with us in front of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Near mount Rushmore
In the Yellowstone park
On top of Cadillac Mountain who's located on Mount Desert Island, within Acadia National Park, state of Maine
Las Vegas
Adirondack Park in the north part of the State of New York
View from top of Mount Battie in Camden Hills park near Camden in the state of Maine
A banner in front of a synagogue in New Orleans on the popular St. Charles Avenue
Blondi on a tour of Lake Martin in middle Alabama. Lake Martin was formed by Alabama Power in the early 1900s by damming the Tallapoosa River to provide hydroelectric power for Montgomery, the capital of Alabama. Lake Martin has the longest shoreline of any man made lake in the US
Going south from SF we stopped in Santa Cruz, in a greek restaurant we heard Um Kultum singing in Arabic and Glikeria in Hebrew
While traveling among the cliffs of the grand canyon we came across a picnic area named after Jacob
Bryce Canyon ,Utah
Chani with Blondi together with Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey’s, a restaurant in the Contemporary Resort Hotel at Walt Disney World
New York City empire state building
Flying an F-14 TOMCAT IN PENSYLVANIA
F-14 TOMCAT IN PENSYLVANIA
A Helicopter in Pensylvenia
Long beach CA aquarium
Long beach CA Queen mary ship hotel
Desert of Moab, Utah
Blondi feeding his hungry wild friends in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, USA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Mitchell took Blondi to work at Microsoft main campus, Redmond, WA, USA
These pictures were taken from our deck which overlooks Wilde Lake in Columbia, Maryland USA
Gil with Blondi in Manhatten
Robert with Blondi , Raleigh, NC, USA
This photo is a view of Temple University campus in Philadelphia, taken from Marilyn's office window
Congregation B'nai Chaim's preschool , Denver Colorado
Blondi and Stage Coach History Fort Worth TX
Green LongHorn with Blondi Fort Worth TX
Blondi at Fort Worth TX Bronzed Brand Inspector
Blondi with a Fort Worth Texas LongHorn
Blondi with Ana with Fort Worth Mountain Lion
Blondi at Fort Worth TX Sidewalks
Blondi at our favorite restarant in Philadelphia, PA USA
I went to Arizona this weekend and took Blondi to see an American Football Game in Phoenix University stadium.
Taken twenty-fourth day of November, 2008, Winter Haven, Florida, USA in front of a government building.
Fire Island is a beautiful Island on the South Eastern shores of Long Island. It is a quiet sleepy place during the winter but comes alive during the summer. No cars or motorized vehicles are allowed on the island so it is a wonderful safe environment for families and children.
photo taken in Denise's home in Glassboro, New Jersey
Denise's cat Glassboro, New Jersery
Asaf spent Thanksgiving (November 2008) with the Hirsch family in Miami, Florida, USA
Boca Raton, Florida
I was in San Francisco yesterday and am sending you a photo from Pier 39, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the (far) background
I was in San Francisco yesterday and am sending you a photo from Pier 39, with Alcatrazin the (far) background
Mike's family Christmas tree , Here's our happy family with a special blessing to you and yours
We took Blondi along to Crater Lake, Oregon with us in July 2008. Actually, he came along to Yellowstone and Bozeman, Montana, and the Lewis and Clark caves too
Blondi arrives in Crown Heights: On a manageably cold December Friday, Asaf Tzur emerges from the laminator after his redesigned poster is created at Shortcut Copy Center on Kingston Ave., commercial heart of Jewish Crown Heights
First impression: Vitaly the Copy Center Guy regards Blondi with the mixture of interest and nonchalance that working in a copy center can only produce, coupled with the touch of compassion that Blondi manages to bring out in everyone
“Meating” new people: Asaf checks out together with my chicken at the kosher butcher shop across the street from the copy center. As I proceeded up Kingston, Asaf came along
You’re not from here…: Young store owner’s son, regards Asaf and his story as he hands me my bag
Hey, Mon!: This usually jovial pizza shop guy is all stares while Asaf affably hangs out at the register. I’m surprised that this Caribbean fellow, who knows how to give and take jokes from Jewish people, is taken aback at my shooting of him. Later I hand him Asaf’s poster and he gets it
Keeping it clean: Asaf posts himself on the counter while the dry cleaning guy looks on
Arrows tell a story: I didn’t notice what the tzedakah box said until Saturday night, when I first took a closer look after downloading the shots off the digital. The first of several “coincidences.”
Yossel loves Asaf: And everyone else. This is Yossi , the shammis in the shul where I’m gabbai. He tries to be nice to everyone, including Asaf.
The Dr.: Dr. Meir , a licensed psychologist and fellow Lubavitcher, is puzzled by what I’m doing. I’m surprised that a shrink doesn’t get it
Asaf at the fruit store: This is a photo of Asaf’s photo, um, at the fruit store
Crossing paths: Two Israelis who could have possibly known each other, graphic designer and acquaintance of this writer Yossi S. meets Israeli surfer teenager Asaf Tzur for the first time. He’s reading the story of this project, but probably assessing my page-layout skills too. (This is in Judaica World, by the way.)
Asaf fits in: When in a Judaica store, Asaf knows just what to do and where to go
Asaf checks out: A shopper scrutinizes Asaf and his saga while we wait on line to buy a new cheap menorah (I left mine in Monsey the other night).
The Master of Time: Master watch repairman and jewelry technician , pictured here with Asaf, strikes the first serious pose I think I’ve taken thus far. Both have suffered in life, but only Asaf is smiling
Asaf likes shiny: Hey, don’t we all? On top of Bardy’s display case here
Asaf does Chanukah: Perfecting the window display at one of Crown Heights’ silver stores
Asaf goes shopping: Well, not exactly, but he likes popping up everywhere—even in my shopping cart at Kahan’s Grocery, our family’s regular venue
Asaf is a beefy guy: Need I say more?
Priceless: There’s no money you could pay to bring Asaf back, but here he is as we ring up my items.
With David: This is my regular delivery guy, nice Latino fellow. He doesn’t have time to read the poster, but I wanted him with Asaf
Always watching: Both Asaf and the member of the Shomrim community patrol here keep their eyes out for Jewish interests nowadays, but from vastly different places
On the road: Asaf tags along as a Chabad “Mitzvah Tank” heads out to bring Judaism to Jews.
Kingston: Asaf looks on as my brother-in-law Rabbi Yossi K. is surreptitiously photographed chatting with a new acquaintance on Crown Heights’ Kingston Avenue, apparently one of the many visitors brought in by the trademark Chabad friendliness
The Museum: Asaf’s eyes smile as we pose at the southwestern corner of the huge Jewish Children’s Museum. It’s the first time I notice that if I hold the poster just like so, I can get his eyes to line up evenly with bottom of the photo. It’s a cool effect that makes it all the more artistic in future shots.
Museum 2: In front of the Museum’s trademark steel dreidel, with the building looming behind.
Asaf and Ari: Two teens, slaughtered because they were Jews. Both live on in different ways. Here they cross paths on this earth, perhaps for the first time. Up in Heaven, they very well may know each other well.
Looking up: Everything points to the sky here—Asaf’s inspiring journey, the JCM building, the flames of hope symbolized by the electric menorah, itself up in the air. My friend Tzvi holds Asaf aloft.
Getting the big picture: Tzvi looks at Asaf’s story after the previous shot, as the children comprising the composite photo of yet another child look on behind him
Asaf and Tzvi: Life goes on, indeed.
Asaf takes a spin: On the JCM’s dreidel pedestal.
Home of the spirit: If Asaf could meet the Lubavitcher Rebbe, I’m sure the Rebbe would love him. For now, this will have to do, outside 770 Eastern Parkway, the Rebbe’s physical and spiritual headquarters.
People care: I will probably never see this Hispanic man and his cute little girl again in my life, but humanity is humanity—most normal people do care when they read Asaf’s story. How could they not?
Asaf dances: Asaf joins this writer for a spirited, spontaneous Chasidic dance in Crown Heights’ Frankel Shul, photographed by 12-year-old Yerachmiel.
From darkness to light: I just wanted to contrast the lifelessness and inertia of the bland fliers scattered all over this shul table with the bold color of Asaf’s poster, so I put Asaf down and took the shot. Then I noticed the poster to the left. Sad. As the Jewish People’s newest victims take the limelight, the older ones fade into the darkness—but not if we can help it. Like Ari Halberstam, Asaf and Gavriel are probably good friends now. On top of that, they’re both Israeli too.
Remember them: On the bimah before a curtain memorializing members of my own family, including my wife’s father and his, and my mother-in-law’s parents (our son Yisroel Yehudah is named for her father), Asaf solemnly takes his place.
Keeping spirits up: Yerachmiel B., Yossi’s son, respectfully pays tribute to Asaf.
Being there: This shot is so poignant to me. Mrs. L. lost her husband about ten years ago and is no stranger to pain. The look says it all.
Crossing lines: On the way home finally, an elegant couple walk ahead of me. Perfect photo op. The missus doesn’t want to be shot. The mister is okay. Doesn’t matter who you are—what color, race, or whatever—everyone normal appreciates this journey.
Flowers for Asaf: My Pakistani Muslim friend isn’t at his little flower shop when I pop by, but his assistant is. She lets me stick Asaf in the flowers.
Stations in my life: Here, fellow traveler and shul member (and former Crown Heights Jewish Community Council director) Mordechai E. takes a few seconds to get shot with Asaf as we pass each other at the Utica Ave. subway station.
Walking the walk: Because I got off at the wrong stop, I had the opportunity to do the mitzvah of making the acquaintance of Jonathan , visiting Crown Heights for the first time in his life, and helping him with his suitcases for three blocks on the way to pick up a check from a client. Jonathan is actually heading to Morristown, New Jersey, to a yeshivah whose director of admissions is Boruch, my brother. He returns the favor by letting me shoot him with a brother we both never met.
First new friends: This fine Caribbean gentleman and his young charge, either a daughter or granddaughter, were all too happy to pose with Blondi.
This picture is of my daughter, Angela, Blondi, and myself at the Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska USA on the last day of the year 2008. It is a cold day here with temperatures hovering around 0 degrees F.
We took Blondi to Landoll's Castle in Loundenvill, Ohio. The Castle was opened on June 28, 2002 All of the buildings were built with wood from the property. The suite walls are two feet thick for privacy. All the suites were named after ancestors of the Landoll Family. Castle construction was started in 1996. All stones on the outside of the castle are all from the property.
Christmas tree in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Marina
Blondi in South Windsor Connecticut USA, My daughter Stephanie and me, Ariel. Taken while staying with family during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Lynne holding Blondi & her friend Krystina. At a rally supprting Israel's right to defend herself against terrorist murderers at the Jewish Community Center in Wilmington, DE, USA. Daniel Kutner, Consul General of Israel to the US, spoke at the rally. Blondi's voice was heard tonight. Lynne introduced him to many people.
My nephew Yitzchak came to visit me in Florida and we took a picture with Blondi at a beautiful spot called, "City Place" in West Palm Beach, FL. Every hour on the hour is a water/light show and that is what is behind us.
The week of Barack Obama's Inauguration we were in NYC and took these two pictures with Asaf in front of the Museum of Jewish Heritage facing Miss Liberty
Asaf's surfing safari, Oahu's north shore, Hawaii , Log Cabins surfers beach
Asaf's surfing safari, Oahu's north shore, Hawaii , Banzai Pipeline
Asaf's surfing safari, Oahu's north shore, Hawaii , Waimea beach where movies were filmed, for example the feature "Blue Crash"
Asaf's surfing safari, Oahu's north shore, Hawaii , Ehukai Beach
Entrance to the town Hale'iwa
Entrance to Alii beach, in the town of Hale'iwa, every year in December there's a big surfing competition in memory of Eddie Aikau , a lifeguard that went to rescue a surfer and drowned.
The surfing museum in Hale'iwa
With Picture of Duke Kahanamoku, Father of modern surfing, North Shore Surf Museum in Hale'iwa
Entrance to Sunset beach, the people we met were friendly and we told them about Asaf, I am usually a down to earth person but there were those little things that happened throughout the trip that makes me believe that Asaf was with us along the whole trip.
Los Angeles
On route 66
The Grand Canyon
Hoover Dam
The Golden Gate San Francisco
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Blondi in NY City - 5th Avenue
In St. Petersburg, Florida in JFN with Eli Wisel
With a Harley Davidson in Tampa airport
In MIssouri outside the hotel
With the K's for thanks giving
Blondi is now with me in my office in Palo Alto, California
Among the Saw Palmettos, Howard Park, Tarpon Springs, Florida
Blondi at the Shimogura Exhibit Dallas TX USA
Blondi at the Asian Art Exhibit Dallas TX USA
Blondi at the Theme Restaurant Dallas TX USA
Blondi & Dale at the Madison Wisconsin USA
Blondi at the JFK Terminal 8 NY USA
In Reno, Nevada
New York, statue of Liberty in the far back
Times square, New York
UN building, New York
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Long Island, New York, USA
Hollywood, California, USA
A view of the San Juan Islands, WA
