Israel
-
The Tomb Of Zechariah In Jerusalem
The Tomb of Zechariah, which is located in the Kidron Valley at the foot of the Mount of Olives is truly a stunning site. But please don’t be disappointed to learn that Zechariah is not buried here. It was constructed apparently for someone else, who for whatever reason did not merit to have their name…
-
The Tomb Of Absalom In Jerusalem
This past Passover holiday I finally had the chance to visit a spot previously only seen from the car, The Tomb of Absalom. Absolutely do include this in your next visit to Jerusalem’s Old City, it is truly interesting! Located in the Kidron Valley, or Valley of The Kings, at the bottom of the Mount…
-
Fields Of Red Poppies In The Kidron Valley, Jerusalem
Okay dear readers, here is another WOW moment that happened to me and my 13 year old son during our adventures in the Old City of Jerusalem this past Passover. While these amazing fields of red poppies in bloom in the Kidron Valley, just below the walls of the Old City, was something publicized on…
-
Lovely Weeds On The Old City Jerusalem Walls
During our 11 night stay in the Old City of Jerusalem, one of my favorite sites was the Ramparts Walk, NOT TO BE MISSED! And of course, as a lover of things botanical, I just had to photograph some of the weeds growing on the ancient walls. And guess what, my daughter (who had to…
-
What Is The Temple Mount? Can I Go There?
Entrance to The Temple Mount within the Muslim Quarter, Jewish Law forbids entrance by Jews, and in any case only Muslims are allowed entrance through this gate. The Temple Mount refers to the elevated plaza above the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem that was the site of both of The Jewish People’s ancient temples. The first…
-
The Kotel HaKatan, The Small Wailing Wall In Jerusalem
We are now in a period on the Jewish calander called “The Three Weeks” which is the 3 weeks leading up to the holiday called Tisha B’Av, The 9th of Av. The 9th of Av is a mandatory fast day (except for those under 12/13, elderly, ill or possibly just after birth) and is the…
-
Where Is Nachum Ish Gamzu Buried?
Where is Nachum Ish Gamzu buried, you may ask? Or more likely, who is Nachum Ish Gamzu? Or what language is that anyway? Well dear readers, let me tell you, Nachum Ish Gamzu, or more correctly, Rebbe Nachum Ish Gamzu was a Tanna, a rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately…
-
Dale Chihuly At The Tower Of David Citadel, Jerusalem
The Tower of David is now one of my favorite places in Old City Jerusalem, and while we missed his fabulous show at the museum in 2000, glass artist Dale Chihuly did leave a few items in the museum which I was delighted to see this past week. Now I’m regretting that I didn’t make…
-
The Tower Of David Citadel Museum, Jerusalem
This Passover we were given the last minute gift of a complimentary vacation rental apartment in the Old City of Jerusalem for the duration of the holiday, in exchange for hosting a single father and his two sons for the Passover seder and a few days after that. It is true, for some all the…
-
Rain Clouds Over The Mediterranean In Northern Israel
My two teenage sons, 15 and 13 are attending a sleep-away Yeshiva about an hour’s drive from home, and we miss them dearly! They do come home every-other shabbat, and we try to visit now and then on weeks when they won’t be coming home. This week my 15 year old really sounded like he…
-
A Royal Poinciana Tree Grows In Tiberias Israel
On our little adventure to Tiberius to give my son one last hurrah at the end of his Succos vacation we made quite a few mistakes trying to reach our desired destination. One such mistake had us waiting at a bus stop in the middle of a little residential neighborhood, and me saying jokingly “the…
-
Tubing In Israel On Lake Tiberius
At the end of your Succot vacation when your thirteen year old is about to have a meltdown looking at the long 6 month stretch of serious yeshiva learning that lies ahead, and he thinks his vacation wasn’t packed with enough action, well, you go against your own grain and do whatever it takes to…