Author Archives: Nili
Again Masada will not fall – The Abele's Story share
Whenever I bring visitors to Masada I ask them: ‘What is Your Masada?’ What is most important to you in your life? What will you never, under any circumstances, overlook or wave aside? The most common answer I get is: “my family, my children…” This week I once again had the opportunity to experience Masada with […]
Tzfat (Safed): A Community of Personalities share
Touring a new place in Israel or revisiting a favorite site generally involves viewing and learning about an interesting religious, cultural or historical site. Visitors to Safed, however, have the opportunity to spend some time with some Safed personalities whose stories and work adds to the enjoyment of the visit. There are thousands of native English-speakers in Safed, […]
The Burma Road Saves Jerusalem share
65 years ago, under the cover of night, 3 men drove a military jeep into the unknown. It was just days after they suffered great losses in an attempt to occupy the fortress of Latrun. The mighty police station built by the British was held by the Jordanian forces, effectively blocking the road to Jerusalem. […]
3 Generations of Aliyah share
Aliyah (to go up, ascend) is the term used for Jews of the Diaspora that choose to move to Israel (to make Aliyah). I come from a uniquely American/Israeli family in that I am the 3rd generation in a row to make Aliyah. I took the plunge on August 10th, 2006. My older sister made […]
Shavuot? Cheese Please! share
Shavuot, also known as the festival of Weeks, commemorates the anniversary of the day G-d gave the Torah to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. It is the second of three major festivals with historical and agricultural significance, the other two being Passover and Sukkot. Agriculturally speaking, it commemorates the time when the first […]
From Culture to Country in Under an Hour share
Israel is a small country. At it’s narrowest point, it’s a mere 9 miles wide and yet, it is a place of amazing variety, with globally unique contrasts. On a recent day trip to the north of the country, I had the distinct pleasure to enjoy the best of what this little country of ours […]
The Road to Freedom: A Passover Story share
When the people of Israel took off on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, all they knew was that they were fleeing to the desert. They had no idea how long the journey would take, nor what danger or adventures they had in store. The only truth they knew was that they had […]
The Esther's That Matter Most share
Growing up in Israel in the 1970’s, there were 2 Esther’s in my life. There was, of course, Queen Esther that made her grand appearance once a year during the holiday of Purim. And then there was Esther Roth Shahamorov, a legendary athlete. Both women were heroes of mine. Queen Esther of the Book of […]
My Family Tree(s) share
Tu B’Shevat was always a big celebration in our home. My mother’s name was Ilana אילנה, tree in Hebrew, and she was born on Tu b’Shevat in 1937. Her birthday was always celebrated around a table filled with delicious dried fruits and nuts. My mother loved trees and even our names reflect this love. My […]
Park Timna Adventure Day share
On a recent trip to Eilat, I had the pleasure of enjoying an adventure day in Park Timna, located a little less than 20 miles north of Eilat. This beautiful (and enormous) site offered more than enough activities for a full day of entertainment. This was ideal for a sunny escape during an otherwise cold […]