current events Archives

Apr 13

Yom Hazikaron, Remembering Israels Fallen

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, Holidays, Jewish History, Memorials, Uncategorized | One Comment

We are about to start Yom Hazikaron – Remembrance Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers. It’s difficult to convey how solemn this day is as opposed to Memorial Day and Remembrance Day in other countries. I grew up in Canada. Both of my grandfathers served in the Canadian Military as did other members of my family. Canadian Remembrance Day was important to me and had its place, with a minute of silence being observed and a couple of national ceremonies taking place, but it wasn’t vastly different from most other days.

Yom Hazikaron in Israel is different. It is all-encompassing. The entire country stops and mourns. The feeling of melancholy starts to set in a day or two before. All of the programming on the news, radio, and the national TV is about fallen soldiers. Yom Hazikaron is so central and focused due to the fact that everyone is connected to the fallen.

In Israel, there is a mandatory draft at the age of 18, right after high school, and the military selection process begins a couple of years earlier. Although there are a number of people who get exemptions to the draft, almost everyone’s social circle includes many draftees.

Israel is a very small country so everyone knows everyone- in one way or another everyone has a personal connection to the army and to combat units.

I moved to Israel in 2003 and joined the army. These are some of my experiences and memories that have impacted how I feel on Yom Hazikaron:

I served in the Nahal infantry unit. During my training as an infantry soldier I began to feel a connection with every infantry soldier; a kinship with any soldier with the same beret colour; a familial connection to everyone in my brigade; and like a brother to everyone in my company.

Army training isn’t the safest thing in the world. Many mishaps occur.

As the months of training progressed by we were told of a few cases in which soldiers killed each other in training accidents. One evening my squad and I were talking about how we would feel if we killed one of our group by mistake. The overall conclusion was that we would feel a tremendous amount of guilt and grief that would be too strong to bear.

The Friday after the conversation, we got the newspapers and read of an accident that had occurred in a unit that was doing training in the north. A jeep had gotten stuck in mud and had then been driven over by an APC [armored personnel carrier], killing the two people in the jeep. Reading about this tragedy so soon after having that conversation my squad, I understood the tremendous loss that the members of the unit training in the North must have been feeling, and I felt a loss too. The feeling spread through the platoon and I realized that the whole army was mourning for those two soldiers. A few days later I visited some family in Rehovot and was told that my friend was at the funeral because he had done the Commanders’ Course with one of the soldiers in the jeep. I felt the loss from a different angle.

We finished training, started active duty and were placed in Hevron, A few months later we moved to Gush Etzion/Bethlehem.

One day were sitting in our rec. room watching ‘Friends’ when our company commander ran into the room and yelled ‘everyone go pack your combat gear and your sleeping bags, there’s an order that we may be taken by helicopter into Gaza in the next few hours!’.

In the chaos that ensued word spread that a mine had blown up an APC of the Givati Unit, killing a number of soldiers. Rescue attempts had been launched resulting in a loss of close to 13 soldiers. Terrorists had then stolen body parts from the wreckage. We were all shocked and outraged by this.
During the time I spent packing my gear my anger changed into sorrow, fear and then terror! I realized that my friend was a commander in the unit that had been affected! I was scared for him. Was he ok? was he injured? Had he lost his soldiers? those were the thoughts that started to run through my head.

Some time passed during which we were doing standard operations when I got sick and spent two weeks in the hospital. I was then given sick leave. During that time my brigade moved from Bethlehem to Jenin. Our Unit held three bases surrounding Jenin.

One day I was out at the beach with a friend when I got a call from my friend Ron. He said ‘Yoni, someone at one of the bases has been hit. but we don’t know what’s going on- try to find out!’

I called as many people as I could. No one knew anything. I called the officer who was in charge of all the wounded soldiers. She told me that she couldn’t tell me anything. I realised that it meant that she couldn’t tell me as his parents hadn’t been notified.

I was sick with worry!

Was it Hayim who had shared a tent with me during field week?

Was it Ido who sat beside me for hours while I was in the hospital?

Was it Ilan who had always managed to keep my spirits high?

I called the person who would know, and would tell me, my company commander. He told me that “It is Yair Tourjeman”

“WHAT?! Tourjeman’s been hit?!” To us he had been a legend. He had done basic training with my commander, who had ‘brought us up’ on stories about him.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach I called up my previous commander who had finished the army a few weeks earlier. He started to cry but at the same time he thanked me for telling him.

30 days after the funeral I was standing by Tourjeman’s grave on Har Hertzel listening to his parents talk about how happy they were to have had such a good son who had helped so many people. Through misty eyes I looked around and saw the religious standing with the non religious, new immigrants standing with old Israelis, Sephardim standing with Ashkenazim, all standing together untied around Tourjeman. I realized that it was due to thousands like Tourjeman that we have Israel today.

Even though I only knew of him and never actually met him, till today I feel like I lost a brother.

Two years later, while in university a friend called me out of a class and introduced me to a friend of hers – Mikey. I met a nice guy with a great sense of humour who was in the paratrooper unit, we hit it off.

A little while later the second Lebanese War started. My friend told me that Mikey was in Lebanon and she was sure that something bad was going to happen to him. Every day I saw that she got more and more anxious, so we went out for a day in Jaffa to relax. As we were walking through the shuk (market) in Jaffa she got a phone call, I saw all the colour drain out of her face, and knew right away what had happened.

The store owners brought a chair and water and inquired what had happened, I explained that her friend had been killed in Lebanon.

The people told me that nothing could have happened because it wasn’t reported on the news.

I had the gut wrenching realisation that his parents hadn’t been notified yet.

The funeral wasn’t going to be for a few days because Mikey was American and the army had to bring them in from America.

All of Mikey’s friends spent the days leading up to the funeral together, comforting and supporting each other.

The funeral took place on Tisha Be’av. The Jewish day of mourning of the destruction of the Temples and every other tragedy that befell the Jewish people.

Once again I was standing on Mt. Hertzel for a funeral.

Up until then I had been strong and not cried. But as I heard Mikey’s father saying Kaddish (a prayer that one says over a family member who dies), I imagined how it must feel to say Kaddish for the first time and the emotions just swept me away.

In the years that pass, while guiding tours I go up to Mt. Hertzel (the main military cemetery) . I tell the stories of Mikey and Tourjeman and I hear stories of loss from other people.

Each year the number of people and stories grows.

My sister inlaws best friend who was killed in a terrorist attack, my friends student who was killed during a military operation, and many other.

unfortunately the pain never ends.

On Yom Hazikaron we aren’tidolizing an idea rather honouring the memory thousands of brothers, sisters and friends who gave everything so that we can be here today.

Feb 10

Destruction of the Altar of Joshua

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | Archaeology, current events, History | No Comments

Destruction of important bib

The mountain ranges of Judea and Samaria were the cradle of Jewish civilization.

Most of the stories we know from the Bible took place in those mountains, and a number of Biblical archaeological sites stand on those hills.

A large portion of the area is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Over the last several years a number roads have been paved, towns built and groves of trees planted over important Jewish Historical sites, effectively destroying them.

Most recently this construction was carried out at a biblical site dating back 3200 years.

On an hill top beside the city of Nablus/ Shchem, there is a small, unimposing archaeological site of huge importance – the altar of Joshua on Mt. Eival.

In parshat ‘Ki Tavo’ God commands the Children of Israel that once they enter the land of Israel they will carry out a ceremony called the blessing and the curse, which is a reaffirmation of the pact between the Jewish people and their God.

In the Book of Joshua (8:30) we are told that Joshua does in fact carry out the ceremony as commanded:

“ Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Eival”

The site was discovered and identified by archaeologist Adam Zartal in 1980.

The Alter of Joshua is in area B of the West Bank, meaning Israeli security control and Palestinian civil control. Unfortunately the Palestinian Authority decided to make a road through this ancient archaeological site. To make gravel for the road, the workers actually crushed rocks from this 3500 year old biblical site.

Even though the PA has promised to protect sites such as this one, they have the authority to carry out such construction without regard for conservation.

As a guide who feels a strong connection to the land and the various sites that hold a place in our past, I can’t even describe the horror and loss that I feel from the site being damaged with such disregard.

I hope that the Israeli Government will be able to come to an agreement soon with the PA that will bring an end to these construction projects, and will ensure historical sites are protected.

All that we can do now is to spread the word, learn about these historic places and make sure that they are not forgotten.

lical archaeology sites

Sep 09

Brand new ancient dates- a rebirth of botanical history

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | Archaeology, current events, Food, History, Nature, plants, Uncategorized | No Comments

If you’ve been on a tour with me in the Judean desert, then you may remember hearing about the ancient history of dates and their significance in Jewish culture. I probably offered you dates and coffee and talked about the ancient seeds that were found in the area, and were planted by scientists.

Now there is an update to that story: fifteen years after those ancient seeds were planted, the date tree has borne fruit.

The story behind this fruity adventure is surprising, exciting and unlikely!

It started in 2005 ,at the Arava Institutein Kibbutz Ketura, when Dr. Solowey planted two thousand year old date pits.

In order to get the pits, that had been found in an archaeological dig at Masada in 1960, to sprout, secret combinations of heat, hydration, plant hormones and fertilizers were used.

Against all odds the seeds sprouted and grew to be a small palm tree. The tree, which was named Methuselah, turned out to be a male tree which can’t bear fruit.

The researchers went looking through other stores of ancient seeds that were discovered around the Judean desert and planted multiple seeds in the hope that they would be able to grow a female tree.

A pit (Hannah) found in a dig at Wadi Makhukh near Jericho grew to be the long-awaited female palm. She (the pit) dated back to the fourth century BC making her one of the oldest ever found.
After growing for six years Hannah flowered!

The researchers collected pollen from nearby Methuselah and brushed it onto Hanna’s flowers.
Against all odds, Hannah bore fruit which ripened and were harvested.

At a special celebration a few of the dates were tasted- they have a dry nutty flavour similar to dates originating from Iraq.

During this time of year right before Rosh Hashanna, The Jewish New Year, as dates are being harvested across the country and palm fronds are being collected for the celebration of Succot, the connection of dates and palms to Jewish culture and history is more tangible and flavourful than ever!

Apr 27

Yom Hazikaron- memorial day in Israel

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, Holidays, Memorials, Uncategorized | No Comments

I grew up in Canada. Both of my grandfathers served in the Canadian Military as did other members of my family. That being said- Canadian Remembrance Day was important to me and had its place, but for most, it is a usual day. In Israel the experience is very different.

Memorial day in Israel is all encompassing. the entire country stops and morns. All of the programming on radio and tv is about fallen soldiers. The reason that it is so central and focused is due to the fact that everyone is connected to the military.

In Israel, everyone is drafted to the army at the age of 18- right after high school, and the process begins a couple of years earlier. What it means is that everyone’s social circle drafts, if a person drafts to a non combat unit, they probably know someone who is in a combat unit. and all of your friends from your clubs, scouts, sports are also in the army.

Israel is a very small country so everyone knows everyone which means that everyone has a personal connection.

I always felt a connection to Israel’s memorial day but since 2003, when I moved to Israel and joined the army my thoughts and emotions on this day have changed drastically

I served in the Nahal infantry unit and saw action in a number of areas.

During my training as an infantry soldier I began to feel a connection with every infantry soldier, a kinship with any soldier with the same beret colour, like family to everyone in my brigade and like a brother to everyone in my company.

Army training isn’t the safest thing in the world. Many mishaps occur. As months went by we were told of a few cases in which soldiers killed each other in training accidents. One evening my squad and I were talking about how we would feel if we killed one of our group by mistake. The overall conclusion was that we would feel a tremendous amount of guilt and grief strong enough to drive us to suicide.

That Friday, as is common on army bases, we got the newspapers and read of an accident that had occurred to the Golani infantry unit. A jeep had gotten stuck in mud and had then been driven over by an APC [armored personnel carrier], killing the two people in the jeep.

Having occurred so close to that conversation my squad had had, I understood the tremendous loss they must have been feeling in the unit and I felt a loss too. The feeling spread through the platoon and I realized that the whole army was mourning for those two soldiers. A few days later I visited some family in Rehovot and was told that my friend was at the funeral because he had done the commanders course with one of the soldiers in the jeep. I felt the loss from a different angle.

Time went on, our unit moved to Hevron, A few months later we moved to Gush Etzion/Bethlehem.
One day were sitting in our rec. room watching ‘Friends’ when our company commander ran into the room and yelled ‘everyone go pack your combat gear and your sleeping bags, there’s a 50/50 chance that we’ll be taken by helicopter into Gaza in the next few hours’.

In the chaos that ensued word spread that a mine had blown up an APC of the Givati Unit, killing 4. Rescue attempts had been launched resulting in a total toll of close to 13 soldiers. Terrorists had then stolen body parts from the wreckage. We were all shocked and outraged by this.
During the time I spent packing my stuff my anger changed into sorrow. Then I realized that the tragedy befell the platoon that my friend Yossi was in.
I was scared, was he still alive? I called he answered the phone, bawling his eyes out. He told me about the guys who had been killed. Once again I felt the loss from a different angle.

A few months passed, I got sick and spent two weeks in the hospital. I was then given sick leave. During that time my brigade moved from Bethlehem to Jenin. There we held three bases surrounding Jenin.

One day I was out at the beach with a friend when I got a call from my friend Ron. He said ‘Yoni, someone at one of the bases has been hit. Try to find something out!’ I called as many people as I could. No one knew anything. I called the officer who was in charge of all the wounded soldiers. She told me that she didn’t know anything. Half an hour later she called me back and told me that someone had been hit, their status wasn’t good, they were being air lifted to a hospital.

‘Who is it?’ I asked? She said that she couldn’t tell me as his parents hadn’t been notified. I was sick with worry, was it Hayim who had shared a tent with me during field week? Was it Ido who sat beside me for hours while I was in the hospital?

I called the last number I could, someone who would know and would tell me, my company commander. He told me that “It is Yair Tourjeman” “WHAT?! Tourjiman’s been hit?!” to us he had been a legend. He had done basic training with my commander, who had brought us up on stories about him.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach I called up my commander who had finished the army a few weeks earlier. He started to cry but at the same time he thanked me for telling him, and not letting him find out from the news. Then I called my sergeant who had been Tourjeman’s commander. He too started to cry.

30 days after the funeral I was standing by Tourjeman’s grave on Har Hertzel listening to his parents talk about how happy they were to have had such a good son who had helped so many people. Through misty eyes I looked around and saw the religious standing with the non religious, new immigrants standing with old Israelis Sphardim standing with Ashkenazim, all standing together untied around Tourjeman. I realized that it was due to thousands like Tourjiman that we have Israel today.

Even though I only knew of him and never actually met him, till today I feel like I lost a brother,

Two years later, while in university a friend introduced me to a friend of theirs. a nice, funny guy in the paratrooper unit, we hit it off and agreed to meet again.

A little while later the second Lebanese War started. . My friend told me that her friend was in Lebanon and she was sure that something bad was going to happen to him.

I spent the whole day trying to calm her down. As we were walking through the shuk (market) in Jaffa she got a phone call, I saw all the colour drain out of her face, and knew right away what had happened.

The funeral wasn’t going to be for a few days because Mikey was American and the army hadn’t managed to get hold of the parents. I was with all off Mikey’s friends for the days of mourning leading up to the funeral.

The funeral took place on Tisha Be’av. The Jewish day of mourning of the destruction of the Temples and every other tragedy that befell the Jewish people. Once again I was standing on Har Hertzel for a funeral.

In the years that pass. I hear more and more stories. meet more people who have lost loved ones and the loss of Yair and Mikey grows. As I grow and as my family grows I realize the loss and what they could have become.

On Yom Hazikaron we aren’t remembering an idea but thousands of brothers, sisters and friends who gave everything so that we can be here today.

Feb 06

Outrage at the Lack of Outrage

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, Uncategorized | No Comments

Yesterday I walked into the park with my son. There I met my wife who had earlier gotten my daughter from her kindergarten.

‘Did you hear?’ she asked
‘Hear What?’ I replied
‘There was a terrorist attack a little while ago beside Ariel’ she continued
“I didn’t hear anything yet’….

In the few minutes that followed we realized that Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal from Har Bracha had been murdered. He was stabbed to death while on his way home after teaching at a high-school in Givat Shmuel.
His family is very close to my sister in-laws family. My wife was shocked.

In a matter of minutes a family, that we were used to seeing a couple of times a year, was destroyed.

As we got home, we took care of our kids, made a few calls and turned on the news.

The first story on the news was a short blurb about the terrorist attack followed by footage of police arresting
Jewish protesters who started to demonstrate against the resent terror attacks.
While being arrested one of the Jewish boys yelled out ‘how can you arrest me while the blood is still warm on the street!’ I felt like he was right.

The news continued on as two how this was similar to two other recent terror attacks and then switched to the regular pre-filmed items about shopping and politics.

After the news the regular TV shows were aired. On social media I saw next to no mention of the terrorist attack.

I am sad, insulted hurt and outraged!

From both the terrorist act and the way it has not been over reported in the media.

We got to used to picking up and carrying on.

I don’t understand how a man was just murdered by terrorists and the country barely pauses. I don’t understand how we have become so ‘used to it’ as a society that we allow ourselves to not be outraged!

To the terrorists it doesn’t make a difference who the man is and where they lived. there were no questions asked before the attack. All the terrorist cared about was killing someone who was Jewish.

We have to carry on. We can’t get stuck in depression. But at the same time we cannot allow ourselves to be jaded for that more than anything else would be a victory for the terrorists!

We cannot allow this to be just another name. we cannot allow any name to be one that passes in a second as we carry on with our lives.

We have to be outraged and demand outrage at every single attack and ever single rocket as they are all attacks on our people and our nation!

Sep 27

Wolf attacks in the Judean Desert

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, Nature, Uncategorized | No Comments

In the past couple of years there have been a number of incidents of wolves attacking people in various camp sites and outdoor areas across the Judean Desert.

These have occurred in the areas around Massada and Ein Gedi which have are visited by thousands of tourists and Israelis every year.

The attacks have almost always been attempts to capture small children, generally in dark areas and only a small distance from adults.

This is alarming because it appears that two things have happened- the wolves have lost their fear of humans and they have begun to view humans as an optional food source.

researchers feel that there are a few things that may have lead to this happening.

It is possible that wolves have started identifying people with food as a result of food not being stored properly or being left in nature.

Another possibility is that these aren’t purebred wolves but a mix of wolves and dogs which would account for them not being scared of humans.

You’re probably asking; is it safe to go out to the desert? how do I protect myself?

It is safe to go out hiking in the Desert although you need to make sure to clean up after yourself and store food in away that animals can’t get to it.

Stay close to children! Especially after dark.

If you see wolves getting close to people contact the parks authority.

Aug 01

Tisha B’Av and being a proud Jew

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, History, Holidays, Jewish History | No Comments

On the Ninth day of the month of Av we have a day of mourning. On this day we fast, read the Megila of Eicha, and lamentations of different disasters that befell the Jewish people.

This day been observed for thousands of years. The date was picked due to the fact that both of the Jewish temples in Jerusalem were destroyed on this date.

The first Temple was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonian Empire, and the first Diaspora started. After 70 years, Jews were able to return to the land of Israel where they rebuilt the Temple and reinstated the Jewish Kingdom.

The second temple was Destroyed by the Roman Empire in the year 70 AD after 4 years of revolt by Jews against the Romans. This marked the beginning of the second Diaspora which we are still in today.

For thousands of years we have mourned the destruction of the Temple, and the dispersion of Jews from Israel.

Some people say that the Diaspora is over as most of the world’s Jews have returned to Israel and are in control of the land.

I believe that the Diaspora is a mindset that we are still stuck in.

This can be seen, for example, in many different policies that Israel adopts in regard to the Temple Mount.

Arabs can come and go as they please with no security checks. However, if someone Jewish wants to go up to the Temple Mount they can only at certain hours and only after a very thorough security check. Jews aren’t allowed to have anything or wear anything that ‘looks Jewish’ otherwise it will offend the Arabs. Israel doesn’t allow Jews to whisper prayers on the Temple Mount out of fear of how the Muslims would react.

After the terrorist attack on the Temple Mount last week in which Israeli Muslims smuggled guns onto the Temple Mount and killed two police officers, Israel placed metal detectors at the entrance and Muslims started to riot.

After a short period of time Israel gave in and removed the metal detectors, removing every form of Israeli control over what happens on the Temple Mount.

At the same time everyone has to go through metal detectors to get to the Kotel. The Kotel is not the holiest place for Jews, it just happens to be the closest that Jews can get to pray to the holiest place in Judaism which is the Temple mount.

I feel like all of this is result of the Diaspora mindset.

Every year I meet hundreds of young Jews from North America while guiding Birthright trips. Generally they come knowing that they are Jewish but little more than that.

After a week of learning about Judaism, Israel and Zionism they tell me that for the first time ever they are proud of being Jewish. From many Israelis who join the trips I hear that they are proud of being Israeli but not very connected to the Jewish side.

Just like our ancestors had to spend 40 years in the desert to learn how to be a free people, I feel like we need to put work into being a people.

We need to build up on our Jewish pride and look for ways to bring all Jews together as opposed to separating into different sects.

When we can all exude pride in our heritage and religion and feel that we are unified, that will be a sign that the Diaspora is ending.

Sep 22

Archaeology, Altars, and our Footprints at Risk!

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | Archaeology, current events, History, Uncategorized | No Comments

Thousands of years ago Joshua lead the children of Israel across the Jordan river. According to the book of Joshua they crossed the Jordan River parallel to the city of Jericho at a place called Gilgal. When they completed the crossing they made a ceremony with twelve large stones symbolizing the twelve tribes. From there they began the conquest of the promised land.

In this week’s Torah portion (Ki Tavo) we read of a blessing and a curse which will be given to the twelve tribes once they are in the promised land. In the book of Joshua this same curse and blessing is recorded as having been given.

These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin and. these shall stand upon mount Eval for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.; Devarim 27:12-13

Adam Zartal- an Israeli archaeologist found the site on mount Eval where this blessing was given.

In1989 a number of ancient archaeological sites were discovered in the Jordan valley. The most intriguing of them are the five ‘foot print sites’. These sites are dated to the 12-13th century B.C., which aligns itself with the period of the conquest.

foot print site

Incredibly when viewed from above they have an uncanny resemblance to the sole of a shoe or a foot print. Hence being called ‘foot print sites’ (אתר כף הרגל )

The conquest of the land of Israel was completed over a period of many. It started with the city of Jericho followed by the Ai followed by other cities in the Jordan Valley.

Adam Zartal believed that these were ceremonial cites due to their shape and the presence of an alter at the center of each of them. He also drew a connection between these sites and ‘Gilgal’ ,which is mentioned multiple times in the bible, as they are made of conjoined circles.

He believed that the foot shape of the sites signifies that the children of Israel making a statement that they had taken ownership over the land.

The above-mentioned curse and blessing was given at one of these foot print sites which is located at mt. Eval which is close to the Palestinian city of Nablus (Shchem).

Shchem and Mt. Eival

These incredible archaeological and historical sites are in the mountains of the Jordan valley, The majority of which is Palestinian controlled territories. This area has little supervision, legislation and/or enforcement over the well being of archaeological sites.

Many decisions pertaining to building of infrastructure made by the Israeli military administration in the areas of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan valley are influenced by strategic, or sometimes monetary decisions while failing to take into account possible damage to archaeological site. The decisions or making them less accessible to Israeli citizens.

Unfortunately the Israeli military administration recently made such a decision with regards to one of these foot print sites. They have given permission to the Palestinian authority to build a garbage dump beside this archaeological and historical treasure.

I highly recommend learning more about these sites and getting out to see them if you can.
Further more If you are concerned about the protection of these and other precious archaeological sites you can write to The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Unit (COGAT) at Cogatspokesman@gmail.com with your concerns about the foot print archaeological site located at Rimonim!

Aug 02

Meteor Shower in the Negev Desert

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, Gems of Israel, Hikes, Nature | No Comments

With its dark skies, wide open spaces and deep valleys the Negev Desert is known as the place to go for stargazing. The desert brings two major factors to the table when it comes to dark skies;

The first factor is light pollution. The few and far between built up areas bring light pollution to a minimum.

The second and possibly the more important factor is the small amount of humidity in the air. The lack of humidity provides clearer skies. these two aspects make the Negev the optimum location for star gazing.

Over the years, hundreds of youth groups have hiked through the valleys of the Negev at night in order to spend time stargazing.

In and around the Ramon crater there are dozens of locations which are beckoning for stargazers and photographers alike.

At Khan HaShayarot and the Ramon Crater there are guided star gazing activities and they can be organized year round.

In the clarity and darkness of the night skies in the Negev, The naked eye can see a number of planets, the milky way, and a plethora of constellations.

In order to make the star gazing experience complete I suggest looking at a moon calendar, plan to be out on a night when the moon sets early and or is not a full moon.

All of this is true on a regular night. from time to time there are meteor showers!

Every year the Perseids Meteor Shower happens over the skies of Israel.

During the shower myriads of people head to the desert in order to see the meteors in all their glory!

This year the meteor shower will be on the dates of 11,12 and 13 of august. The shower will be at its strongest on the night of the 12th.

There are going to be organized star gazing events throughout the desert. But nothing beats going out to the desert as a family or with a guide!

Enjoy!!

Jun 05

Yom Yerushalayim- Jerusalem Day

Posted by CamelYoni_123 | current events, History, Jewish History, Uncategorized | No Comments

It is Jerusalem day!

One of the more interesting holidays of the Israeli calendar. You are probably asking yourself- Why does Jerusalem get a day which receives nationwide recognition? And what exactly is Jerusalem day commemorating?

It is a day which is the result of thousands of years Jewish yearning, along with a sprinkling of relatively recent trauma from the War of Independence.

For thousands of years Jews worldwide have always prayed towards Jerusalem. During the times of the Diasporas Jews have always yearned to return to the city of Jerusalem and more specifically to Mt. Moria, the location of the destroyed Jewish temples. It was only natural that when the Jewish State of Israel would be declared that Jerusalem would be its center and capital.

During the War of Independence the Jerusalem area saw some of the most fierce fighting. The old city of Jerusalem with all of its holy sites was held under siege for over six months!!

On may 28th 1948 the Jewish forces in the Jewish quarter of the old city were taken captive by the Jordanian Legion.

At the end of the war the new city of Jerusalem was in Israeli hands and the old city of Jerusalem was part of Jordan. The Jordanians destroyed all of the abandoned Synagogues in the old city and once again the Jewish holy sites were unreachable.

This remained the state of affairs until the six day war.

On the first morning of the war, June 5th 1967, Jordanian forces moved into the Israeli parts of Jerusalem. Israel retaliated with a massive counterattack and within three days the old city and eastern Jerusalem was in Israel’s hands.

These battles over a relatively small area cost Israel a quarter of all the casualties in the war.
The reunification of Jerusalem was on the Jewish date 28th of Iyar which is when Jerusalem day is celebrated.

The reunification of Jerusalem and freedom of movement to the holy places was, to many, the recognition of ancient prophecies promising a return to Jerusalem!

On this day there are a large number of festivals and ceremonies which include: a large parade, a dance with flags throughout the old city, concerts and much more!

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