Israel: Northern
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Pomegranate Trees In Bloom In Northern Israel
Yes, dear readers, if you take a walk around my neighborhood you too can witness the transition of the flowers on the pomegranate tree to that of tiny fruit! There is something so very special about the yearly cycle of all of the holy seven plant/tree species that grow here in Israel, but those that we…
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Sunset Over Mount Meron On Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Chodesh tov, wishing you a joyful new month, dear readers! Every month on the Jewish calendar has its own special qualities, and the first day of the month, rosh chodesh, is a mini holiday of sorts. We have a special affection for the cycle of the year and the numerous celebrations it includes as well…
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The Ancient Cemetary Of Safed Covered In Yellow Wild Flowers
The fields of Northern Israel are indeed a world unto their own, and I just love to watch the progressive show as wildflowers and maidenhair fern and thistle, to name a few, each bloom during their own special time slot, only to dry up and be replaced by the next species in line. It really…
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A Visit To The Gravesite Of Devorah The Prophetess
Above: A Roman era sarcaphogus, not actually used to bury Devorah, but the same location was used for hundreds even a thousand years after Devorah for burial as well. During the week of Passover we were fortunate to have enough lovely weather (though quite a bit rain as well) to venture out a bit and…
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Wild Red Poppies In Bloom For Passover!
Though the Jewish calender is lunar, and thus isn’t static like the Gregorian calender, there is one thing that is a given: Passover must always occur in the Spring, yippee! In order to make this happen we even have to insert an entire extra month some years, and that extra month is always a second…
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Migrating Cranes Flying Over Northern Israel
Two days ago my daughter called to me “Mommy, come quickly!” you won’t believe it! To our great delight we witnessed the largest group of migrating cranes flying overhead. Not one group exactly but three, one after the other, each one larger than groups of cranes we generally see every Spring and Fall as they…
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Red Poppies (Anemones, Actually) In Bloom In Northern Israel
Yesterday when I took a walk with my son in the nearby fields, thinking that I was going to photograph some Almond blossoms, I was surprised to find that our native red anemones, that everyone just calls poppies, are also in bloom, which is so very exciting every time! Dots of red peeking out from…
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A Rosh Chodesh Walk And Almond Trees Blooming In Northern Israel
On Rosh Chodesh, the first day of each Jewish month, my kids have a half day of school, meaning it is the perfect time to take a little nature walk, and especially since Spring is here, and this month is Adar, a very joyful one indeed, and walking in nature surely gives us joy. As…
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A Visit To Pekiin And the Gravesite Of Rabbi Oshaya
During an outing during the week of Passover we visited the cave of Rebbi Shimon in the historic town of Pekiin, and also visited the gravesite of Rabbi Oshaya nearby. It was a very lovely spot indeed, and quite moving to see the crowd of folks who arrived to pray in this special spot.
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A Visit To The Baal Shem Tov Forest And The Gravesite Of Rebbi Shimon Ben Menasya
Not far from our home in Northern Israel there is a forest called the Baal Shem Tov forest, and within that very forest is a very special place: the burial site of the Tanna, Rebbi Shimon Ben Manasya. We visited this site in the Spring (though I am just getting around to sharing it with…
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When Life Is Like A Painting, So Why Not Paint?
I am very blessed to live in an ancient city, one of the four holy citys in Israel, that is packed with inspiration, natural beauty, and loads of really important history, loads and loads. My town also happened to become one of the well known artist colonies after israel became a country in 1948, and…
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The Historic Cave Of Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai
Above: View of the gorgeous topography of the Galillea, from a lookout point on the road to Pekiin, looking southeast. Tonight we ushered in the very special holiday of Lag B’Omer, which celebrates and honors our great sage Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, also referred to as Rashbi. So there is no better day than to…