Skip to main content

Posts

A Blue-Chrome Sky | An Israeli Poem

A Blue-Chrome Sky | An Israeli Poem - 27 December, 2025  A blue-chrome sky The rain, or rather the on-and-off deluge,  has polished the skies to a bright chrome.  Large clouds strive to hide our solid sun  but the light pace like a hidden metronome Flood-filled grays tried its best to reign But the blue would often glow through Or at least sent a few bright rays Turning the storm clouds a lighter hue Dark and charcoal and ash-grey colours With loud noise and scary-looking shadows Eventually fracture over our ancient hilltops In Israel the melody of light never stops.  Flood-filled grays tried its best to reign  But the blue would often glow through  Or at least sent a few bright rays  Turning the storm clouds a lighter hue  In Israel the melody of light never stops Zichron Yaakov, 27 December, 2025
Post a Comment
Read more

Ten tips for photographing wild flowers in Israel

Israel may be a tiny country but you would not guess it by the amazing large range of wild flowers found here in the Holy Land. The wild flowers bloom in t he short period of time between the winter rains and the heat of the summer, or the short-lived spring time. Depending on the winter rain and the weather, this can be anytime from mid- February to April. The shy Cyclamen usual opens the wild flower season
2 comments
Read more

The Amazing Metal Work found in Israel

The architecture found in Israel is pretty amazing. People have been building here in the Holy land since ancient times. And they left some pretty amazing buildings from the times that they lived here in Israel. From the Western wall in Jerusalem, churches,synagogues, museums to apartment blocks build in the  Bauhaus style  - there is some pretty interesting buildings to see. And while you look around you a bit and try and figure who and when these buildings were build, have a look at the amazing metal work found here in Israel. Modern balcony railing
Post a Comment
Read more

Sukkot - The Holiday of Little Huts

A very patriotic sukkah All the Jewish holidays have special customs and traditions that make then quite distinctive from each other. So if you are eating doughnuts and lighting a menora, you know that is is Hanukka. In the Jewish New year, Rosh haShana, one eats pomegranates and listen to a shofar. At Yom Kippur you fast and in Sukkot you sit in a little hut.
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the connection between pomegranates and the Jewish New Year?

Another year and another Jewish New Year, or rather Rosh haShana (the head of the year). And again we see pomegranates ALL over the place! I mean like...EveryWhere! There are pomegranates on the greeting cards we send each other for Rosh haShana There are heaps of pomegranates in the supermarkets There are pomegranate recipes in every single newspaper and magazine There are pomegranates, real and decorative ones, on the table during the Rosh haShana meals. As a matter of fact, pomegranate seeds are one of food stuffs that have a special blessing. The juice guys on the street corners are selling more pomegranate juice than ever The are even pomegranates growing like crazy all over Israel. They are practically 'dripping' from their trees.
Post a Comment
Read more

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
2 comments
Read more

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...
5 comments
Read more

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.
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular posts from this blog

The wild mustard flowers of Israel

The wild mustard is growing yellow and everywhere in Israel at the moment. But not the kind of mustard that you eat with ketchup on your hotdog! Wild mustard as in wild mustard plants! :) I am talking about  Sinapsis Arvensis , a tiny yellow flower that grows in masses in fields, along road sides and abandoned building sites. Up close the wild mustard flower does not look like much - a bit on the puny side actually. But just come across a field filled with mustard flowers and you will be enchanted - just as I am every spring.
7 comments
Read more

When the almond trees flower

    The almond blossoms have a special place in the hearts of Israelis We are right at the entrance of spring now in Israel. Luckily we had a lot of rain this winter and everywhere is clean and green. We are already enjoying the spring flowers but one cannot talk (okay write..☺) about spring flowers without mentioning almond blossoms. These trees always bloom the first in Israel and is a wonderful reminder that the winter is about to come to an end. One has to really pay attention to see the almond blossoms though. They blossom only for a short time. One blink and they are gone until next year.                               The almond blossoms always bloom the first Even as I am writing this post, I know that the glorious white/pink flowers have already disappeared and the almond trees are already covered in fresh new leaves. Soon the small baby almonds will grow into the nuts that I love to snack ...
5 comments
Read more

The torch-lighting ceremony of Israel's Independence Day

Screenshot taken from i24News.com Israel's Independence Day is actually celebrated over two days. On the first day we remember all the fallen soldiers who died since Israel declared its first independence in 1948. Officially it is called the 'Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism'. This day is somber and sad and I always cry my eyes out when the stories of the fallen soldiers are shown on television. There are wreath-laying ceremonies all over the county and every Israeli stands quietly when sirens ring throughout the country to acknowledge their sacrifice. The second day is PARTY time! Just about everyone is either having a barbeque or picnic or going to the beach. The fun is however bittersweet. The sadness of the previous day and the human cost of living in a Jewish country cast a deep shadow throughout the day. When and where are the torches lit? The end of the first day and the start of the second day is bridged...
Post a Comment
Read more