Ma’ashe and Maasiyah
The memory of the fallen will be preserved through Ma’ashe – deeds/actions, and Maasiyah – storytelling. In Jewish tradition, this is also known as Halakhah and Aggadah.
Sleepless Nights
Published on facebook on March 26, 2024 At 8 p.m. on a winter Friday night, their cozy apartment in Jerusalem was enveloped in a tranquil ambiance. The flickering Shabbat candles signaled their final moments before extinguishing, awaiting the next week. Hastily abandoned, the Shabbat table in the dining room bore witness to the evening’s abrupt […]
To Be a Rich State
In my role as a Guide and Educator in Israel, I regularly encounter diverse groups of people. The initial phase of any trip involves engaging in casual conversations to establish a personal connection. This process fosters intimacy and rapport, cultivating a trust that I, as their guide, truly comprehend their preferences and will cater to […]
Derech HaRaglayim
I have come to know my land and its people… Derech HaRaglayim. Derech HaRaglayim is a Hebrew expression that literally translates to: “Through the feet” but truly means to learn via physical and experiential experiences. Derech HaRaglayim doesn’t always mean walking and hiking, but rather to use all of the senses, to create intellectual, emotional, and meaningful experiences. Derech HaRaglayim is a physical method that opens minds and hearts. Derech HaRaglayim is an interaction between the individual and his or her surroundings. It begins the moment you get up and start a journey. Whether it is a new path or one you have taken before… each time is a new learning experience that leaves an imprint on you, whether you are aware of it or not.
Names in a Siddur – The Power of Our Names
“Hi, my name is Zalman. You can call me Z, Zman, Zalman, or any combination from the first to the last letters of my name that catches my attention”. Many times, it is this way that I introduce myself to a new group of people I am going to guide. It is a bit humorous, […]
I am a Nofan!
Zev Vilnay, Veahavta L’artzecha Kamocha (Translation by Zalman Spivack) I am a Nofan! I am often asked: What are you, really- a Geographer? historian? archaeologist? botanist? zoologist? After all in your explanation you talk about the geography of the place, the events that occurred there, the ancient remains, about plants and animals … Well, what […]
My Friend – The Forester
It is a well-known and wonderful tradition in Israel to plant a tree. Families, schools and youth movements have embraced the tradition of going out and planting trees on the day of Tu Be’shvat in early springtime. Jews and non-Jews around the world have been supporting this project by “sponsoring” trees, mainly through the Jewish […]
Route 90
Route 90 is a long road; some say the longest road in Israel, beginning all the way in the North, on the mountainous border of Israel and Lebanon, traversing the entire eastern side of our country, through the Jordan Rift Valley, along the Dead Sea, down the Arava desert, ending with a splash on the […]