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Watching the sun go down into the sea

Yesterday evening after work, my family and I went swimming at our nearest beach. Our nearest beach is Nasholim beach. One of the most amazing beaches in the world, it has everything a sea-lover might wish for. Small and large sea coves to explore, baby fish that you can either chase between the rocks or allow to nibble on your dead skin, a huge collection of sea shells and waves that are often large enough for surfing. You can look for the hidden mermaid's chair to make a sitting wish, catch some fish or sift for ancient archeological treasure. Our favourite bay at Nasholim is just big enough for a tiring swim from to one side to the other and back again. If you'd rather do beach instead of sea - the sand is white and soft and made for lazing. I usually stay in the water as much as possible. Life in Israel can be tense, so it is nice to float aimlessly without any thoughts in the Mediterranean sea. The summer is slowly coming to an end which means that the water is finally coo

The new Moshava park in Zichron Yaakov

The light water fountain that changed colors at opening night. A new park opened this summer in Zichron Yaakov with the usual pose and ceremony due to a major in an election year. But it was still easy enough to block out all the self-congratulating speeches and just enjoy the entire spectacle. We had people standing in long ques vying for the right to buy an expensive hamburger or a small slice of pizza (yes, me too) Young children had various kids TV-personalities entertaining them from a temporary stage The light water fountain changed colors and magicked all of us We had the very popular Israeli band דג נחש (Fish Snake) playing their hits songs ( I am also a fan) It felt as if every young child in Zichron were climbing about on the spanking-new jungle gyms and monkey bars

The Jerusalem Pine of Israel - a hate/love story

I have always taken offense at the Jerusalem pine trees that one sees dotted all over the landscape here in Israel. They are just too scraggy, skinny and needle-ly and let's be honest: UGLY. I mean just look at it...

You know you live in Israel....

You know that you are living in Israel when: You get off your bicycle every five minutes to photograph the wild flowers. The red poppies in the spring time have their photos taken ALL the time.

The Bahá'í Gardens and Temple in Haifa

One does not just find Jews, Muslims and Christians living in Israel. Also the followers of the Bahá'í fait  have strong historical connections to this this tiny country. But in comparison to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the center of the Bahá'í is in Haifa, and not in Jerusalem.

Haveil Havalim number 397

The politician Yair Lapid looking looking very happy, "suave" and may we say a bit "vain" about the outcome of the recent elections. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is  vanity."  Kohelet 1  (Ecclesiates)  A new year and another turn to host  Haveil Havalim  - a carnival of Jewish and Israeli blogs.The Haveil Havalim blog carnival was founded by Soccer Dad  and every week a different blogger takes a turn to host a weekly collection of blog posts.

Israeli Beaches in the Winter

What do you do in Israel on a nice sunny winter's day? You go to the beach of course! The water may be too cold to swim in. (Except for a few brave souls whom I suspect of being former Russian immigrants :)) And the lifeguards' huts are all boarded up. No umbrellas cover the beach cheek by jowl. And the smell of coconut suntan lotion is absent...

Safta Yocheved's Bageles (Granny Yocheved's small bagels)

Baby bagels are known as bagele It may not come as a surprise to you that we eat a lot of bagels here in Israel. Jewish communities from Poland brought them to Israel, just as they brought bagels to the States, Canada and England. And from there the bagel basically conquered the world. The astronaut Greg Chamitoff  even took a few bagels with him abroad the space shuttle Discovery.

In and Around Bat Galim

Bat Galim's architectural landmark - white arches. And yes, of course kids and grown-ups climb on top of them. A few weeks ago, the municipality of Bat Galim, a neighborhood in Haifa, Israel held an "Open house" for artists. Some of the art was amazing, others less so. Quite less... But the neighborhood of Bat Galim totally charmed me. "Bat Galim" means 'daughter of the waves" and yes, it is right next to the sea.

Haveil Havalim #383

A rose for Ricki "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is  vanity."  Kohelet 1  (Ecclesiates)  Yup, it is my turn again to host  Haveil Havalim  - a carnival of Jewish and Israeli blogs.The Haveil Havalim blog carnival was founded by  Soccer Dad  and every week a different blogger takes a turn to host a weekly collection of blog posts. The name "Haveil Havalim" means "Vanity of the Vanities" and is taken from the book Ecclesiates in the Tanach (the Jewish Bible).  If you blog about Israel or Jewish-related subjects, please feel free to join the  Haveil Havalim   Facebook group   or go and have a look at the  Haveil Havalim website . I enjoy hosting this carnival. All the different bloggers who participate in  Haveil Havalim   seems to represent the wonderful diversity of people who lives in Israel. There hardworking bloggers who write nearly every day (I am not of them !) bloggers who like to write about politics, an

Yom Kippur in Israel

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronalmog/ When you look for images on the Internet for Yom Kippur in Israel - you will either see photos of empty highways, cycling children or masses of praying religious Jews dressed in white. And yes, I guess that what a lot of people experience during Yom Kippur. But it so much more than that. Yom Kippur is the day of Atonement and one can say that the entire previous year leads up to this single day. In the days following up to Yom Kippur, Jews are supposed  to reflect over the previous year, look at what they have done wrong and set it right. Family and friends are asked for forgiveness for any hurts that you may have caused them, grudges are finally put away and everyone tries to enter to new year with a clean a slate as possible. According to Jewish tradition, God's writes down each person's destiny for the new year during Rosh haShanah . At Yom Kippur the verdict is finally closed and sealed. Just before and after Yom Kippur people wi

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