100618 Hikers Arrive at Adurayim

A group of hikers emerged from the fields below. At first it looked like an invasion of Arabs until the men unwrapped their kafiyahs and mixed with acquaintances. The ‘David & Ahikam’ youth group hike through the desert of Judea and the mountains of Shomron every week in memory of David Rubin HY"D and Ahikam Amichai HY"D, murdered in 2007 by Arabs while hiking in the hills of Hevron.
Among the hikers was a beautiful 18 year-old by the name of Eliraz Binyamin from Otniel. She found a shady quiet place to rest and play a few songs on her guitar before continuing with the youth group on their journey through hostile territory.

100414 Camping Out in a Castle

I recently took one of my favorite friends home after a very tiring, yet very learned, walking tour of the Old City ending with a visit and shiur of the rebuilt Churva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter.
As we pulled up to the Family Castle, Princess Chaya was at the doorstep to meet us and I was invited in for a tour of grandeur of which I am not accustomed to. During the course of our tour of her new home, she informed me she was not yet sleeping in her luscious bedroom, but camping out downstairs, since the water is not hooked up in the bathroom, and the bed has not yet arrived.
I met several members of the Royal Family, including Prince ‘Mo’ who was shortly off to parts unknown to study. And all the while, I was wined and dined – water, coke & pretzels - by Princess Chaya, who also proved to be the ‘hostess with the most-est’. Before my departure, she sat down at the piano to show off her skills by playing a couple of ‘do-wah-ditties’ she has been faithfully practicing on.
Hats off to the little Princess Chaya who is camping out in a castle!

100328 Customs Before Pesach

Distribution Centers Provide Matzah for Pesach

People, especially the poor, line up to receive free commodities for Pesach – especially matzah!

Kashering utensils for Pesach

Boiling pots of hot water are found throughout religious neighborhoods for the convenience of certain pots being kashered for Pesach by immersing them in boiling hot water, ridding them of any remains of chametz.

B’dikat Chametz
It is customary to search for any remaining chametz the night before Erev Pesach. The custom is called ‘b’dikat chametz’ and is made a big game among the children of each family as they search every nook ‘n corner of the house to remove every crumb. The search is preferably made with candle-light, but flashlights have also been used.

Burning the Chametz

The morning of Erev Pesach families and children encircle the fires in neighborhoods to burn the last remnants of chametz found by kids the night before. This activity is to be completed by 11:30 am.

100305 IT's RIVKAH RIBAK's BIRTHDAY

I have to tell all you young'uns that you never get too old to be a 'kid', and you never get too old to enjoy friends and birthday parties with birthday cake and all the trimmings.
That's what us older 'kids' did in the outdoors on the hillside of Netzer this past Friday. The broadcast went out loud and clear that it was the birthday of one of our most loyal participants and photographer friend, Rivkah Ribak. So, we took up the opportunity to celebrate the moment with her.
I never got the age since there is just some things a girl doesn't tell!
יום הולדת = birthday
מסיבה = party
עוגה = cake
בחוץ = outdoors
לחגוג = to celebrate
גיל = age
מורד הנבעה = hillside

100301 PURIM in Givat Zeev 2010

Kings and queens were seen recently throughout the streets of every city of Israel. Along with them were angels and butterflies. All species of wild and domestic animals were roaming about as the evil Haman disguised himself in numerous garbs trying to flee his ill fate. Megilat Esther is read to remind everyone of the Jews’ victory over evil when Haman was tricked by the beautiful Queen Esther and hung by the King.
So one of the traditional foods to eat in the celebration of Purim each year is אוזני חמן or Hamantashen (Yiddish) = HAMAN’S EARS.

CELEBRATING PURIM WITH CATS/KATZ & FRIENDS


The before-dinner entertainment began with Ori and his father, Akiva, as they broke out into song and dance around the kitchen.


One of the young guests for the evening was 12 year old Chaim Yair who o-o-h-ed & ah-h-h-ed everyone with his juggling performance.


Nine year old Chaggi, 10-year-old Yedidiya, and 12-year-old Michal stepped up to the plate to demonstrate their ability to make use three cups with a bridge of knives braided together for a glass to stand on. It took some time to achieve the feat, but three heads of three brothers put together with determination caused them to succeed in the end.


Ori came up with the bright idea of filling a glass with water and swinging it around without spilling it, and WALLA! He succeeded in not spilling it, but he slung the whole glass of water in his father's face! We all decided the kids need to practice this game alot before they name it "How NOT to Throw Water in Your Father's Face!"

100129 Planting Trees at NETZER, the 'Offspring'

An event ponsored by Women In Green; The Committee for a Jewish Shdema; Judea Action Committees; Netzer Settlement Group;Yibaneh Fund. See: http://www.womeningreen.org)
This year, celebrants took to the hill of Netzer which overlooks a valley of vineyards and olive trees planted by Arabs with the financial aid of EU and US sponsors. A vast majority of the land has already been taken illegally, but there are still areas which is considered 'no man's land' and is up for grabs.
Netzer means 'offspring' (of a tree) which is not a branch, but materializes from the root. Biblically it is a reference to the 'offspring of David' and is very important to Jews who have returned to the Biblical heartland of Israel, Judea and the Shomron (Samaria). So, we refer to this particular lonely hillside as Netzer.
Grandparents piled out of vehicles bringing along their offsprings who are now moms & dads who brought along their offsprings. Everyone came bearing gifts– trees and grapevines - in appreciation for Hashem giving us the Land.
Although there was such an atmosphere of joy and celebration brought on by our family musician who walked through the fields playing Israeli songs on his accordion, the children were sincere and intent about leaving an indelible print deep in the Land as they dug down into the rocky soil and planted the pardes (orchard) of olive trees and vineyard.

As I observed through the camera's eye, I realized these children themselves are the 'planting of the L-rd' in their own Land, taking root in the harsh stony ground of the Land; their roots reaching down into the depth of the soil where water is eventually found. They are the 'netzer', the offspring of David.

100131 The ALMOND TREE

The almond tree is the highlite of late fall to early spring in Israel. It awakens the soul from its slumber and photographers travel the highways and biways for the challenge of that one shot that creates a unique photo. I took advantage of the opportunity of a morning walk with my faithful companion, Gypsy Roz, through the wadi below my apartment. It has a small stream lined with abandoned almond and cherry trees. Following the heavy rains, everything was so fresh I just wanted to lay in the sun and take in Hashem's creation which surrounded me in my small part of His world before man has the opportunity to pollute it all over again.