Life in Modern Israel 2009Life in Modern Israel 2009

Israel became a state in 1948 created by the UN. A war Israel became a state in 1948 created by the UN. A war immediately broke out with the Arabs and the Israelis gained immediately broke out with the Arabs and the Israelis gained even more land. Since ’48 there have been many wars and even more land. Since ’48 there have been many wars and

Israel is surrounded by hostile states and in firing range from Israel is surrounded by hostile states and in firing range from Iran. The Israelis take that for granted and say, En Baya—no Iran. The Israelis take that for granted and say, En Baya—no

problem. Yet everyone has lost family members in these problem. Yet everyone has lost family members in these wars.wars.

The Recent WarThe Recent War

This photo was taken This photo was taken two miles from Gaza. two miles from Gaza. We were visitng We were visitng friends who lived in a friends who lived in a Moshav and during the Moshav and during the war slept in bomb war slept in bomb shelters every night.shelters every night.

GoatsGoats

A goat farm in the A goat farm in the Negev Desert. We Negev Desert. We bought goat cheese bought goat cheese and had a picnic.and had a picnic.

I bexI bex

Ibex are like wild goats Ibex are like wild goats and we saw many on and we saw many on our hikes in the desertour hikes in the desert

Ramon CraterRamon Crater

The Ibex and Ms The Ibex and Ms Leonard looking over Leonard looking over the Ramon Crater the Ramon Crater which is the largest in which is the largest in the world—14 miles in the world—14 miles in circumference, formed circumference, formed millions of years ago. It millions of years ago. It is so silent inside I felt is so silent inside I felt like I was inside cotton.like I was inside cotton.

JerusalemJerusalem

It was February and cold It was February and cold but the almond trees are but the almond trees are blooming. Behind me is my blooming. Behind me is my son-in-law and my son-in-law and my daughter.daughter.

The next photo are The next photo are religious Jews preparing religious Jews preparing their dishes for a Kosher their dishes for a Kosher household. Most of the household. Most of the religious Jews live in religious Jews live in Jerusalem. My family is Jerusalem. My family is secular.secular.

Up north in the Carmel MountainsUp north in the Carmel Mountains

In February, the In February, the mustard blooms and mustard blooms and everything is alive in everything is alive in yellow. This area is yellow. This area is about ten miles from about ten miles from the sea but because of the sea but because of a higher elevation is a higher elevation is much colder—in the much colder—in the 5o’s in the winter.5o’s in the winter.

Avocado FarmingAvocado Farming

My son-in-law is an My son-in-law is an avocado farmer and avocado farmer and took us to the fields so took us to the fields so we could ride the we could ride the cherry picker and cherry picker and gather the fruit. Below gather the fruit. Below are lemons, also on are lemons, also on the farm.the farm.

Israel TodayIsrael Today

Israel is a beautiful Israel is a beautiful country no bigger than country no bigger than NJ but on the NJ but on the Mediterranean. It was Mediterranean. It was founded as a state in founded as a state in 1948 by the UN.1948 by the UN.

Shabbat in Tel AvivShabbat in Tel Aviv

Folk dancing on the Folk dancing on the Tel Aviv beach. Tel Aviv beach. Anyone can Anyone can participate. Younger participate. Younger people go to clubs and people go to clubs and dance all night. dance all night. Drinking is not the Drinking is not the thing. Dancing is.thing. Dancing is.

The Negev, about two miles from The Negev, about two miles from GazaGaza

This bomb shelter was This bomb shelter was at a carrot plant. at a carrot plant. Israelis only receive a Israelis only receive a 15 second notice. 15 second notice. Those who live near Those who live near Gaza have bomb Gaza have bomb shelters in their shelters in their homes. All Israelis homes. All Israelis have gas masks.have gas masks.

Carrot plant in the NegevCarrot plant in the Negev

114 kibbutzim send their 114 kibbutzim send their carrots to this plant to be carrots to this plant to be washed, sorted and sent washed, sorted and sent out to Russia—about 30 out to Russia—about 30 tons a day. The plant is tons a day. The plant is open 24 hours and a open 24 hours and a worker can earn up to worker can earn up to 8000 shekels which is 8000 shekels which is about 2000 dollars, a good about 2000 dollars, a good salary for an Israeli.salary for an Israeli.

Weekend tripWeekend trip

We are in the south, in We are in the south, in the Negev desert and the Negev desert and in a village belonging in a village belonging to the Nabeteans, an to the Nabeteans, an ancient people who ancient people who were nomads and were nomads and trades in spices.trades in spices.

The Baby House on the KibbutzThe Baby House on the Kibbutz

A kibbutz is communal A kibbutz is communal living and these villages living and these villages were set up in the 1930’s were set up in the 1930’s as a way of sharing farm as a way of sharing farm equipment and all other equipment and all other services. The houses are services. The houses are very simple but food is very simple but food is very cheap and there is a very cheap and there is a dining hall and lots of child dining hall and lots of child care. Also, someone takes care. Also, someone takes care of the cars and the care of the cars and the laundry. Everyone works laundry. Everyone works hard but life is simplehard but life is simple

After School in the KibbutzAfter School in the Kibbutz

Kids go to lunch in the Kids go to lunch in the dining hall and then dining hall and then are on their own. This are on their own. This is just one room in is just one room in their hangout. They their hangout. They have places to play have places to play soccer and basketball soccer and basketball but no video games or but no video games or TV!TV!

Arab building on the kibbutzArab building on the kibbutz

A beautiful place—A beautiful place—where my daughter’s where my daughter’s wedding took placewedding took place

Tel AvivTel Aviv

Lots of skyscrapers Lots of skyscrapers because land is because land is scarce.scarce.

The shoukThe shouk

An outdoor market An outdoor market where everything is where everything is availableavailable

SpicesSpices

Israelis eat a lot of Israelis eat a lot of grains and vegetables grains and vegetables made tasty with spicesmade tasty with spices

ON TourON Tour

After the Holocaust After the Holocaust many immigrants many immigrants again were prisoners again were prisoners of the British—this is of the British—this is one camp.one camp.

Winter in IsraelWinter in Israel

Fields of anemones, Fields of anemones, wildflowers. Everything wildflowers. Everything is green in the winter is green in the winter and then the land and then the land becomes a desert in becomes a desert in the summer—dry and the summer—dry and brown.brown.

Irit’s Place in the shoukIrit’s Place in the shouk

We had hummus, We had hummus, salad, soup, bread, salad, soup, bread, orange drink for about orange drink for about 3 dollars each. That’s 3 dollars each. That’s my son-in-law, Ori, and my son-in-law, Ori, and my daughter, Nicolemy daughter, Nicole

The Beach in FebruaryThe Beach in February

Tel Aviv--a city on the Tel Aviv--a city on the beach. We walked on beach. We walked on the beach everyday or the beach everyday or rented beach chairs. rented beach chairs. Lots of surfers went in Lots of surfers went in wearing body suits.wearing body suits.

The kibbutzThe kibbutz

One of the nicer One of the nicer houses on Kibbutz houses on Kibbutz Dahlia up north.Dahlia up north.

Garden on the kibbutzGarden on the kibbutz

People have fun People have fun making the garden making the garden their own design.their own design.