Every moment spent here in Israel is a treasure to me. I am always learning new things, meeting new people, exploring new places. Even when I have been in a particular city numerous times, there is always something new to learn. Since people view this blog from all over the world, I find it is most enjoyable for me to post many pictures of the places I have visited so others can enjoy the pure, amazing beauty of the land of Israel.
In April I visited the underwater observatory in Eilat, where you literally go under the Red Sea and view the life there. It is truly a sight to behold.
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| It always strikes me how blue the Red Sea is. |
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| under the Red Sea |
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| under the Red Sea |
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| octopus |
In April we went to Jerusalem for Pesach (Passover) and stayed at the Abraham Hostel. Jerusalem is especially exciting during the holidays.
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Damascus Gate of Old City, Jerusalem |
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| Jerusalem |
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| Yafo Street, Jerusalem |
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| Yafo Street, Jerusalem |
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| Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem |
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| King George Street, Jerusalem |
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| HaNevi'im Street, Jerusalem |
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| Abraham Hostel, Jerusalem |
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| Abraham Hostel, Jerusalem |
This next set of pictures were taken in Tel Aviv. Many people who come to Israel skip exploring Tel Aviv because they think it is just a big city like New York or something, but actually when Tel Aviv was established by Jews a hundred years ago, it was planned carefully to be a garden city like the Garden of Eden. It has beautiful lanes of trees and parks and a mix of old and new architecture and lots of hidden surprises. I never get tired of exploring Tel Aviv.
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| the Promenade, Tel Aviv |
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| Tel Aviv |
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| Tel Aviv |
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| Tel Aviv |
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| Tel Aviv |
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| Rothschild Street, Tel Aviv |
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| Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv |
Towards the end of April I visited Greek Orthodox St. George Monastery in Wadi Qelt (a region of the Judean Desert) with a group of my Israeli friends that I normally go folk dancing with. It was a very interesting place with a history that goes back over 1,500 years.
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| Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| Bedouin selling jewelry in Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| St. George Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| Wadi Qelt, Judea |
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| Wadi Qelt, Judea |
Also in April, a few days before Holocaust Remembrance Day, I visited the Yad VaShem Museum in Jerusalem. They did not allow photography inside the museum, so all of my pictures had to be of the grounds and surrounding landscape. Touring this museum was an informative and very moving experience, and I think everyone visiting Israel should have this opportunity.
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| Yad VaShem Museum, Jerusalem |
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| Yad Vashem Museum, Jerusalem |
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| neighborhood near Yad Vashem Museum, Jerusalem |
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| Yad VaShem Museum, Jerusalem |
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| The end of the museum building provides an overlook for taking in the beautiful hills of Jerusalem. |
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| view from the museum overlooking the hills of Jerusalem |
In May I went on a trip with my folk dancing friends. On our way, we visited Ein Gedi, and then we danced for 3 days at the foot of Masada. I never get tired of these two places nor of my folk dancing friends.
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| Ein Gedi |
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| my dance friend at Ein Gedi with the Dead Sea in the background |
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| Ein Gedi |
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| my dance friends at Ein Gedi |
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| my dance friends at Ein Gedi |
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| my dance friends at Ein Gedi |
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| hyrax at Ein Gedi |
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| view of the Dead Sea from the Masada Hostel |
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| Dead Sea viewed from Masada Hostel |
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| dancing at Masada Hostel |
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| sunrise over the Dead Sea viewed from Masada Hostel |
From July 8 until August 26, 2014, Israel was involved in a self-defensive war (Operation Protective Edge) with the Arabs of Gaza due to the non-stop bombardment of rockets that were being launched at Israel. In the months leading up to the war the Arabs had been shooting rockets, a few here, a few there, even though they had promised to stop during the last ceasefire that took place in November, 2012. Then, in the weeks leading up to this latest war, the rocket fire grew increasingly intense, especially after Hamas kidnapped three Jewish teenagers and brutally murdered them on June 12, 2014. With the rocket fire continually intensifying, Israel finally retaliated officially on July 8 and this only made the rocket fire increase even more. Living in Tel Aviv, I had to run to the bomb shelters once or twice a day, but people living further south, such as in Ashkelon and Ashdod, were running into shelters constantly. There were attempts by the Arabs to infiltrate Israel and kidnap more Israelis using a vast tunnel system built for that very purpose and funded by the UN, US, and EU. The IDF had to go in and destroy these tunnels, though rumor has it that not all were destroyed. It was a gruesome war and we lost many good soldiers. Much of Israel, including me, was extremely disappointed that the war ended before Hamas, the terrorist government chosen by the Arabs, was completely disarmed and destroyed. We really felt that the IDF could have done much more to have solved this Arabs-wanting-to-destroy-Israel problem that seems to never end. I spent most of my time during this 50-day war watching the news and trying to keep my friends in other countries informed of what was really happening over here.
During late summer I met some friends who live in the Shomron (Samaria) not far from Ariel and had a good time being shown around the area. The Shomron is absolutely gorgeous and full of wonderful Jewish people who are very attached and committed to the land of Israel.
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| Shomron |
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| Arab houses in the Shomron |
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| Jewish farms in the Shomron |
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| mix of Jewish and Arab villages in the Shomron |
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| village of Itamar in the Shomron (where the Fogel family was murdered by Arabs) |
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Jews are not allowed to enter many of the Arab villages in the Shomron (but there are no signs prohibiting Arabs from entering Jewish villages, which reveals a double standard).
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the double standards are everywhere
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farmer boy in the Shomron
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One day in September I went with a friend to Beer Sheva and we visited a tallit factory.
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| tallit factory in Beer Sheva |
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tallit Factory in Beer Sheva
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tallit Factory in Beer Sheva
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The day before the festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) started, actually just about an hour before, there was a beautiful thunder and lightning storm with just a tiny bit of rain. Then the sky began to clear up right before the sun set and everyone was still able to enjoy a relatively dry first night of Sukkot (at least in Tel Aviv).
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| pre-Sukkot storm in Tel Aviv |
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pre-Sukkot sunset in Tel Aviv
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One of the best times of the year to visit Jerusalem is during Sukkot, so we went mid-festival on October 12, 2014, and enjoyed shopping, exploring, and seeing the sukkot all over the city. I never get tired of Jerusalem. It is the most beautiful and amazing place in the world.
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| I think this was the smallest Sukkah I saw. |
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sukkah on balcony with striped fabric, Jerusalem
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| sukkah for Cafe Cafe customers, Jerusalem |
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sukkah for J'oy customers, Jerusalem
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sukkah for restaurant customers, Jerusalem
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| See the girl peering through the window? Old City, Jerusalem |
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the Cardo, Old City, Jerusalem
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giant sukkah near the Wall, Old City, Jerusalem
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giant sukkah near the Wall, Old City, Jerusalem
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| inside giant sukkah near the Wall, Old City, Jerusalem |
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giant sukkah near the Wall, Old City, Jerusalem
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the Wall, Old City, Jerusalem
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ancient ruins near the Wall, Old City, Jerusalem
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Well, I have shared with you my favorite pictures from the past 6 months. Blessings to all my friends and family, and to you even if I don't know you. May the beauty and uniqueness of Israel impact you through my pictures. Remember that HaShem's eyes are always on this place and those who bless Israel are promised to be blessed in return.
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