Foto Friday – New Year for Acasias
Filed under: Environment, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Holidays
The tree known as Acacia tortilis or Umbrella Thorn is a medium to large canopied tree native primarily to Northeast Africa. It also grows in the Middle East, where it is known to botanists as the Israeli Babool or to the rest of us by its Hebrew name “shitta” (pronounced “shee-ta”). Hmmm… it sounds better in Hebrew.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Although it’s the flowering almond tree that generally gets the glory on Tu b’ Shvat, the Jewish New Year for the trees, this year two others take central stage: planting conifers in the Galilee (though not at the Carmel Forest, which is being allowed to lie fallow and recover from December’s fire). And there is acacia tree planting in the Central Arava as the Adopt an Acacia project enters its second year.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Over the decades, the Central Arava has embodied the vision of making the desert bloom. But human habitation and agricultural progress have their price. Although the hardy acacia can withstand drought and the desert climate, it has faltered in the face of human progress. The water that was once available to the trees was now diverted before reaching the aquifer. The result: dead and dying trees.
The project — led by the KKL-JNF — has its volunteers plant acacia trees near villages and in other easily accessible areas, so that the caretakers can ensure their seedlings are properly cared for as they begin to strike root.
Photo: KKL-JNF
After all, there is a long-standing relationship between children of Israel and the acacia tree, which was used in the construction of the Tabernacle that served as a portable house of worship in the wilderness, as well as its furnishings — including the Ark of the Covenant.
Since those biblical times, the acacia has continued as an important part of the desert economy. Just like that animal whose every part is used “except for the squeal,” so the acasia has served as a multi-purpose resource. Its pods, leaves and flowers are eaten by desert animals fodder, the bark is a source of tannin, the sap can be used as glue and all of the above-mentioned can be found in items as diverse as decoration, weaponry and folk medicine.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
There are species of acacia all over the world, from Australia and Argentina. to the Americas and Africa. In our region — the Negev, Sinai and Jordan — there are three species: Acacia tortilis, Acacia albida and Acacia iraqensis.
For more amazing photos in the spirit of Tu b’ Shvat, visit Free Israel Photos, Flowers in Israel and the JNF-KKL, which has two lovely screensaversfor download, free of charge. And tree-planting activities will continue throughout the month – check the JNF-KKL website for details.
Foto Friday – Creepy Crawlies
Filed under: Environment, Foto Friday, General
Last month, scientists at the University of Haifa announced that they had discovered a new and previously unknown species of spider. I don’t know about you, but I greet news like that with mixed emotions: pride in our local research institutions, curiosity at seeing the bug and — now having seen the photos (like this one by researcher Yael Olek) — a dash of alarm. This thing is a big as a Mack Truck.
The researchers say that this spider’s leg-span can reach up to 14 cm., which makes it the largest spider of its type in the Middle East. The species was discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region. It is a member of the genus Cerbalus and was named Cerbalus aravensis for its native habitat, if you like knowing that sort of thing.
Unfortunately, however, the poor critter’s habitat is endangered by — you guessed it — humans and their boundless capacity to screw things up. According to head of research Dr. Uri Shanas, mining projects in the area will endanger the existence of the spider as well as possibly other unknown animal species living in the sands. Hopefully, efforts will be made to preserve this unique region in the Arava, as well as the lifeforms crawling in, out and round about.
Photographer Marco Jona has a particular fascination for such creepy crawlies. Waiting patiently for the right moment, he manages to get in close and catch almost human-like expressions. A few of his photos are presented here with more on display at his website.
Foto Friday – Tu b’Shvat is here!
Filed under: Foto Friday, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Picture of the Week, Travel
Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees is upon us! The almond trees are in full bloom.
© Barak Sekeles
For those who live in cold climates and can’t get here in time…
© SOBO Dan
…here are some amazing images of pinky-white blossoms against brilliant blue skies.
Photo by Ester Inbar, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Last week was cold and rainy…
Photo by Eli Zahavi, courtesy of Piki Wiki Israel via Wikimedia Commons
…and given this winter’s wacky weather, who knows what next week could bring…
Photo by Ester Inbar, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
…but this weekend we will enjoy ourselves the warm holiday sunshine.
Photo by Dror K, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
I’m a Groundhog’s Day baby, so believe me when I say: only 6 more weeks till spring!
© SOBO Dan
Reviving Arad with Eldad Menuchin
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life, Pop Culture, Travel
The city of Arad is a sort of forgotten footnote in Israel’s history. Today, the selective and short memory of people living in Israel’s populous center associate Arad mainly with an annual festival of Israeli music. They forget, or worse perhaps, do not even know about Ben Gurion’s vision for Arad as a gateway to the Negev region, a center for industry and tourism because of its clean air, purportedly free of allergens and asthma-inducing pollens.
Photographer Eldad Menuchin does remember. As a child, his family spent summer vacations in Arad.
As an adult, he returned to Arad to create a series of images that capture perfectly the stultifying stillness of a summer afternoon as the city bakes underneath the hot desert sun.
But Menuchin’s work also depicts a city in steady decline since July 18, 1995 when a tragic event — in which three young persons were crushed to death by the festival crowd — tarnished the city’s reputation and deprived Arad of an important source of income.
The circumstances of what has come to be known in Israel as The Arad Catastrophe, were as follows: in May 1995, two months prior to the festival, pop group Mashina announced they were breaking up and Arad would be their farewell concert. On the day of the concert, thousands of teens began crowding the gate leading into the open-air concert venue. The fence caved in during the performance of warm-up act Tea-packs and two young men were killed instantly. A third young woman died in hospital a few days later.
At the time, then-President Ezer Weizman blamed the horrific event on “the Americanization washing over us… Israel must beware of McDonalds, we must beware of Michael Jackson, we must beware of the Madonnas.”
In fact, as official investigation later revealed, the parties at fault were the organizers who oversold tickets, did not open additional gates, and did not have a security officer present on the grounds. In addition, the police deployed an insufficient number of personnel — just 54 officers, according to the Wikipedia entry (in Hebrew) about the tragedy. Well, it wasn’t the first or the last time Weizman got things completely wrong.
The festival experienced something of a revival this past year when sponsorship taken over by mobile phone company Cellcom which renamed it Volume Arad — an attempt, it would seem, to break with the past, and hopefully bring the crowds back to the city.
Foto Friday – Jacob Ackerman’s Birds of Prey
Filed under: Art, Environment, Foto Friday, General, Travel
Whether in Israel or abroad, Jacob “Yaki” Ackerman spends days and nights in the heart of nature, lying in wait to capture its magic and power.
Patient and alert, he spends long hours for that perfect split second in which to freeze the action of a body in motion. Perhaps that is why he relates so strongly to birds of prey.
Ackerman’s work will be part of a group art show about Israel’s predatory birds opening next week at the Man and the Living World Museum in Ramat Gan.
This unique museum, situated within the Ramat Gan National Park, features a variety of natural history exhibits as well as a center for educational activity and cultural events.
Ackerman’s extensive portfolio includes images from around the world but his passion is nature photography, and birds in particular. He’s participated in numerous wildlife photography exhibitions and his website contains some magnificent interactive photo albums that should not be missed. Enjoy.
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