Sunday, August 28, 2005



This weekend was the last one of this summer vacation therefore we decided to go camping. Since it is very hot in Israel, the only place we can camp during the summer is the Kinnereth, (The sea of Galil).

The kinnereth is our only sweet water lake so everybody goes camping there. Even thought it is rather small it is always overflowing with campers and vacationers.

Of course, when you think of camping for the weekend you don’t take into your consideration that probable half a million people had the same thought just like you did so you leave your home optimistic as for being alone on your vacation.

You still try to smile after sitting 3 hours in your car in a never ending traffic jam on the way to the north. And slowly you start to accept the truth that you won’t be the only person in the Kinnereth.

Finally we reached the kinneret, if you think this is the time the vacation starts, you are wrong. Now you have to find a place to park, of curse the Israelis never travel alone, there always a large group of friends traveling with, the more the merrier. Therefore you have to look for that special spot you want to stay for the night (for you and for 10 more families traveled with you and for that you will need a whole shore - ha ha ha).

Since there are about million people that arrived at the kinnereth before you did and took the good places to camp, you have to spend at least 2 hours exploring for an empty spot. At this point, you are ready to give up, and then, just then, you saw it, your special place, near the water, a lot of space for you and your friends, few trees that will give shade in the morning, and most important - a place for the barbeque, or as we in Israel say - Mangal.

Now you can finally relax, and start your camping.

The nights at the Kinnerth are just beautiful, the calm water sound, the great skies above full with stars, you making your barbeque, and every body relaxing and having fun.
Sleeping however is a different story, since there is always a rock stack beneath my back or my head there is no way I can sleep like that.

Morning, the best time in the Kinnereth, the temperatures are still low; the water flat as mirror and the air is fresh. The first thing you do is to go inside the water for a refreshing deep. Wow this is so much FUN.

On the way back home, I could barley keep my eyes open, but it was worth it!

Here are some interesting links abot the kinnereth and Tiberia (The city near the Kinnereth)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vie/Tiberias.html#The%20Sea%20of%20Galilee

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/thuo-atr072705.php

ENJOY

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Well, I guess there is no one in the world that missed news about Israel this fast few days.
The evacuation has begun.

For years I thought that the settlers are crazy to live in Gaza strip, among the Arabs putting their lives in danger. I’m ashamed to say that this is the first time I see how the settlements in Gaza strip are look like.

The pictures in the news of the shoulders evacuating the settlers are hard for all of us; I couldn’t stop my tears for the past two days. It is not a matter of politics whether I believe we should stay there or not, it is a matter of people being expelled from their homes.
In some level, I think it is unfair to take those people away from their homes, the government put them there 30 years ago, and now they taking them away just like that.

These days are very hard for all of us here in Israel so today I have nothing nice to say.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005



The Israeli jewelry designers:

I admire all those who can create beautiful items. People with imagination and creativity, which can translate it into an object. I find it amazing.

I was always passionate for designs, however I don’t have the creativity as artists do When I wanted to decorate my living room, it took me 6 months to decide which color I wanted to paint one wall, and then it took me 6 more months to decide which color to paint the 2nd wall. This is why I admire artists, they can look at my wall (or at any other objects) and in few seconds to decide what they want to do with it!

I started my online business in order to share with people around the world the Israeli art works that in my opinion are just amazing, for example our jewelry designs.

In the pictures you can see varies designs of necklaces and bracelets all made from beads. The Israeli designs are unique since they combine native and ethnic motifs along with western influence.

So if you love jewelry or looking for special gift you are welcome to see more of the above items:

http://www.omanot.com/index_files/Page2085.htm
bye for now...Rebecca

Monday, August 08, 2005





Sunset

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Link to great photographs: (In Israel of course) http://www.dubiroman.com/enter2.html

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Summer time.
Well, actually we have summer all year long, since our winter is like the middle of summer in Canada, now it's about 36°c and the humidity is about 60%-70%! Of course every house is air-conditioned but still it is hot. So the only thing left to do is to be on the beach or in the pool.
Even though it is unbearably hot, summer time it’s my favourite period of the year.

When I was in high school all I did during summer vacation was to sit on the beach from morning to dusk. The sea in Israel is great since the water is warm and we do not have sharks, unfortunately we do have jellyfish and a lot of them!

On the beach, our national sport is “Matkot” (beach ball)- if you were in Israel so you probable know what its means since you can’t miss it, if not, here is a short explanation: It is a little bit like tennis - 2 people (most likely young and well formed) trying to strike a tiny ball with an Israeli version of table tennis rackets (the Israeli version is much larger and made of wood).

Almost every body are playing this game so the only sound you can hear on the beach is the ball hitting the racket. The most important thing about this sport is when someone missing a strike the ball will usually land on somebody’s forehead.

I think this game is like a courting game - usually played by young people showing off their body and their flexibly in striking the elusive ball. I wasn’t good in this Matkot game and of course there are others like me, however, everybody will proudly tell you how they are the champions of this game.

Today, my main sport is to chase my 1 year daughter that just learned how to walk.