King Herod of Judea-Builder of Caesarea

King Herod of Judea-Builder of Caesarea

One thing Jerusalem, Israel does not have is a good view of the sea.

An attempt for a beach in Liberty Bell Park was a poor substitute.

So a trip to the coast and the sea was a welcome treat.

Beach front sign in Hebrew Caesarea port

The sign “The Sea” between palm trees greets visitors to Caesarea coastal park.

Caesarea excavations

Here part of the remains of Herod’s Sebastos Harbor has been exposed.

Roman bath house excavation in Caesarea

But other portions are being worked on carefully by archaeologists.

Visitor Center in Caesarea

The trip was to attend the launch of the new Visitor Center.

Visitor center in Caesarea

Josephus wrote of Herod’s tribute to Caesar in the first century BCE.

Herod the Builder. Herod the Great. Ruler of Judea. Builder of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Builder of the fortress, Masada. Builder of Herodion.

Scene of old port of Herod in Caesarea

Herod built Sebastos to honor Caesar Augusta and the goddess Roma.

In this photograph from the video in the new Visitor Center video, we see his vision.

Image of port Herod built today Caesarea

One scene illustrated the hundreds of boats that came through.

Herod’s building project took ten years to complete. Tons open tons of cement went into rafts sunk, along the coast which had no natural harbor.

Herod or Hordus as he is called in Hebrew began globalization in the region.

From video in visitor center in Caesarea

Caesar Augustus attended the gala opening of the one mile long piers and temple.

Screen shot of video in visitor center of Caesarea of Herod's port

However, this massive building project lay in ruins for 2000 years.

Artifacts found in port of Caesarea

Now, located in one of the fourteen vaults Herod built to support the platform of the temple of Augustus and Roma, the new Caesarea Visitor Center is open to the public.

The once-thriving area was rebuilt and hosted many rulers over the centuries – pagan, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Samaritan.

Roman remains from building of Caesarea by Herod

In the museum, artifacts from various periods are on display.

Caesarea Visitor Center menorah

An ancient menorah was placed next to a modern visual box, hard to catch in a photograph.

Layers of history in Caesarea Israel

Visuals of the past help the visitor to see how the 60-acre site would have looked.

King Herod’s gateway to the Mediterranean Sea was constructed in the 1st century BCE.

Pieces of pottery over the years found in harbor

On display are recovered pottery pieces that span the centuries.

Visitor Center in Caesarea at sunset

This was the outside of the vault of the Caesarea Visitor Center at sunset,

Roman baths in port of Caesarea at harbor

and next to it an area where Roman baths greeted weary seafarers.

Bottles of wine at event to launch Caesarea visitor center

The Caesarea project was funded by the Rothschild Foundation and featured family wine at its launch.

Sunset by the beach of Caesarea

As the sun set, this was as close to the beach as I could get.

Because of the tight security, I was afraid if I left I might not get back in.

Lights go on at launch of Visitor center at Caesarea Isale

The lights went on, the program began.

Woman and man dressed as statutes at nigh event in Caesrea to launch new visitor center

Musicians played and the statues turned. Oh my, they turned out to be live performers.

Israel president Rivlin speaking at launch of visitor center in Caesarea

President Reuven Rivlin arrived after a tour of the new museum and spoke.

President Rivlin and Arianna Rothschild cutting ribbon at new visitor center in Caesarea, Israel

Cutting the ribbon with Baroness Ariana de Rothschild before he headed back to Jerusalem.

Then the party and music really got going.

Perhaps that is why the neighbors were invited along with media and dignitaries?

Fancy ladies loo at launch of Caesarea visitor center.

Though I do not usually take selfies, this outdoor portable toilet fit for royalty needed a photo. Sorry, I cannot share the pleasant smell. This was not your usual portaloo.

The Caesarea harbor is to be once again a major stop for visitors.

I took a short clip from the video, which should be the first stop on a visit to the new Caesarea Visitor Center.

King Herod. King of Judea. Hard to describe in a few words in a blog.

Visitors can now experience parts of his story in Caesarea.

 

Elections, Elections, Israeli Elections.

Elections, Elections, Israeli Elections.

Elections. Elections. Elections.

Supreme Court Judge Hanan Melcer, chairman of the Central Elections Committee has been busy.

The media has been working overtime trying to explain the forty-plus political parties.

A trip to the Modi’in Industrial Park last month took us to see the Central Election Logistic Center.

Security gate at election committee logistics center

The security gate and entrance inside at the site is only a first step.
Israeli elections
This is the only slide I may show you from the introductory presentation.
Not sure why as we were allowed to photograph everything else in the building.
Perhaps it was because there were English spelling or grammar mistakes on so many slides?
Israel Committee Logistic Center
In operation since 2004, the election logistic center consists of this vast warehouse.
Israeli election logistic center workers
People working 24/6 to sort and pack the 12,000 paper boxes to go to polling stations.
Counting paper clips at logistic center Israel elections.
Counting paper clips for boxes. Hospitals and prisons receive boxes also.
Israel election materials
In hi-tech Israel, each piece of paper is put in by a person, and a real person checks the contents.
Special department for army and diplomat ballots
For the army and overseas government officials ballots were prepared in advance, and organized from this control room. They received two envelopes, ten days before election. For the first time not only diplomats overseas can vote, but so can Jewish Agency employees stationed abroad.
Packing boxes for Israel election
Papers, pens, envelopes and paper ballots, require 100% accuracy.
Boxes for Israel election
Then they are wrapped up tight, and sealed with big rolls of plastic wrap.
Example booth for Israel election 48 spaces
This election required new ballot boxes to hold all the parties.
Transportation of the heavier boxes is just one detail of the massive project.
400,000,000 ballots,  140 million more than last election.
There will be 250 tons of paper to recycle after it is all over.
Israeli election day is an official holiday.
Businesses are closed. Schools are closed. But national parks are open.

Man with microphone red on his nose as a clown

On the way home after the visit to the logistic center, loaded with pages of parties, spokespersons, and headquarters, Walter found a new use for his microphone cover.
If there is no new government formed in 90 days, no clowning around, no joke, we get to do this again folks.
No one I know wants the phone calls, survey questions, or negative campaigning.
One good thing, it is only 90 days, and not two years of campaigning as in the US.
The Central Elections Committee has moved to the Knesset to count the ballots.
With so many people still undecided, stay tuned for results.
One sure thing, you never know what well happen next on the Jerusalem streets.
Updated April 9, 2019 after voting midday:
Elections for Knesset in jerusalem
And there they were ready for action.
Voting booth with paper ballots in Jerusalem Israel for Knesset
The paper ballots in aleph-bet order. So many as to be confusing.
Random survey of people on street after voting, just happy for this to be over.
Some things have not changed since Knesset 19 voting, so adding post from January 2013 HERE
Difficulties with accessibility remain.
It doesn’t get easier watching the elderly votes having to do those stairs! But they came to vote.

Negev: Ben Gurion’s Vision Today’s Miracle

It’s winter in Jerusalem, Israel,

a good time to go south and see the Negev.

On the day we were going past southern farms

Negev under devolpment

 Negev farmers were headed to Jerusalem for a protest.

I wondered why all those Israeli flags?

A friend who was stuck in traffic and unable to get around

because of blocked streets later supplied the answer.

Israel Negev Ben Gurion quote

Ben Gurion would be amazed today!

The newest army complex in the Negev

Army base in southern Israel Kiryat Ariel Sharon

named for Ariel Sharon, is larger than many Israeli cities.

In the winter, plantings

Israel Negev planting

have turned the desert green.

Off road in Negev phone and electric wires

Power lines stretch as far as the eye can see,

while the Negev Guardian stands watch.

Really!

Israel south road to Negev

Emillo Mogilner’s 450 ton sculpture sits next to Route 40.

Also, along those Negev roads

Bedoiuns in Negev along road

are new Bedouin encampments

dotting the landscape in more locations

Israel south along road

than I could count.

Winter is a great time for changing weather

Winter clouds in Negev

and also for photos of stormy clouds.

There are desert sands and farms,

growing technology at the new Intel facility at Kiryat Gat,

plus the cyber-tech attached to Ben Gurion University,

and the rapidly developing Beer-Sheva area.

So much amazing progress in such a short period of time,

plus a winning sports team.

Red shirt in mayor's office Beer Sheva winning soccer team

This t-shirt is hanging next to the Beer-Sheva mayor’s office.

The shirt signed by the Beer-Sheva football (soccer) team

after winning championship games.

Beer-Sheva has developed a lot over  the last 30 years.

For some of my nephews, this shirt is a big deal.

Could Ben Gurion imagine today’s miracle of the Negev?