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Touring in Eretz Yisrael: The Tzafon: The Hilton of the OutdoorsMore Recent Articles |
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Touring in Eretz Yisrael: The Tzafon: The Hilton of the Outdoors :: Life in IsraelRead this article on the community site Every year, we consider going camping and chicken out at the last minute and join some group. It seems daunting to take a bunch of kids up somewhere and sleep in tents and roughing it for a few days. This year we finally did it. We got up the nerve and actually joined in in Israel's national past time and went camping. We got our equipment ready and expected to spend 2-3 days really roughing it, sleeping in tents, hiking and enjoying the beauty of Eretz Yisrael. Little did we know, but what we did is hardly called "roughing it", though nothing we planned did we do, and nothing we did did we plan (is that the same thing twice or do they mean two different things?)... We went up north planning to pitch tent in a campsite of Park HaYarden or further north in either Churshat Tal or Park Yehudiyah (yes, the one with the hike with the 40-foot jump that you can no longer do - they also have a campsite). At the last minute someone recommended we go to Hof Amnun, so we did..
Hof Amnun is a beach at the very tip of the Kinneret, at practically the northern-most point possible. The campsite of Hof Amnon is a grassy area (and reasonably priced) just off the shore of the Kinneret. It is actually a bit set back from the beach, simply because the water level is so low! Amnun had indoor bathrooms on site with showers. He had electricity and gave out extension cords and light bulbs. He had a fridge so people could put stuff in overnight, like bottles of water and containers of milk or yogurts. He had a kiosk on site, which came in handy despite the prices being through the roof. I called it "The Hilton of the Outdoors". Some people were there in very large groups (multiple families together, etc.) that set up camp in very sophisticated manners, as if they do it every year (they probably do), with everything they could even consider missing from home. People had electric stovetops for cooking, some had fans, I saw someone with a computer, and there was one tent there that even had an air conditioner inside it! So it would be hard pressed to really call this roughing it, but we did not expect all that, so we were pretty much roughing it. We brought along nothing that required electricity. We brought minimal clothes, and enough food for how long we expected to stay, with an ice chest.
So, while we made plans to do all sorts of great hikes, we have kids who had preferences. My daughter wanted us to go to The Hula Nature Reserve. It does not make sense to me - she wanted us to go because she had been there with her class on a trip. If it was me, I would not want to go to the same place, but she did. She insisted, so we went, planning on spending a couple hours there and then doing a hike afterwards....
Anyways, after hiking through Hula in the scorching heat, and then eating lunch, we were all so drained (pun intended), that we had no energy for the hike. So that was that. We went back to our campsite a bit early and went swimming in the Kinneret, then bbq'ed for dinner and went to sleep. I even slept outside, on the ground in a sleeping bag, and not in the tent because I enjoyed the fresh air over the stuffiness of the tent even with an air mattress... The next day, Tuesday, we also planned some hikes, but they too would not work out. One son was not feeling well, and we did not think it a good idea to go hiking with a kid who might get sick and need to be carried out. So we changed our plans and went to Park HaYarden which is a large park off the Jordan River. The park has a campsite, but also has a few trails that have water hikes (at least in part), along with kayaking in the Jordan. Kayaking down the Jordan was great. We got out at points to swim and fool around. We had two kayaks, so we raced each other, I splashed them with my oars, etc. The river is very low because of the lack of rains, but it was large enough for us to have a great time. I told my kids t imagine the Jews crossing the Jordan to enter Israel - and why would God need to split the Jordan considering how small it was. So we tried to imagine how large it must have been back then and what rain, and the lack thereof, can do...
• Email to a friend • Related • Guest Post: A Modest Proposal :: Esser AgarothRead this article on the community site 20 of the Fifth Month 5768 About six months ago Aryeh Zelasko's plan below appeared on Arutz 7. He had told some of us about his plan before that. I was intrigued, and have working toward this goal for a while now. In February, I started a job which paid its employees by check, a rarity in Israel. In my last job, I also received my salary in check form, but had to beg for it. I took my new job's payment policy as a sign that I was on the right path.... After receiving a notice from my bank last week about "account inactivity," even though I actually have money in the bank, I thought it was time to do more to help publicize Aryeh's plan. It is republished below, with his expressed permission. His plan can also be found in Hebrew, if you prefer, by clicking here (עברית). I don't know about you, but I don't like having my bank tell me what to do with my money, Qal weHomer (even more so, the government). How about you? A Modest Proposal The time has come to use a serious weapon. It seems that the consensus of all the experts is that we are in for another major betrayal by the Powers That Be. There is to be a new Sharon-style pogrom expelling 300,000 Jews from what is left of Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem is to be divided or So, what to do? We have tried demonstrations. We have tried elections. We have tried behind the scenes pressure and deals. None of it has had the slightest effect, nor did any of it prevent the expulsion of a single Jew from his home or increase the safety of those Jews still allowed to live in theirs. So why should any of that work now? The time has come to use a serious weapon. One that will force the situation. The time has come to use money. My modest proposal is that we withdraw as much cash as possible from Israeli banks. Also, if you have Israeli bonds, cash them in. It would also be helpful to stop using credit cards and pay for everything in cash. I was recently told that if as little as 1% of bank assets were withdrawn, this would send the system into chaos. I further suggest that, at the time of withdrawal, the bank manager be given a letter explaining that you are removing your money in protest of the Oslo Treason, and will not return your cash until such time as it is officially ended, the Palestinian Authority is null and void, and Judea, Samaria and Gaza are officially annexed to the State of Israel. As I said, a modest proposal. This approach has four major virtues:
I have attempted to anticipate and answer some questions about this idea. I am sure there are many others, but I do not promise that I will have the answers or answers that will satisfy. Question: I have outstanding checks and bills to pay. How can I possibly do this? It is your money that should be withdrawn, not your common sense. Of course you must pay your bills, and keep your business and other activities functional. No one is asking you to commit financial suicide. However, every agurah above that - take it out of the system and put it in a shoe box under your bed. Question: But won't this seriously hurt the economy? Is it really the right thing to do? Isn't this anti-democratic? Yes it will. When the Histadrut calls a general strike, the economy is hurt. When the dock workers staged a strike a number of years ago, it wrecked the economy for nearly a year. For over fifty years, the government subsidized the kibbutz movement with billions of dollars in free hand-outs and communist protection laws, and the economy was crippled. In short, there have been no lack of self-serving, greedy people willing to use all sorts of "anti-democratic" means, and to cause all sorts of serious damage to our economy, so long as they personally benefited. So, what is wrong in doing this with the intention of saving the country? Will placing all of Israel's industrial, transportation, energy and population within easy range of Arab mortars and cheap, home-made missiles be good for the economy? Will the Arab murderers ask the Jews to vote and approve before they open up on us with their guns and artillery? Question: I will lose a lot of money if I do this. Most of this money is either for my retirement or for my children's future. Is it really fair to jeopardize the future to make a political point? I suppose that if you really believe we and our children will have much of a future here after the government expels nearly 300,000 Jews from their homes and gives the property over to Arab murderers, then, by all means, hang on to your interest payments and coupons. However, if you suspect living in a beat up caravan and not having any means to support your family (as happened to the victims of the Sharon pogrom), or that having a Kassam crashing through your roof (as is happening in Sderot and the Negev today), might ruin the tranquility of your retirement or annoy your children, then consider my proposal. This is not about making a political point, it is using a powerful weapon to archive victory. No it is not pointless. In fact, this has a very sharp and deadly point. One that will accomplish what all the demonstrations and elections have not: force the end of Oslo and the annexation of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Furthermore, they can not outlaw people removing their own money from a bank without causing a serious crisis and jeopardizing Israel's international financial status. Question: If I do this, I will have a very large amount of cash around. Won't that make me the target of thieves? It will turn me into a nervous wreck, I just can't take the risk. It is perfectly legal, and not too difficult, to transfer your money to a foreign bank. Any lawyer or CPA involved with corporate law should be able to advise you how to do this and where it is the safest. You don't really have to put it all in a shoe box. • Email to a friend • Related • DNC: 'Eric Cantor is Jewish, oh my!' :: Israel MatzavRead this article on the community site Baseball Crank reports that the Democratic National Committee has a website set up to attack potential running mates of Republican nominee John McCain. Each potential running mate gets his own page, and at the bottom of the page we are told that it's "paid for by the Democratic National Committee." On Eric Cantor's page, the word "Jewish" appears five times in 660 words, including these choice • Email to a friend • Related • US refuses to sell refueling jets to 'germ of corruption' :: Israel MatzavRead this article on the community site Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred to Israel on Wednesday as a 'germ of corruption' and promised his people again that it would be wiped out. Meanwhile in Washington the Obama Bush administration refused to sell Israel Boeing 767 refueling jets out of fear that it would encourage Israel to attack Iran. Let's start with Napoleon Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iranian President Mahmoud • Email to a friend • Related • Our medallists : Taiwan's Chen Wei-ling and Israel's Shahar Zubari :: fiLi's world - IsraelRead this article on the community site After over a week of embarrassing results for the Israeli athletes Israel finally won a medal. National pride almost completely shattered, but is now somewhat restored. From Xinhua :
Surfing, online and offline, is what Israelis are good at http://www.filination.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/alinks/images/external...) center right no-repeat;" rel="external">Taiwan got its first during the first few days with our very own http://www.filination.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/alinks/images/external...) center right no-repeat;" rel="external">Tainan City local – Chen Wei-Ling
真的太高興了 :) Ah, what pride. [BTW - Even though we lost the important baseball match, we still got a few more medals… © - visit fiLi's world for more great content. ---
China furious after Israeli officials visit Taiwan Taiwan openly addressing independence from China Miss Earth 2007 - East Asia How to reconcile between China and Taiwan JBlogging Conference Follow Up :: Mystical PathsRead this article on the community site by Reb Akiva at Mystical Paths Unfortunately, the live blogging ended with a local wifi overload. So, here's some more on the conference, as well as more pictures. -> FrumSatire provided some halftime entertainment. He was reasonably funny. Afterwards, he and a few buddies wanted some pictures with me, as a particularly chassidic looking guy (offsetting their beach casual appearance). It was an interesting contrast. Photo: Yisrael Medad of MyRightWord interviewed by Ben Bretsky of Israel National News and JMusic blogging at Israel Beat.
-> Panel Session Two was on the topic of presenting Israel and Aliyah. Yisrael Medad, as a long time Israeli political activist, shared some interesting thoughts on making things happen. My Shrapnel shared some strong thoughts that basically were "I write want I want, hope people like to read it, and if not or if that doesn't present Israel nicely, blow off." Powerful, but a bit weird given the topic of the panel she was on. Photo: Break time, Ted Belmen of Israpundit in the shorts to the left, he won one of the prizes of the night, a copy of DovBear's new book. (The other prize was a waffle maker, readers of The Muqata will get that joke.)
-> The final speaker of the night was from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The topic - Israel's image in the world. Photo: Speaker from the Ministry
They did extensive marketing and brand research and what did they find out? ...
And guess what, that's not how Israeli's view themselves! This was a shock to the bloggers in the audience (NOT!) Next, she presented some really interesting research on how different people of the world view different nations. They were presented with a country and had to describe the features of a family and house that represented such a country. Was the house colorful or plain, happy or reserved, etc. And here's what they said about Israel...
Frankly, that's pretty frightening. World views of Israel is pretty negative. But, to sum up Israeli hasbara - Israeli PR efforts by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1 picture is the following picture - the marketing images Israel is going to use to fight these negative stereotypes...
Look closely, here's what you see to combat negative stereotypes and create the future brand and marketing image of Israel: 1. Tel Aviv Fashion Brands Those are the images that Israel is going to use to sell Israel's uniqueness and specialness to the world. The campaign is being prepared and the Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to sign off on the budget next month. Go team! (I thought I was going to gag.) In the only controversy of the night, one blogger had the nerve to speak up and challenge this joke of an effort... (video coming soon) That's it for the First International Jewish Blogging Convention. It was interesting to meet many people with whom I've corresponded in person, and meet some that I haven't. A very wide diversity of people, more diverse, more people, and more topics than expected. To the organizers, congratulations on a good effort! Photo: Reb Akiva of Mystical Paths with Rabbi Gil Student of Hirhurim
Photo: Speaker from the Foreign Ministry presenting Israeli PR to the bloggers.
Free Home Delivery! - From Mystical Paths, MPaths.com. Jblogger Convention :: Cosmic XRead this article on the community site I was at the Jblogger Convention. It was great! Unfortunately I had to leave early.I have a lot to say about the convention but I don't have time! Tomorrow the X family is going on vacation and I got to pack.I had the privilege of meeting many jbloggers. Among them: Jameel, Batya, Yisrael, RivkA, Akiva, Rafi, Chardal, Yaakov, Benji and Aussie Dave. Sorry if I left anybody out. I've got • Email to a friend • Related • Facebook inspired conversation :: Collective Thoughts of a GinrodRead this article on the community site Ginrod: i amso glad you clicked "attending" for my facebook party. I feel that much closer to you online. • Email to a friend • Related • Will the US help Israel bomb Iran? :: FresnoZionism.orgRead this article on the community site
Boeing KC-767 Tanker Possibly this is the "unspecified military equipment" that the US did not wish to provide to Israel:
The US cannot 'defend' Israel from a nuclear attack by Iran. Antimissile systems are not 100% reliable, even for long-range missiles, and there are other ways to deliver a bomb. The US can threaten Iran that if they attack Israel they will pay a price. But given the 'realist' policy that seems to be determining US policy and is likely to continue to do so in the next administration (see Caroline Glick: "Iran's American Protector"), can Israel count on this as a real deterrent? Would you? The US has several reasons to oppose an Israeli attack on Iran:
Both Israel and the US are endangered by an Iranian nuclear bomb, but simply by virtue of geography Israel's red line will be reached sooner. Therefore there will come a time when Israel feels that she has no alternative but to attack Iran while at the same time the US will oppose it. The US will suggest that the danger is not as great as it seems, that possibly diplomacy can defuse the crisis, that it will threaten Iran, etc. There is a strong parallel here to the events immediately preceding the 1967 war, including possibly the mischievous activity of the Russians. An Israeli attack without help from the US in the form of landing rights at US bases, the 767's mentioned, etc. will be more difficult. But if (when) the point is reached that there is no alternative, then it — like the bombing of Egypt's airfields in 1967 — will be undertaken regardless of difficulty. This may turn out to be more uncomfortable for the US in the long run. Technorati Tags: Israel, Iran, refueling Joe Biden Rips Obama and His Positions :: Yid With LidRead this article on the community site  Joe Biden wasn't always on the short list to be Barack Obama's running mate. He used to be a candidate for President himself. When his hat was still in the Presidential ring he wasn't such a big fan of the Junior Senator from Illinois, he said things like: My impression is [Obama] thinks that if we leave, somehow the Iraqis are going to have an epiphany" of peaceful coexistence among warring sects. "I've seen zero evidence of that." But Biden wasn't all doom and gloom he had NICE things to say about some people...Like John McCain for instance: "John McCain is a personal friend, a great friend, and I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off, be well off no matter who..." As Jim Geraghty reports, those quotes are only the tip of the iceberg, one look at the record will show that Biden has generated tons of campaign fodder if he is the choice for Obama's #2: Just Words' That Joe Biden Would Like To Forget By Jim Geraghty
The fun thing about an Obama-Biden ticket is that the McCain campaign can point to a new awkward comment by Joe Biden — either on the importance of experience, in praise of McCain, or in support of invading Iraq — that contradicts the stands and qualities of the Democratic nominee for every day from now until Election Day. On McCain:
On Obama:
On Iraq:
Having said all that: "There's something decent at the core of Joe Biden." — Jim Geraghty, December 13, 2007 • Email to a friend • Related • Using the Force :: IsraellycoolRead this article on the community site  While Sultan Ajlouni embraced his mother after being released from prison near Amman, his father discovered he had special Jedi powers.
Freckles are like rocks. :: Collective Thoughts of a GinrodRead this article on the community site Israel's landscape reminds me of my freckles, small stones that pepper the landscape when driving the 434. It's so Israel, this highway, & when I drive it, I always think how friends back home think this is Israel, the Israel they see on the news . The checkpoints, the tall wall zig zagging around, protecting us from our neighbours. There is some colour on these walls. Fake paintings of arches with the sky painted on, bringing a bit of spirit to the dull gray concrete. • Email to a friend • Related • Monopoly on the Truth :: IsraellycoolRead this article on the community site For those who are interested, Jerusalem made it on to the world edition of the Monopoly board.
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Biden, on a post-debate appearance on MSNBC, October 30, 2007: "The only guy on the other side who's qualified is John McCain."
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