JNF helps stimulate greater honey production

One of the most traditional and symbolic foods for Rosh Hashana is honey. Months before the holiday bee keepers all over Israel prepare themselves and their hives.

Honey, sweet honey, is used to bless the New Year. May the year ahead be as sweet as the honey. Tradition is to eat apples dipped in honey during the festive evening meal.

Only thing is Rosh Hashana falls at the end of the hot Israeli summer. There are no flowers to speak of, so how are the bees supposed to supply the growing demand for honey.

According to a report in the Jerusalem Post a new innovative project has begun to solve this problem. The JNF (Jewish National Fund) has for more than 100 years been responsible for planting trees all over Israel. With the changed awareness of what trees to plant, the JNF started a project some 10 years ago, under the directorship of David Brand, to identify “mega trees”, that will flower all year round and produce the nectar so needed for honey.

When these trees have been identified, the saplings are grown in nurseries throughout the country. They are then planted throughout the country.

Though the trees are still young, bee keepers report a increase in honey production. They also report that they no longer have to move the hides, and can leave them for most of the year near the new groves.

As different species of trees are used, each with its own unique flavor, we can still get honey with its own unique flavor. No losers here. More groves adorn the country, the bees are kept busy, the bee keepers are happy, and we have no shortage of honey for Rosh Hashana.

Shana Tova u’metuka (A good and sweet year) to all my readers

For full Jerusalem Post article

There are some days as a guide that will always be remembered. Today was such a day.
Despite the incredible heat my tour today went to Ein Gedi, Masada and the Dead Sea.

I have been there more times than I can remember. The reason we visit is to walk up through the Nahal David Canyon, to the
fresh water pools and the waterfalls. In the middle of the desert. But for many of us it is also the opportunity to see the wild life, such ad the ibex and the hyrax.

Today was no different, except as we turn in toward the parking lot a great herd of ibex was feeding along side the road. Breathtaking as usual. We of course stopped to admire these exquisite animals, who are shy but not really afraid of people.

After a while we tore ourselves away, and I drove into the parking lot, and I was lucky to find a space under a tree that would give shade to the car. One of my tourists was the first out of the car, but within seconds she jumped back in, saying: What is that? pointing to the front of the car.

There, on the bonnet of my car stood a magnificent male ibex. I never saw him, as I pulled into the parking space, but he must have seen me immediately, and said: “Well, how nice of her to park right there. I can use the car to reach the leaves of that tree much easier”.

He immediately started feeding, taking absolutely no notice of us, who scrambled out of the car with cameras in hand (in my case my cell phone), nor of any of the other people noticing what was going on. Soon he decided that the roof would make feeding even more convenient.

After 10 minutes or so, to my great sorrow, I had to chase him off the car, because he kept setting off the alarm system.  But what a magnificent experience. This is the closest I have ever been to an ibex.

Palace and hippodrome from the south

No tour through Caesarea is complete without a visit Herod’s palace. Although completely in ruins enough remains for us to see the enormous size of the largest of all the palaces built by Herod the Great. The partial reconstruction is an invaluable addition to understand what Herod’s palace must have looked like.

Caesarea was an impressive construction. As was Herod’s way he always chose the most impressive and often most difficult place for his own palace. In Caesarea he outdid himself.

The palace is situated on a promontory into the Mediterranean Sea on the south side of Caesarea, lodged between the theater and the hippodrome. In its final form it consisted of two levels, the lower, western level being earlier that the higher eastern level.

Reconstruction*

Entrance to the palace was from east, through a massive entry way that leads to the large courtyard (42 x 65 m). This courtyard was surrounded on all sides by a roof covered colonnade. The center of the courtyard had most likely been planted with trees, palms and shrubs that may even have created small secluded areas.

The courtyard was surrounded by rooms, the most impressive to be seen on the north side. This room has been named the Audience Hall. If so, this may have been the place where the rulers and governors received visitors and reviewed cases, such as Felix meeting Paul (Acts 24:26).

In the center of the courtyard stands a stone with an inscription. This stone has nothing to do with Herod. The stone is known as the Pontius Pilate stone, as the inscription mentions this important governor by name. It is most likely that Pontius Pilate, like all the other Roman governors, lived in this palace after Judea comes under direct Roman rule in the year 70 BE and made Caesarea the capital of the new Roman province.

On the northwest corner of the upper palace is a staircase leading down to the lower level. Unfortunately most of us can only look at the lower level from the upper level as the staircase is almost completely eroded away by the waves of the Mediterranean.

Pool, Lower Palace

What first strikes the visitor looking on the Lower Level is the large (35x18m) pool. The pool was surrounded by columns and rooms with a tall column in the center. Just below the viewpoint from the Upper Palace is the triclinium (93 m square). It’s difficult to see it and the two rooms adjoining, as they have been covered over to protect the mosaics found there.

Every time I come to this palace I am impressed. The sheer size of it, the scope, the location on the premonotory, the view over the Mediterranean. This is probably one of the most difficult sites for me to explain on paper !

* Student’s reconstruction of palace seen from the north. Courtesy Caesarea Maritima, a project of the University of Pennsylvania Museum

Image via Wikipedia

Ein Gedi is one of the most visited nature reserves in Israel, both by Israelis and by tourists. This is due to its unique nature as an oasis in the Judean Desert, but also because the easy trails within the reserve.

Ein Gedi is situated approximately half way on the shores of the north part of the Dead Sea. The two year-round streams, Nahal David and Nahal Arugot, are its basis. In addition to these two streams there are four springs in the area, to feed the streams and the wild-life. All the water to the reserve originates from the rain that falls in the higher sections of the Judean Mountains.

The water and the climate allow for a great variety of unique wild life, both in plant and animal species. This is not to say that these species are not to be found in other places, but in Ein Gedi they are closer together, and easier to see.

Among the plant species to be found in Ein Gedi are acacias, Christ-thorn and Sodom Tree, as well as giant reeds and cattails. Various forms of mosses and ferns clothe the mountain sides.

The animals most widely seen are the wild goats of Ein Gedi, the ibex, and the hyrax, also called the marmot. If you could be there at night you might see foxes, wolves and hyenas. Until a few years ago it might also be possible to see a spotted leopard, but from recent information it seems they have gone extinct.

Though most visitors come to Ein Gedi for its spectacular nature, there are many remains of human habitation, starting in the Calcolithic (Late Stone Age) period some 5000 years ago. From around the 7th Century BCE a Jewish community thrived in Ein Gedi, leaving behind the remains of the houses, production sites and particularly the synagogue from the 3rd-6th century CE. Remains of the watering system has been found, showing the importance of agriculture, especially of dates and the balsam tree. We do not know today what the name balsam tree refers to. However, in antiquity one of the most expensive perfumes was produced from it.

When visiting Ein Gedi you can chose from a number of trails, from easy family trail, such as Nahal David, the somewhat longer trail through Nahal Arugot, or even longer trails leading up to the higher mountains in Ein Gedi. Most tourists make do with the short Nahal David trail.

Visiting hours:
April-September 8 am to 5 pm
October-March   8 am to 4 pm. In these months last entrance is at 3 pm. at Nahal David and 2 pm at Nahal Arugot.

The best seasons are fall, winter and spring. The summer at the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi can be extremely hot.

Brief Guided Tour of Caesarea

Caesarea is probably one of the most famous ancient cities of Israel, apart from Jerusalem.
It was founded around the year 22 BCE* by Herod the Great, and named in honor of Caesar Augustus.

Due to the great port built by Herod, the town becomes one of the hubs of the country. It remains one of the main port cities until its final destruction by the Mamelukes in the late 13th century.

From the creation of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in its various developments, Caesarea has been one of the most visited sites.

Parts of the ancient Roman city have been partly reconstructed, especially the theater, which is used every summer as one of the most spectacular outdoor stages for all the performing arts.

When you visit Caesarea allow yourself good time, not just to walk the city, but also to see the Caesarea Experience, where the virtual movie will take you back to Herod’s Dream, but where you can also ask questions of 12 historical figures associated with Caesarea, such as Herod, Pontius Pilate, Queen Helena and Hanna Shenesh.

*BCE – Before Common Era. CE – Common Era

Join me in a brief movie through Ceasarea

Brief Historical Outline of Caesarea

2nd century BCE
First settlement, Strato’s Tower, small Sidonian village

22 BCE

Caesar Augustus

Founded by Herod the Great (ruled 37-4 BCE), named in honor of the Roman Emporer Caesar Augustus. The town is centered around a deep sea port, Sebastia, the second largest port in the Roman Empire. Around this were built storerooms, market places, imposing public buildings, bath housesa theatre, a hippodrome, temples to Rome and Augustus, as well as Herod’s own palace, and housing for the ordinary citizens.

6 CE
Judea comes under direct Roman rule, and Caesarea becomes the capital of Judea. The Roman governor had his residence here. The first to be verified as such is Pontius Pilate (26-36 CE), on a dedication stone carrying his name, found in the Roman theatre during excavations.

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, is the first gentile to be converted to Christianity by Peter. Paul is kept in house arrest here, before sailing to Rome and his trial.

66 CE
A strife breaks out between the Jewish and Syrian communities of Caeserea, which includes the desecration of the Jewish synagogue. The becomes one of the contributary causes of the First Jewish Rebellion against Rome (66-70 BC).

After the rebellion the town continues to thrive as one of the foremost maritime towns of the area and the Roman empire.

3rd-6th century
Early Christian scholars and church fathers, such as Origen, establish study centers. Eusebius (260-340) becomes the first Bishop of Caesarea.

From 324, with the acceptance of Christianity as a religion within the Roman Empire, by Emperor Constantine the Great, Caesarea becomes an

Constantine the Great , Hagia Sophia Mosaic

important venue for pilgrims arriving to the Holy Land or departing.

Due to the shifting of the sea bed and earthquakes, the port has begun to disintegrate, but is still big and important trading point.

636
Palestine and Caesarea are conquered by the Arabs. Due to its continued disintegration, the town loses its splendor and declines.

1101-1291
The town falls to the Crusaders, who build a large fortress over and around the ruins of the harbor. Caesarea becomes an

Crusader Knight

important town for the Crusaders in maintaining contact with Europe. 1187 – Following the Crusader defeat at the Horns of Hittin, Caesarea is taken by Salah E-din, who
proceeds to demolish its fortifications.

1219 – Retaken by the Crusaders, who start to refortify the town. This is completed by Louis IX of France in 1251. 1291 – The town falls for the last time, this time to the Mameluke Sultan Baybars, who proceeds to completely demolish the town.

Caesarea and the whole coastal plain lies desolate and unused for almost 500 years.

1878
The Turks allows a small group of refugees from Bosnia to settle within the ruins of Caesarea. They rebuild some of the buildings as well as the mosque and its minaret, one of the landmarks in modern Caesarea.

20th Century
Large areas of land around Caesarea was in private ownership of the Rothschild family. With the establishement of the State of Israel these areas come under the development of the The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation, to which was later added the Development Corporation Ltd.

Many archaeological excavations of ancient Caesarea, as well an reconstruction and reuse of certain part.

More information:
Caesarea Official Tourist Site
Caesarea Development Corporation

Israel may be a small country, but it has an extremely diversified landcape, climate, flora and fauna. Without the assistance of dedicated people and organizations much of this would be lost.

In 1955 the first law to protect nature in Israel was passed by the Knesset (Parliament). It is known as the Wild Animals Protection Law, and came into being in order to save the remnants of many animals species threatened with extinction, due to hunting and total disregard for the nature of the land up till then.

In 1963 an additional law came into being, establishing two government authorities:

The National Parks Authority – to protect, maintain and develop historical sites
The Nature Reserves Authority – to protect, maintain and develop nature reserves.

Israel Nature and Parks Authority the Caretaker of World Heritage Sites

In 1988 the two authorities were joined into one, The Israel Nature and Parks Authority, INPA. As of May 2007, 190 nature reserves and 66 national parks have been officially declared so far, covering an area of approximately 20 percent of Israel’s land mass. But the INPA does not rest on its laurels: More than 200 additional proposed nature reserves and national parks are in various stages of the declaration process.

These parks stretch from Mount Hermon in the north with its snow covered peaks in the winter (and a ski resort), through green Mediterranean country side and wetlands, where until the 19th century cheetahs could still be seen, as well as wetlands, to the mountain highland of Judah and Samaria, through the Negev Desert to the coral reefs at the Red Sea and Eilat. Within this area are unique natural phenomena like the Dead Sea and the Ramon Crater, geological developments not found anywhere else in the world.

The richness in the natural landscapes and its flora and fauna is a result of Israel lying as a meeting point between Europe, Africa and Asia.

The INPA also looks after the vast number of historical sites, many of the hundreds, even thousands of years old. These sites are the foundation for the understanding of the country’s history and cultural development, which has had such a profound impact on world history.

Following the adoption by UNESCO of the charter to protect cultural and natural sites of global importance, the INPA has invested considerable resources in gaining inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first site, Masada, was inscribed in 2001, followed in 2005 by biblical tells of Tel Megiddo, Tel Hazor and Tel Be’er Sheva, to be followed by the Incense Route and the Nabatean towns of Avdat, Shivta, Halutza and Mamshit. Other sites will hopefully be inscribed in the future.

The Israel Nataure and Parks Authority continues its work to protect nature and historical and cultural sites. It has successful programs to re-introduce animals that became extinct, is involved in the protection of the countries shorelines and much more.

For anyone interested in knowing more about the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

In later articles I will write about some of the parks.

Make sure that a number of the parks will be on your private guided tour

Situated toward the south end of the Dead Sea, but actually part of the Judean Mountains, Masada is a compelling story of Jews and Romans in the first century CE.

The English name Masada comes from the Hebrew Metzada, which simply means “Fortress”. And that’s exactly what it is. Rising to a height of app. 450 m above Dead Sea (app. 50 m above sea level) with steep slopes on all sides, Masada is almost impossible to attack and conquer.

It was for this reason that Herod the Great chose it for the magnificent palaces he built there. The northern palace was intened to be the family palace. Herod chose the most spectacular locations and building plan, hanging the palace on three terraces on and below the nothern point.

Within the palace compound he built two Roman baths, storage rooms for food, wine, oil, wood. Guarding the palace entrance he built what modern archaelogists have termed “The Commandant’s House”. The three levels of the palace were connected with a staircase shaded most of the way.

In addition he built the Western Palace, intended to be the palace where visitors could be received and stay. It too has a Roman bath house and storage rooms. Scattered alongside the walls that surround the plateau are additional rooms, probably for servants and slaves, as well as workrooms for baking and cooking, as stables for mules and more.

Herod also made certain that there was plenty of water. Masada’s water collection system is one of the most brilliant of the ancient world.

But Masada is better known for the events that took place on the eve of Passover in the year 73 BC. In 66 BC the Jews of Judea and Galilee had started a rebellion against the Roman Empire. For four years the rebels held out, but finally in the year 70 CE the Roman reconquered Jerusalem, an event that for all intents and purposes ended the rebellion.

The exception was a handful of men, women and children who continue their struggle for freedom from Masada.
Well, I will not give away all the details, just know that the way it ended caused reverberations down through the generations and way into the modern State of Israel.

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