creative jewish mom

A Trip To The Mediterranean & The Lebanese Border!

We were so very happy to welcome my brother and family for a too short visit to our home in Israel! The cousins had such a great time together and we especially enjoyed taking this day trip to visit Rosh HaNikra, a stunning and historic coastal site on the Northernmost tip of the Israeli coast, about 1 1/2 hours drive from my home.

The name Rosh HaNikra means "head of the cave, as there are numerous impressive sea caves at the foot of the cliff, which may be reached by cable car. The stunning white chalk cliffs apparently look similar to the cliffs of Dover, and the  caves were formed by the work of the sea water.

Throughout history these same cliffs were a problem for travel and trade. Alexander of Macedonea (Alexander the Great) is credited for having hewed the first tunnel in 323 BC to create a passageway for his army after besieging Tyre! Later this road was used by the armies of the Seleucids and the Ptolemies. In 1099 AD it was used by the Crusaders. In World War I the British Army built the first road, which had accessible to motor vehicles. The latest and most impressive traffic route through the cliff was the Haifa-Beirut-Tripoli railway, which was built by the British during World War II.

Looking South down the coast of Israel from the top of the cliffs. Ahhhh the sea!

The view from the top, and the tram, which wasn't working on that day, so no visit to the grottos for us. Another time!

Here it is, the actual border between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon is right through that gate! Israel is a relatively tiny country with a long border running from North to South, but this Northern border point is much more accessible and dramatic.

Here's an interesting  concrete wall sign showing the distance to Beirut to the north (120 kilometers)and to Jerusalem to the south (whoops cut off the distance but I think it's about 200 kilometers.) The funny thing is that Beirut sounds so very Middle Eastern to me! Then I realize that I too live in the middle east, go figure!

Here's a tall army radar tower of some sort (always loved those industrial towers for some reason!) and some wild flowers that my nephew stuck under the windshield wiper.

The beautiful white cliffs and the railroad tunnel built in WWII. 

Another look at the cliffs and the beach, on a winter day! The kids had so much fun just walking in the sand and being near the water, that is until it started to pour!

But they did manage to collect some rocks and shells before we had to head home! Oh and I should mention the huge pile of rocks that we just couldn't gather up and take home with us in the pouring rain, but a wonderful time was had by all, and we look forward to seeing the ocean again soon.

In Search of Fall Color: A Nature Walk With Little Ones

Fall is my favorite season, well it's a tie between Spring and Fall actually, but I just love the cozy Fall feeling after a hot summer! And Fall color, well there's nothing like it! It just so happens however that the lovely area in which I live has very little Fall color to speak of— just a few trees here and there, nothing significant. Nonetheless, I wanted to do some Fall leaves projects with my kids and thought maybe we could find something if we looked! So we took a walk down into the valley near our home, and this is what we saw:

Did you know that cattle crossings are good for developing motor coordination and building self confidence?

Hmmm. Nice view, but no Fall color in site! Maybe we're just too early.

Does this qualify as Fall color? Spooky burned branches and some golden lichen(or whatever it's called)?

We turned the corner and look! Real, actual Fall leaves, phew! My kids didn't understand why I was so excited, so I tried to explain to them that this is what Fall is all about in places like New York where their cousins live. I showed them how fun it is to stamp on dried leaves, but i guess I was a bit too serious, as later my six year old asked me if stamping on leaves is something written about in the Torah (Bible)! Isn't he cute?

And alack alas the leaves were too dry to be useful for any craft project, so we didn't take any home with us.

But guess what? I was so relieved when it turned out that we wouldn't be going home empty handed!  The kids found some gorgeous rocks with iron ore deposits and other interesting colors!  We lugged them all home and I realized that they'll be great for supporting the narcissus bulbs I hope to be forcing soon!

And to be perfectly fair, these beautiful weeds and this sunset certainly qualify as Fall color! A creative mom has got to work with what she has! Right?

The Perfect Destination: A Dude Ranch In The Galilee!

On the road that winds through the forest between Safed and Amouka, in Northern Israel, is a place called Bat Yaar. I know the name well as I have passed their sign countless times over the years, but I never dreamed that I would discover there a perfect place to spend a summer afternoon with my young children.

What makes this location so perfect? Well first of all, lots of shade, lots and lots of shade, and lots of tables under the shade to enjoy a picnic lunch. And did I mention the shade? What a relief on a hot summer day!

Just the shade, the tables and the blown up trampoline and slide would have been enough for us, but we were overjoyed to find so much more! Here is what we saw:

 Modern-day covered wagons and an awesome view of Mt. Hermon, the tallest mountain in Israel! (faint in the distance) Wow, what a juxtaposition, kind of like the American settlers before they crossed the Rockies!

And who would have guessed that each covered wagon housed a table and fold down chairs for diners at the ranch's (not kosher, or at least not mehadrin) restaurant? Too brilliant for words, and with air conditioning too!

There was a large cage of gorgeous parakeets that made this Mom think that maybe she needs something like that, and a pen of rabbits and guinea pigs for petting, that made this Mom's kids think that they need something like that as well! Who could blame them?

We just LOVED talking to the animals.........

And Mom was tinkled pink to be able to take some rustic barn yard shots like this......

.....and like this. There is something so beautiful about that leather saddle sitting on that striped saddle pad a top that white horse, that I just can't explain! I guess it's the cowgirl in me.......?

And just when we were bursting with joy from all the visual pleasures, the little ones mounted horses for a few rounds around the paddock to complete their dude ranch experience!

We can't wait to go back again soon!

40 Minutes In Haifa's Exquisite German Colony

Crisp brick-red shutters set against pale yellow walls and tropical flowers

Yesterday we had an appointment at a branch of the US Embassy in Haifa. We got there at 10:10 AM but were told that we absolutely would not be received until 10:50 for our 11 AM appointment. My husband was a bit frustrated, but I was elated to have the opportunity to take a walk around this well kept (ie: expensive)
historic neighborhood centered on Ben Gurion Street at the foot of Mt. Carmel.

With the visual lure of these perfectly manicured gardens just up the street, who could resist taking a walk despite the summer heat?  Wow! Wish my garden looked like that - but with the current drought warnings in Israel I'd be really asking for a huge water bill and some heavy duty fines. I gather they are an exception as a tourist attraction, or maybe they have their own grey-water irrigation system?

Vintage Israeli tiles used outdoors, wonderful patterns and colors!

The children were starting to complain and I tried to explain to them that people get on airplanes and fly for many hours to visit historic places like this! I've always loved historic architecture and so this was a real treat for me. I felt as though I'd been transplanted to Europe. My husband on the other hand stayed in the air conditioned car to make some calls, and will see what he missed when he checks out my blog!

Interesting wrought-iron gate and a beautiful historic hotel- love the flower pots: one type of pot with one type of flower, subtle yet elegant. And the leaded glass windows and ceiling fans outside — just lovely!

One of my sons kept asking me "mommy, why are you taking so many pictures?" I guess they weren't as excited about the architecture as I was.....hmmm gotta work on that! "Because this is what I love to do!" I answered and thought about all the time I'd spent taking photos of buildings in the past. At least now I have a way to share this interest, thanks to you my faithful readers!

I just loved this pruned tree and the wonderful balcony with a few plants.....dreamy!

In case you are wondering, the German Colony was founded in 1868 by a group of Templer Protestants from Southern Germany, who settled in the Holy Land for religious reasons. Their population fluctuated between 300-400 settlers, about 60 of whom were American. Bet they would have loved living right next to the American mini-consulate, so convenient!

Gotta love those hanging colored balls, bobbing restaurant lights after dark!

I saved this image for last, as it was one of my favorite sights. I felt like I had stepped into some Spanish street scene for just a moment, a really strange feeling knowing that my feet were firmly planted in Israeli soil! The juxtaposition of the 60's modern plastic lights and the historic 1870's building just really quenched my aesthetic thirst for something different....can't explain it more than that. The little voices asking "mommy, you said you'd buy us ice cream!" jolted me back to reality, and in any case we needed to return to the consulate.

Looking back, this was an amazing 40 minutes! An unexpected mini-vacation that didn't cost a penny and that priceless feeling of having been transported to another time— a great way to gain perspective on one's own existence.

Have a great day, and think about exercising your artistic eye by looking at the juxtapostion of color and form as you walk down the street! This is then "visual information" that gets stored in your brain and can be accessed when you are in the midst of creating something! What do you think about that?

A Walk To The Store Can Be So Much More!

We don't exactly live in the country, but it sure looks like it!

A walk to the store can be so much more? What is she talking about? For whom? Easy for her to say! Look at that gorgeous view she has!

Ahem! Listen dear readers, no matter where you live there is always something interesting to look at! And this is a very important, somewhat overlooked point to teach your children. If you want them to grow up to be grateful for, and respectful of, the world around them, whether it be concrete sidewalks, or dirt roads, or something in between, you've got to start while they are young. "Wow look at these weeds! Look at how the road is crumbling over here! Isn't it interesting how hazy the sky is today?" Even the most seemingly mundane things can actually be interesting and educational if one takes the time to consider them!

The dirt road becomes a paved one and the little ones are inclined to run!

Taking kids grocery shopping on a hot summer afternoon isn't high up on my list of recommendations, but for the sake of getting the little ones out of the house for some much needed exercise and a beautiful walk, it is worth it! Every outing is a chance to learn something new, to look at something from a different perspective, to rejoice in the sights and sounds of nature or of the city.  We owe this opportunity to our kids, and it's really so very simple! And once you start talking about your surroundings, your kids will catch on quickly and end up teaching you a thing or two!

Wait! Stop! Look at the gorgeous view! Those rolling hills!

After considering the view for a few moments the kids were off down the hill, leaving mommy with camera in hand searching for something beautiful to capture on film (well on disc really), amidst the hot and dry landscape of summer.

Two trees come together as one, and a lone purple thistle reminds me of Spring.

Taking Time To Enjoy!

A mom and her children (tiny specks on the shore) take a break while they sketch the gorgeous view.

One of the really great things about starting this blog is that I have re-established communication with a few dear friends from the past. Marcia, who is now living in Arizona with her family, sent me this breathe-taking photo of Glacier National Park. When she told me that the specks on the shore were her and her children sketching the view I just had to say WOW! 

Marcia told me that she always takes along a sketchbook and drawing materials! This is such a simple thing to do, yet so admirable..... I've always dreamed of creating beautiful water color sketches, and have recently been telling my daughter that when she's a little older we're going to start taking walks to find beautiful vistas to sketch. I can't wait!

So here's a nice idea for the summer:
Buy sketchbooks for your kids and get them interested in drawing what they see — wherever you happen to be. Encourage them to use the sketchbook as a journal, combining the written word with a collage of printed material, photos, and anything they find interesting. Pursuits such as these make wonderful memories and help children develop invaluable drawing and sketching skills.

Do you have a creative activity that you love doing for yourself or with your children? Tell me about it!

A Long Awaited Visit to the Kotel

We moved to Northern Israel from Jerusalem about 2 1/2 years ago, and the 3 youngest in our family had not seen the kotel since then, and certainly had no memories of this Holy place. Our neighbors were making a wedding for their oldest son in Jerusalem, something we couldn't miss, so we used this opportunity to make the trip into a one-night mini vacation.

The Kotel in June was packed with visitors of all kinds, Israeli soldiers, school children on their year-end field trip, tourists from all over the world and us!

I taught my seven year old daughter about the power of davening at the Kotel, about what to ask for.....
Like generations and generations of women before us, we are but a link in this holy tradition. What greater gift can a mother give her daughter? I think she got it:

Here are some typical yet beautiful images from the Kotel:

Looking up at the plants that grow from between the stones.

A close-up of the notes of request left by visitors— crammed into every possible crevice.

Jewish women of all kinds pray with heartfelt sentiment. Truly something very special.

Not a typical photo, but I've been telling my children a story about a bird that visits the kotel, so I thought I'd take some photos for the story.....I was a bit embarrassed to do this, and wondered if wasn't so respectful. But my intentions are to instill in my children's hearts a love for the holy place, so I hope it's okay!

We took a walk up into the Old City and I spotted this gorgeous Jacaranda tree in bloom.

Now that we are home and I am posting these photos, I have to admit that traveling with small children isn't the easiest thing to do! But I am happy to say now that we have finally visited the Kotel we will have something to talk about for weeks to come. And if I could just get some of these photos printed onto real paper that would be really good too!

Enjoy traveling with your children this summer —whether your outings are local or to far-away places.
The main thing is not to plan too much for little children and to always be prepared with hats, sunscreen, water, sandwiches and some sugar-free candies to use as bribes when they have exhaustion induced tantrums in which they lie down on the hot dirty sidewalk. (Take it in stride it happens to the best of us!)

A Picnic Dinner In The Park

Now that the days are long and the weather quite warm, the perfect end of the day activity for me and the three little ones is a picnic dinner in the park. Nothing elaborate, not even a picnic blanket, but a great way to get outdoors at the end of the day and breathe some fresh evening air.

We started the climb from our house to a lovely park at the very highest point of the city, and on the way stopped to marvel at some wild red poppies growing between the cobblestones.

We continued on our way and stopped to look at a cut-iron balcony rail I had never noticed, and a charming old carved door frame recycled as a decorative window frame.

Finally we made it to the top of the city, and took a deep breath as we looked up at the towering trees and the big sky.

We entered the park and enjoyed looking at some of the plants, especially a fig tree just beginning to show small fruits and a pomegranite tree in bloom.

By this time the sun was starting to set, and we needed to get on with the serious business of eating our casual picnic — whole wheat pizza roll-ups (I set aside some dough from a pita baking session earlier in the day to make these picnic perfect baked sandwiches) and cucumbers.

Somebody around here definately loves his food!

We enjoyed the grass and the sunset, and a group of highschool girls nearby happened to just have three extra popsicles which they offered to the children for dessert! Soon it became time to head home, and after a stop at the store to buy a few neccessities we headed home down the carless cobblestone streets.

After a quick shower the children hopped into bed with smiles on their faces and more than ready for a good night's sleep.

Note to myself: Do this more often!

Note to my readers: Getting out of the house with a picnic dinner is great for you too. No dirty dishes, and that great feeling of having actually gone somewhere and done something even if your destination was just around the corner!