Saturday walk near the Nahariya city

This year March is so hot and dry, and dusty wind blows again and again. We call it Khamsin. But this Sabbath (Saturday) was quite nice to have a walk.
Once again we are going along the Kaplan street up to the Sea and then turn left. The new promenade (line three) is under the construction now and we will have a new area with green zone soon. We go till end of Nahariya and beyond the border of city the stream flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The stream is called Beit haEmek. It is the source of the water for the site and also used as a water canal and part of the natural harbor. Beit haEmek means in Hebrew " House of the Valley". Biblical reference: the eastern border of the tribe of Asher (Josua 19:27):"... toward the north side of Bethemek". There are situated the Church and Bysantian Settlement remains and it is the theme of my next post.

And now as usual some photos that I took a month or so ago, and photos of last day off. The first were taken in rain season and we can compare them.

Adloyada Purim Carnival 2010, Nahariya, Israel

Now I wanna to talk about what Adloyada is.

The expression derives from the Hebrew ad de-lo-yada (until one no longer knows).
According to the rabbis, participants should celebrate on Purim until they no longer know the difference between "Blessed be Mordecai" and "Cursed be Hamman".
The first Adloyada was held in Tel-Aviv, in 1912, and spread to other communities in Israel.
It is celebrated by carnival processions with decorated floats through the main streets, accompanied by bands.
But I still didn't give a complete answer - Why is Purim Parade a carnival parade?
As I've written in previous post, the name of Esther means hiding. Rabbis referred to God's role as hester panim - hiding of the Face. An important message that can be gained from the story is that God often works in ways that are not apparent and we think that it is coincidence or ordinary good luck.

The Holiday of Purim, 2010

On this Friday the Purim parade took place in my city of Nahariya. The parade was postponed because of the rain week ago but a week later the weather was fine and cheerful Purim masquerade parade took place.
The main idea of Purim is - they tried to kill us and God saved us. The story of Purim is told in Megillah of Esther (Book of Esther) . The name of Esther means hiding. Jewes believe that God is hidden behind all events of the Megillah Esther that traditionally read during Purim.
This holiday has important focus on children and traditionally children are the main participants of Purim carnivals. Three months before the holiday, children began their preparation for parade. It was opened with entire main Purim story heroes - Mordecai, Esther, Ahasuerus, Vasti, Haman and others.

                        

Especially for Zodiac Piscese

The Fish symbol is found in particularly every type of culture, religious - in Pagan, Judaism, Christianity, Eastern Indian, China etc. and all period of history.
The fish or two fishes often swimming together in pair in one or opposite direction is symbolic deliverance of human spirit from matter fetters.The pair of fishes are symbolise the harmony and mutual understanding.
Fish is a water sign. Water also holds an ancient symbolic meanings and we associate its depth with depth of knowledge.
And so a fish that swims in water has symbolic meanings such as: good luck, fertility, knowledge, transformation, happiness.
This amulet has a very important meaning for Jewish as Torach compare to water and Jewish people compare to fishes swimming in Torah water. "Water comes from a high place to a low place but it is the same water. By studying the Torah, a person's mind becomes united with God's knowledge" (from beverlyhillschabad.com).
But there is one more symbol represented in amulet-hamsa - the solar symbol, particularly the rising sun. The esoteric astrology symbol of Sun represents the creative spark of divine consciousness that exists in every individual person to the source and origin of life, and making person the cooperator of the world.

Blessed rain just before festive days

Saturday begins on Friday in Israel. Almost nobody works since Friday morning and Shabbat, the day of rest and cessation of labors comes with sundown Friday. And so the new day begins in the evening but not in the morning. There is an explanation, and as always - cabbalistic (if you are interested in, let me know and I'll tell about). But it isn't an absolute true - we are a modern society and there is two calendar in Israel.
And now, take a walk with me along the elegant main avenue of Nahariya city - ha Gaaton Boulevard. It named after a small river - ha-Gaaton, which divides the street into two. Today the river is silent, the rain was small and you don't see the great effect as after the rainstorm.
http://renedeliciouslife.blogspot.com/2010/01/rains-at-last-flood-reached-north-of.html
I took first photo while it rain. The sculpture of rooster and the lawn in shape of Magen David (Star of David) are the parts of city's landscape design in front of municipality building. You won't find the traditional sculptures in Israel habitual to an "European eye" and it also is explainable. I didn't question yet the old city's residents, why exactly this one, but I'll ask in future.
And, certainly some photos of the street that stretches from Mediterranian Sea to the highway Akko-Nahariya and back.

The first aquintance with ancient Safed, the city of Kabbalah

Today I start to tell about ancient and one of most mysterious Israel's cities. My tale is about Safed. Along with Jerusalem Safed "uncover itself" not at once and I still have more questions than have received the answers.
And now is my first short story. It is very important to know where Safed situated and what is its meaning for Jewish people.
So .... Safed (Tzfat) is situated in the mountains of Upper Galilee at about 900 meters above the sea levels and is Israel's highest city.
According to a legend Safed was founded by Noach's son Shem* after the Great Flood. It was one of five elevated spots fires were lit to announce the New Moon. Safed rose to fame by degrees and there were some different development ways in its history until 16th century, when its new era begins. The city became a center of Kabbalh when many Jewish religious scholars found their way to Safed after they were expelled from Spain in 1492 and among them were the famous kabbalists.
Due to its location Safed commands magnificent views to four cardinal directions and every time when I come to Safed I enjoy with unforgettable magnetic views.

* Shem means "name" or "renown", forefather of the middle peoples (Semetic).

    

Tiger Year

Jam Day

When I arrived in Austria last year, I was surprised at my favorite apricot jam. The jar was cut down half but the price stayed the same. My family hadn’t agreed to other jam for the simple reason: most industrially produced jams contain the chemical ingredients.
And so, when the apricot season has come, I went out to valley Wachau for one of apricot festival. I should say that there is a cult of apricot in Austria and this fruit is named here Marillen. My comeback to cooking of jam has happened !
I found that this forgotten, popular handcraft activity bring only pleasant moments.
It is winter in Israel, and it is a season for some fruits too, so today I’ve “conjured” at kitchen.
And here orange jam. Only few ingredients: oranges, lemons and ginger + sugar (on your taste) + some water – and voila, a fresh homemade orange jam with sweet citrus flavor is ready.
Spreading orange jam on toast or put it into a cottage cheese on your breakfast and spring has visited your home just today!

Amethyst, a Februar gemstone

It was about fifteen years ago when my husband brought precious and semi-precious stones (or simply gemstones) from an exhibition. Many years passed since then days but only ametrine was stamped in my memory
We created several items: rings, earrings and necklaces using ametrie and put them on display in main window of our store and our customers and ametrine have gotten an acquaintance for the first time.
But time flies, and nowadays these stones aren’t exotic at all but then we were the first retailers who presented ametrine to buyers in our city.
Ametrine it is a bicoloured stone: amethyst + citrine. Nature gives us a surprise by having created bicoloured stones.
Unfortunately I didn’t take the photos that time but I’ve told this story because the February is the month of Amethyst and it means that Amethyst will accompany us the whole month.
It is told much about Amethyst and I’m almost sure that everyone knows about its main property, the Amethyst offers protection against drunkenness. Someone will confirm this, someone will say it isn’t true – everyone has personal experience. But I love a legend of Greek mythology telling about Dionysus and maiden named Amethystos.
In any case my advice is – wear an Amethyst gemstone, enjoy its color, which you’ll hardly find in other gemstones as the magical, charming violet Amethyst color still stay at a top of fashion in this season.

 

Tu B’Shvat, part 2

Today I confirm, spring has come, together with all the changes that this season brings. Just in the morning, I discovered that purslane have sprouted in my small garden after a dry season. Here and there the blossom of trees and shrubs began but it isn’t true to say that there is a complete fall leaf life cycle in Mediterranean climate.

And now I return to a short story about my favorite nursey. It is named Yagur Garden and situated at the foot of mount Karmel that is a biblical place and stretching to the 39 km from the Mediterranian Sea towards to the southeast. The nursey is located near the Haifa city.
But I keep telling – I’ll tell about Haifa and Mount Karmel a little bit later. Every time when I tell about places and events a new concatenation appear now and again. And so my thoughts and dreams tend to my future endless narrations.
Now some new photos. As you see, there are dwelt not only plants and flowers in greenhouse. So today – flora and fauna.