Almost every tour guide in Israel has quoted the well-known two-part poem “Tourists” by Yehuda Amichai. In the first part Amichai cynically describes the way he perceives how tourists relate to being in Israel:   Visits of condolence is all we get from them. They squat at the Holocaust Memorial, They put on grave faces at the Wailing Wall And they laugh behind heavy curtains In their hotels. They have their pictures taken Together with our famous dead At Rachel’s Tomb and Herzl’s Tomb And on the top of Ammunition Hill. They weep over our sweet boys And lust over our tough girls And hang ..read more

Dear friends, With the Spring season upon us, the warming sun is starting to pierce through weeks of rain here in Israel. It’s symbolic of course. Headlines with heartbreaking stories of war, injured and dead; and hostage deal updates without real progress, paint our days with the winter greys of sadness and fill us with despair. And yet, you continue to uplift us. Like the local greenery growing on the Northern mountains and the wild flowers blooming in the Southern valleys, your choosing to come to Israel on solidarity trips and to purchases our gift boxes, pierce through the darkness and st ..read more

The post Celebrate Tu B’svhat and connect to Israel with these Family Recipes appeared first on ViaSabra ..read more

Gazing out the window while travelling across the Galilee, between the mountains and valleys, the view is punctuated unmistakably by olive groves. From their twisted trunks to their leafy branches, these special trees, which are green year-round, bear a fruit that is treasured for its many uses. Traversing the Galilee by foot walk through the lush greenery, you are bound to stumble upon an olive press from the Byzantine period. One day, as I sat by a spring in the lower Golan, soaking in the volcanic springs by Hamat Gader, there was a lively conversation being carried out by a group of Druze ..read more

It’s hard to believe that, though I’ve already been living in Israel for 8 years, I still discover incredible flavours, become inspired by new people, and travel to new areas of the country, all while feeling the permanence of home. A native Canadian, I picked up my life at the age of 43 and, together with my husband and three boys, arrived in Raanana for a family year abroad. I realized quite quickly how little I knew about this place, and that each day provided a new opportunity to experience newness. I cherished each and every outing. The more of these experiences I have, the more I want to ..read more

This weekend in Israel, many will be celebrating Tu B’av (15th of Av), better known today as Israel’s Valentine’s day. But did you know that this modern celebration of love is rooted in an ancient Jewish tradition? During the period of the Second Temple, on the 15th of Av, unmarried women would dress all in white and dance in the vineyards of Jerusalem in the hopes of finding a husband. Since then, this day has become known as an annual day for match-making. Paying homage to this ancient tradition (no longer practiced today), here we focus on some of the best wineries in Israel today that have ..read more

Now’s your chance to experience an authentic Israeli summer by exploring Israel’s off-the-beaten-track water trails and natural springs  If you’re planning to exploring Israel this summer, you’re not alone! Israelis across the country are already enjoying their hofesh gadol or summer break, and traveling across the country in search of the best natural springs to get a reprieve from the hot summer temps. Whether you are ready to boldly make a splash in the water or simply take a relaxing dip, here are the places you need to visit to swim like a sabra.   Hof Dor While the beaches of ..read more

For me, being in nature uplifts my soul. It has been proven that exposure to nature not only makes one feel better emotionally, but it also contributes to your physical wellbeing – it reduces blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and lowers the production of stress hormones. Following these couple of incredibly stressful an anxiety-ridden years, I’m sure most people will agree that taking a break to heal our mind and souls is a necessity. In Israel, you can combine a variety of wonderful experiences, from hiking in nature and exploring historical sites, to eating delicious food and enjoy ..read more

For me, being in nature uplifts my soul. It has been proven that exposure to nature not only makes one feel better emotionally, but it also contributes to your physical wellbeing – it reduces blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and lowers the production of stress hormones. Following these couple of incredibly stressful an anxiety-ridden years, I’m sure most people will agree that taking a break to heal our mind and souls is a necessity. In Israel, you can combine a variety of wonderful experiences, from hiking in nature and exploring historical sites, to eating delicious food and enjoy ..read more

Now’s your chance to experience an authentic Israeli summer by exploring Israel’s off-the-beaten-track water trails and natural springs  If you’re planning to exploring Israel this summer, you’re not alone! Israelis across the country are already enjoying their hofesh gadol or summer break, and traveling across the country in search of the best natural springs to get a reprieve from the hot summer temps. Whether you are ready to boldly make a splash in the water or simply take a relaxing dip, here are the places you need to visit to swim like a sabra.   Hof Dor While the beaches of ..read more