Category: Israel

Israel

New Year’s Day…

… is today!

Yes, it’s Tu B’Shvat – the new year for trees. The name means the 15th of Shvat, which is today’s Hebrew date. In Israel, this is traditionally an ecological awareness day. People plant trees on this day. Schoolchildren are taken on trips to plant trees and learn about nature.

The weather today, here in Jerusalem, is cool and sunny, an excellent day for planting trees.

I decided it would be appropriate to take some photos of our garden.

But the typical photo to take on this day is of the almond tree. Somehow almond trees always blossom on this day. We don’t have one in our garden, so I went out in search of one. Where we lived before, in Yemin Moshe, there were always almond trees.

I couldn’t see an almond tree in any of these:

This didn’t look like an almond tree:

and neither did this:

nor this (I think):

This certainly didn’t look like one:

And so I returned home without seeing any almond blossom. Next year, I’ll have to visit Yemin Moshe.

Happy New Year to all trees!

Tags almond blossom, Jerusalem, Tu B'Shvat, Yemin Moshe

Israel

About life in Israel

The other day, catdownunder wrote in a comment:

…if you want to know what to write about then you can always tell the rest of us more about life in Israel because, to us, it seems foreign and exotic and most of us also need to know more about it because we mostly get a very lopsided view in the news. Please?

I replied

OK Cat, I’ll try. But most of it seems very ordinary and maybe that’s what’s special here. Because the countries all around us do seem foreign and exotic – not necessarily in a good way.

Since then I’ve been wondering what I can write. Then I saw this post, and… well, you’d better read it first. It’s not long. I can wait.

And that’s the thing. It wouldn’t even have occurred to me to photograph or remark on that non-incident because it’s so ordinary. Is that the sort of thing you want to read about on here, Cat? Is it the sort of thing anyone wants to read about?

Tags Is life in Israel foreign and exotic?

Israel

Change is in the air

A lot has happened in the past eight years.

Eight years ago I had three children at school. Now they’re all grown up and following their different paths.

Eight years ago I was just beginning to write. Now I’ve been writing seriously for some time.

Eight years ago I was working as a technical writer. Now I doubt I’ll return to that job.

The world is quite a different place from what it was eight years ago.

One thing has remained constant during that time. Ariel Sharon has remained in a coma. But today his health is deteriorating and his life is in danger. That’s today’s front page news. Eight years ago, Ariel Sharon was our prime minister. But eight years is a long time.

Thirty-eight years is even longer. When I went out today, I took this photo:

Thirty-eight years ago, when I visited Israel, hubby-to-be was living in that building. It was an absorption centre – a place for new immigrants to stay until they moved on. Now it’s empty and is being offered for rent. I wonder who would want to rent such a large building. The building opposite that used to be a bank is, according to an official notice, about to be torn down and replaced by a block of flats.

All around us building is going on. Our neighbours on both sides are making changes to their houses.

Things change, whether for good or for bad. Even Ariel Sharon can’t remain in a coma for ever.

Tags absorption centre, Ariel Sharon, coma

Israel

I’m not offended…

…when someone wishes me merry Christmas or happy holidays or season’s greetings. I’m just amused.

Because, while we have plenty of holidays here, only the Christians celebrate Christmas, and not all of those celebrate it on 25th December. The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th according to our calendar, the Armenian Church on January 19th.

When I lived in England, the day was special for us because it was a day off for most people. We used to spend it with my uncle and aunt and cousins in their house, and we always enjoyed it.

But here in Israel it’s a non-holiday for us, a normal day. If I went to the Old City, I expect I’d see signs of celebration in the Christian Quarter, but elsewhere there are no signs at all. What amuses me is the assumption by some people that the whole world celebrates Christmas in some way. So if I send greetings, I usually get the same back.

People who think about it a bit more might say, “Happy Chanuka.” Most years that would be suitable, but Chanuka came early this year.

Only one person replied in the same way as I usually do when people wish me a happy whatever: “Thank you.”

Today I went into town to get a new battery for my watch and do some shopping at the market. I took some photographs to show how normal everything was. Well, almost.

The train was crowded, as usual.

More so on the way back when it would have been hard to take out my camera.

All the shops were open, including the watch shop that I needed.

Ben Yehuda Street looked as usual,

except for the piles of snow, still there eleven days after the last snowfall.

All over the Machane Yehuda market, it was business as usual,

including my favourite sweet shop.

Back at the end of the light rail line, a bus weaved between

the mounds of snow.

And I carried my shopping home.

Tags Ben Hillel Street, Ben Yehuda Street, Christmas, Jerusalem, light railway, Machane Yehuda market, Old City of Jeusalem, piles of snow

Israel

A White Christmas

No, I’m not dreaming of a white Christmas. We’ve had quite enough snow for this year, thank you. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if I never saw another snowstorm like the one we had last week, beautiful as it was.

But as we did have a snowstorm so close to that holiday that’s somehow connected with it, I thought I’d post some links to posts about one or the other.

Lisa remembered a visit to Ein Karem last year.
The Real Jerusalem Streets shared lots of snow photos.
Brian of London showed how unused to snow we are.

I also saw pictures on Facebook of a snow bride, a snowman wearing a skullcap by the Western Wall and a snow toilet and basin.

It’s a good thing Chanuka was early this year and over well before the storm began.

To all those of you who are celebrating Christmas, I hope it turns out exactly as you want it to and you have a lovely time.

Tags Christmas, Ein Karem, Jerusalem, snow

Israel

Powerless

Thursday was fun. We ventured out into our snow-covered garden. I took photos, saw lots of other photos on Facebook, read comments about the snow and blogged about it. In the afternoon we received a phone call from the supermarket. They wouldn’t be able to deliver our order the next day. We looked to see what food we had. OK, we could manage.

On Friday we woke up to more snow and no electricity. Not so nice. We had no heating, no hot water and no Internet. And batteries that wouldn’t last for long.

On Saturday the snow was thicker. Thicker than I’ve ever seen it anywhere. And the electricity only came back in the evening after being off for 40.5 hours.

But it could have been worse.

We were able to cook on gas rings. When we moved here we considered using electricity because it would have been easier. But we decided we prefer cooking on gas. Just as well!
We also turned on the gas to heat up the kitchen.
We had enough food to keep going.
If they’d delivered the food we ordered, it would have gone off.
There were four of us at home. I wouldn’t have liked to be alone in that situation.
We saw a lot more of each other than usual.

It’s good to look at the silver lining.

Updated with photos: same place, different days.

Tags gas for cooking, power cut, snow

Israel

Exciting Times

The excitement in these parts knows no bounds. Pictures are all over Facebook. Schools are closed. Workplaces, too. News broadcasts are almost entirely about this.

“What happened?” you might ask.

“It’s snowing.”

“So what?”

“So what! This is Jerusalem. The whole city has closed down. People come from all over the country to see the city covered in white – if they can manage to get here. And you say, so what!”

Besides, how many people can say they’ve seen oranges growing in snow?

Tags Jerusalem, oranges, snow

Israel

Festival of Lights and Doughnuts

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Dec 1, 2013
4 Comments on Festival of Lights and Doughnuts

While America is gorging itself for Thanksgiving and the rest of the world is busy stocking up on Christmas presents, we’re celebrating Chanukah. And doing a bit of gorging ourselves.

The photo I posted last year came out so well, I had to post it again.

Along with my favourite of all the Chanukah songs, although I didn’t find a version I really liked.

Tags candles, Chanukah, doughnuts

Israel

Links from Israel This Week

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Jun 20, 2013
2 Comments on Links from Israel This Week

Just some things I’ve seen recently. There’s even something nice from the BBC.

Ann Goldberg praised two Israeli drivers.
Marallyn was a bit angry with Barbra Streisand, who paid us a visit.
Lisa Isaacs visited an oasis in the desert.

And the BBC talked about the well-known Israeli sport: matkot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWNHDuepn-A

I hope you enjoy the links. I might do this again sometime….

Tags Barbra Streisand, Israeli drivers, matkot, Mitspe Ramon

Israel

Festival of Light

The Jerusalem Festival of Light.

This is the fifth year it’s been done, but it was the first time we heard about it! Clearly, others are better informed. The routes inside the city walls were crowded. But we followed the throngs and saw some amazing sights.

Outside the walls it was quieter, and still there was plenty to see.

Of course we got there and back on our favourite Light Railway. It’s been going for two years and I’m still amazed to see these modern vehicles traversing our old city.

Tags Jerusalem Festival of Light, light railway