Deliverance Then And Now

Seder Table, Jaffa, Israel

This was our Seder table right before the start of Passover in 5764.  Inside the pages of our Haggadah is a prayer for the release of Soviet Jews.  That year, there was irony as we said the prayer.

Sitting at the table was a couple from the former Soviet Union and their son who was born in Israel hours after his parents' arrival.  As we celebrated our Exodus from Egypt centuries ago, we also celebrated this family's recent deliverance.

Projecting History

Movie Projector, Tel Aviv, Israel

This old movie projector is one of the many preserved cinematic artifacts found at the Cinema Hotel in Tel Aviv.  Situated on Dizengoff Square, the hotel began life as the Esther Cinema.  Despite modernized interiors, the Bauhaus architecture betrays this fine lady's age.

Eilat of Boats

Marina, Eilat, Israel

These tour boats were readying for tourists early one December morning.  Situated at the northern tip of the Red Sea, Eilat is a popular destination year round for Europeans, Israelis, and others.  Although it is called the Red Sea, the water is usually very clear and at least one of the boats in the foreground has a glass bottom for viewing fish, coral, and urchins.

A Colorful Buffet

Hotel Breakfast, Eilat, Israel

When we travel, we like to indulge in the local foods.  Like the USA, Israel is a melting pot of many different cultures and cuisines.  This breakfast was a small sampling of the offerings at the Dan Panorama's breakfast smörgåsbord.  It was all delicious!

Breakfast as a Snack

Late Night Snack, Tel Aviv, Israel

Israelis love to eat and they often eat very healthy.  This was the snack our friend had one evening.  As Israelis are often very active physically (walking, biking, out in nature), they consume copious amounts of food but are often very trim.

Succulent Strawberries

Strawberries, Hod HaSharon, Israel

These freshly picked strawberries were incredibly juicy and delicious.  We could have eaten buckets of these!

Shrine of the Book

Shrine of the Book, Jerusalem, Israel

We visited the Shrine of the Book on a cold and cloudy winter's day.  It houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient religious artifacts.

Red on Red

Sunset, Red Sea, Eilat, Israel

Whenever we travel to a place on or near the water, we try to do two things.  First, we want to dip our toes in the water.  Second, we want to see the sun rise or (more often) set on the water.  This was the sunset on the Red Sea from Eilat one fine November day many years back.  We not only went for a swim in the sea that day, but also saw this amazing sunset.

Circle, Square, Triangle

Azrieli Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

These architectural gems revel in the simplicity of a circle, a square and an equilateral triangle and are reminiscent of those childhood learning toys which required us to match the shape with a corresponding hole.

Natural Piers

Fishermen, Rosh Hanikra, Israel

Everyday millions of folks fish for their meals and recreation.  This beautiful fishing spot is near the famous grottoes of Rosh Hanikra.  We don't know if these folks are fishing for fun or food, but there is no doubt that this is a very scenic and unusual place to fish.

Almost Unbelievable

Baha'i Terraces, Haifa, Israel
The Shrine of the Báb is a holy place for members of the Baha'i faith and is surrounded by gardens. The exquisite garden terraces traversing steep Mount Carmel above and below the shrine are so perfect as to be almost unbelievable. While we're not Baha'i, we do admire the beauty of the gardens.

Utility Art

Utility box, Kfar Saba, Israel
Utility boxes are common on city, suburban, and rural streets all over the world. Most of the time, these boxes disrupt the aesthetic of the surrounding landscape. Kfar Saba has many painted and decorated utility boxes. This box on Weizmann Street is now a whimsical piece of street art rather than just an essential eyesore.

Parched Canaan

Negev Desert, Israel
A few years ago we drove through the Negev Desert on our way to Eilat. Except for the hand-of-G-d and the ingenious Israelis, most of Israel might be dry desert. This view of the ground from atop a mountain in the Negev desert is what Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even Moses likely saw during their travels in Canaan. We are lucky to have this living reminder of their fortitude.

Relaxing in the Med

Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv, Israel
We've been to Israel many times, but until recently we'd never been swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Sure, we dipped our toes in and waded in the water, but we never really had a chance to go swimming in the Med.

On our most recent trip, we finally got a chance to swim in the Mediterranean. This was the scene right before sunset. It was lovely!

Baby Challot

Small Challah Rolls, Kfar Saba, Israel
Unlike the USA, much of the retail commerce in Israel is done in small retail shops that often have residences above. At the bottom of an apartment building on Weizmann Street in Kfar Saba is a favorite little bakery. Not much wider than the doorposts through which we enter, this jam-packed bakery is filled with fresh-baked bourekas, breakfast pastries, cookies, cakes, challah, and these cute little baby challah rolls. When you desire the taste of challah in the middle of the week and want to wait for the Sabbath until your next full size challah, these little rolls are perfect!

Pressed With Starch

Grilled Mushroom and Cheese Sandwiches, Tel Aviv, Israel
After arriving in Tel Aviv in the early evening, our jet-lagged bodies told us it was time for lunch. Thinking that a light meal would help us sleep for the night, we decided to have these sandwiches with some small salads and fresh juices. Needless to say, we woke up hungry for dinner a few hours later.

Bau Wow

Bauhaus Apartments Building, Tel Aviv, Israel
A large part of Tel Aviv is known as the White City because of the more than 4,000 Bauhaus style buildings built in the city from the 1930's onward. Tel Aviv's Bauhaus buildings differ from European counterparts by the usage of white stone and paint, small recessed windows and long overhangs to minimize the effects of the hot sun. Many of the Bauhaus buildings are curved and resemble ships with decks to enjoy the ocean air and breezes.

Park Yourself

Ganei Yehoshua (Joshua Gardens) Park, Tel Aviv, Israel
Everyday, parks and gardens are wonderful places to relax, recharge, and have fun. At Ganei Yehoshua (Joshua Gardens) Park you can have a picnic, play backgammon, sit on a bench, play sports, stroll amongst desert plants and rock gardens, see sculptures, eat at an outdoor cafe, and even rent a boat on a small lake.

Fresh Falafel

Fresh Falafel in a Pita, Tel Aviv, Israel
Wherever we travel, we love to eat local cuisine and skip the American stuff. In Israel, this is so easy as most of the everyday foods are fast foods. Israeli pita is strong and flexible, so you can pile in falafel balls (fried chickpeas) with pickles, olives, salads, hummus, and hot sauce. A full meal in your hand!

Eyesore or Avante Garde?

Bizarre Building, Tel Aviv, Israel
An architect friend of ours called this building post-modern. We call it a jumble. The building is right along the beach promenade, so it is definitely in a good location, at least for those inside.