The land in question lies below the Israel Museum, with the Botanical Gardens adjoining, and touching upon the cross-city Begin Highway. It had been leased to the two kibbutzim as agricultural land for many years, but the lease was up. However, the kibbutzim together with a land developer claimed the land.

The problem is that the last small herd of gazelles from the hills of Jerusalem had this land as their home. Being between two hills, the area has become known as Gazelle Valley. These gazelles were cut off some 15 years before the dispute started from their natural habitat and other herds of gazelles in the Judean Mountains, due to roads and homes being built all around.

As if this was not enough the herd of gazelles have been depleted through hunting by wild dogs. It took months of relentless activity by the SPNI to catch the dogs, but by then only three does were left

The District Planning and Building Council of Jerusalem has finally given approval for a plan ensuring the does’ future and enabling the re-population of the herd. Their plan calls for part of the valley to be left in its natural state, to accommodate the gazelles, while the remainder would be a public park.

The SPNI has also committed to bring in fresh blood to maintain the herd of gazelles.

Biblical reference
This is a tremendous boost in animal protection, and especially important to readers of the bible. One of the earliest references to gazelles in this area comes from Song of Solomon 3:5 – I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field …

Thanks goes to: Ha’Aretz Daily Newspaper and the Jerusalem Post

We were lucky, just as we started heading back toward the cable car, we had one of the rare experiences – it started to rain. To begin with just dripping, but before we got to the cable car, it was pouring.

The shelter is built to give shade, not against a desert torrential downpour, so we and all the other people waiting to go down got pretty drenched. Still, an experience, so we took it in our stride. We also knew that within long we would be indoors, and heading toward the car.

It kept raining, but I was not worried. After all it had been dry the better part of the day.

Some fifteen minutes north of Ein Gedi I noticed loads of cars parked alongside the road, and people scrambling on the mountain side. This got me a little worried. Was there a flash flood, so we could not get back to Jerusalem? Then I saw it – the flash flood coming over the mountain. A 400 meter high waterfall in the desert.

One of those extremely rare moments. We stopped, just like all the others. My photos do not make justice to the magnificence of these moments.

And then I saw the second waterfall – even bigger than the first. The first one was absorbed by the ground close to the road. This second one was flooding the road.

Then the police came and chased us all away – no stopping on the side of the road.

Actually it can be dangerous. If the water intensifies you can get swept away. Neither I nor my two tourists cared. The view was spectacular.

Unfortunately in the end we had to move on, as did all the other spectators, but we really had an exceptional day on Masada and at the Dead Sea.

Nahal Saar is one of those experiences. Nahal Saar flows between the Hermon Mountain and the Golan Heights in the north of the Israel. The word nahal means stream, and as with many streams in Israel water can only been seen in late winter and early spring. This on condition that there has been a good amount of rain through the winter, and hopefully also some snow on the Hermon Mountain and the northern Golan Heights.

This year has been like this. I was fortunate that the other day I was touring up in that part of the country with my tourists, and I had the time and they had the interest to stop for this special experience. The day was glorious, way too warm for this time of the year, but we made the most of it. So we stopped at Nahal Saar, where it has created a fairly large waterfall.

I have to tell you that we were not the only ones there. Though I did not film it, I could hardly find parking place on the other side of the road. Some people even hiked up for an even better view, but we made do with the low view. This is what I am sharing with you here.

As a tour guide I am always on the road. I see the same places again and again. But every so often land and nature give me surprises.That happened yesterday, as I was touring Masada and the Dead Sea.

On purpose we had chosen yesterday to go to Masada and the Dead Sea. Weather forecast was for rain and storm, and the previous days had been just glorious. It’s always good to get out of Jerusalem, when there is that kind of forecast. At least down at the Dead Sea there is less chance of rain. After all, it only rains 5-10 days a year in the southern part and a little more in the northern part.

Despite the extraordinary strong wind we were able to see Masada in all its glory. And this time the starlings played along, and I was able to get a lot of good shots.

Just as we had finished seeing the model of the water collection system, a jerbil decided to come out and get some sun, and allowed me to take a picture of it.

But most spectacular was the view traveling back up northwards. Most of the time the water of the Dead Sea is smooth as a mirror, but yesterday the strong wind ripped up the water, so that small white tops appeared. A rare sight I could not catch in on film, but there were even small whirl winds on the water, as if the beginning of a hurricane.

The clouds were heavy over the mountains of Jordan, and I was happy that Jordan also is getting some much needed rain. There were still some sun coming through, and it lit up the clouds. Enjoy the few photos I was able to get of this.

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.

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

The Jesus Trail is a hiking tour through the Galilee that Jesus would have known. The moving force behind the development of the trail are Maoz Inon, an Israeli entrepreneur, and David Landis, a Mennonite from the US. The idea behind the trail is to allow visitors to Israel the opportunity to experience the Galilee scenery in a new way, as well as helping businesses in out-of-the way places to make more money.

But there is more to it than that. As reported in StarTribune.com | Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota:

Though the venture is called the Jesus Trail, the appeal is meant to be broad. Nazareth and the Galilee are important to Christians, who regard the area as the setting of Jesus’s boyhood, adult ministry and initial miracles. However, the route is a layer cake of “narratives,” covering Christian holy sites, small Arab towns typical of northern Israel, the remnants of Palestinian villages empty since Israel’s 1948 war of independence, ancient Jewish sites, modern kibbutzim, Crusader battlefields and Muslim shrines.

The Jesus Trail is still in its infancy, but is constantly being improved. From the website of the Jesus Trail:

The Jesus Trail offers an alternative for travelers and pilgrims to experience the steps of Jesus in a way that is authentic, adventurous and educational by trekking through the rugged and beautiful landscape of the Galilee.The main Jesus Trail route is 65 km and begins in Nazareth and passes through Sepphoris, Cana, Kibbutz Lavi, Arbel Cliffs, Tabgha, Capernaum, and the Mount of Beatitudes. An optional return loop to Nazareth passes through Tiberias, the Jordan River, Mount Tabor, and Mount Precipice.

The trail is made up of several journeys that can be hiked individually or in full. The organizers will rent out GPS, organize guides and more.

At present only the first section is guided by volunteer guides. There are daily tours that start at 8 am from the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, except Sunday.

For full article on The Jesus Trail – A Spiritual Journey By Howard Schneider, Washington Post

For the Jesus Trail Website.

Hiking in early spring

The Israel Trail was officially opened during Passover of 1995. It was the brain child of Avraham Tamir, a journalist and writer, who had hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1980. He proposed the idea of an Israel National Trail to Ori Devir, Director of the Israel Trails Committee, a subsidiary of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.

Because Israel already had a network of hiking trails, the Israel Trail is patched together from all these already existing trails, but with its own unique additions. The trail system is also a part of the protection of the environment and the special character of each region it passes through. Although originally intended to be a hiking trail only, due to the onslaught of jeeps in Israel, some parts of the trail is accessible to private vehicles.

The trail runs from Dan in the north to Eilat in the south. It crosses historical places, archeological sites and unique landscapes. It consists of some 1000 km of trails, is extremely well marked and has informational signs along the route with maps, background on the regions and on interesting sites, trail route and emergency numbers.

The trail is set up in such a way that it can be done either in its full length, or in smaller sections. There are various options along the trail as for overnights, either out in the open, under the brilliant southern night sky, or sleep in the homes of trail supporters along the route.

Thousands of Israelis and visitors hike the Israel Trail or parts of it every year. For many schools it has become one of the popular tours, giving the youth a new knowledge of the special nature of Israel, of historical sites and the importance of preserving both. Most of the people hiking the full trail advice to start in the north and end in Eilat in the south. Since the north is at a higher elevation than the rest of the country, this makes sense.

For the visitor to Israel who wants something different, this could be the tool for getting in touch with a different Israel. Maps and trail information can be obtained through the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.

Should this be of interest to you while visiting Israel, we here at Your Guide to Israel, will be happy to help you get the information you need, and supply any other travel services you may need.

Israel being a semi-arid country with long  dry summers, six months, the other seasons tend to be short. There are some years, where fall is almost non-existent, where the country goes from warm to rain and cold.

Winter months are generally rather pleasant, and we all bless it, as the rain falls. Without the rain there wont be much here. It all begins with the first rain in October or November, when suddenly the country is all green again. Not that anything has sprouted yet, but everything has been washed clean from the summer dust. With proper rain in its season the grasses and wild flowers will start to grow.

From January to April are the months when the country blooms.  It begins with the cyclamen in light lilac and white, it goes in to the almond trees looking like fluffed candy amidst the green, and then it goes into a brilliance of all colors, red, blue, purple, yellow. It seems as if every two weeks the country changes color.

It’s a time all enjoy, not just because of the colors, but also because we have received the rains in their seasons.

Please enjoy this little collection of a Taste of Spring in Israel.

What do you think? I love to hear what you,  my readers, have to say.

Date Palms

Dates are one of them. The date palms grow abundantly in all parts of the country and of course the Middle East. There are in fact several types of dates. The most common is the big dark brown almost black date that most are familiar with.

Dates have been a staple of the Middle East cuisine and cooking from who knows when and is used extensively in many dishes. It’s one of the fruits mentioned many times in the Bible, such a great source of information of bygone days.

One reason the above mentioned type of date became so popular was its high sugar content. After all it was not until the sugar cane that sugar became a commodity. One of the products from the dates was a syrup, maybe the biblical honey.

dried dates

Today dates can be bought all year round, not just in its well-known dried from, but also as fresh frozen dates. They are absolutely yummie.

Date Cake

When I first came to Israel I learned a recipe for date cake which has become a staple in my family. It is based on packets of pitted, crushed dates that can be bought here. But you can try any type of unsweetened date paste. (I’ve used that as well and it works well).

1 cup boiling water
1/2 pack dates, pitted, crushed
Dissolve the dates in boiling hot water, but do not boil (takes 10-15 minutes for dates to soften)

200 g margerine
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups crushed nuts
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar

Melt margarine over hot water. Add sugar and mix. Add all other ingredients and mx. Finally add softened dates and mix well.

Bake in medium oven for app. 45 min.

B’teavon (good appetite)