New Signs of Spring in Israel

New Signs of Spring in Israel

Pesach, Passover,  the holiday of Freedom and the holiday of Spring,

begins two weeks into the Hebrew month of Nisan.

Spring flowers in Jerusalem, Israel in Beit Hanasi garden

In Israel, spring is a time of green and of spring blooms of all colors popping up in the warm sun after the winter rain.

Clouds in sky, power lines and green along road in southern Israel

On a recent trip south toward the Negev, clouds billowed over the power lines.

Negev green after winter rain as seen from highway

All along the highway, green was the predominate color.

Fields of green vegetables are ready to pick for the holiday tables.

Hasslat Gush Katif vegetable packing plant in southern Israel

Our trip was to see a new vegetable packing plant in the Negev called חסלט Hasalat.

The facility was impressive on many levels.

Trucks unloading vegetables at packing plant in southern Israel

The size and capacity are impressive. Those openings are for two large trucks filled with produce to be delivered.

Vegetables marked with red stickers were rejected by packing plant for kosher customers

Not all produce is accepted, and these crates with red stickers contained rejected produce.

Gush Katif packing plant water being checked for insects

Samples of deliveries are washed and rinsed and checked in the lab, through a series of fine filters.

Man inspects for tiny bugs in vegetables in southern Israel packing plant

The specially trained inspectors are looking for insects less than a millimeter in size.

Man uses magnifying glass to examine small bug found in vegetable rinse water in packing plant in southern Israel

They know how to tell tiny insects that are not easily washed away from those that are.

Packing Gush Katif vegetables in southern Israel

Once the produce has been checked and declared clean, it then to goes to the packers, who have to dress warmly, as the rooms are kept cool.

People inspecting cabbage in packing plant Israel Gush Katif

The cabbage checkers check and recheck for insects, before the cabbages are sent along to be put in plastic bags.

Work room in Hasslat packing plant for Gush Katif vegetables

This is a large plant, with multiple rooms that process a variety of vegetables.

With Passover approaching, the demand for romaine lettuce will surge.

Ready-cut carrots, parsley and cabbage for salads will also be in great demand.

Israel green from winter rain people working in fields

Along the road agricultural workers were working in the green fields.

Bomb shelter on farmers for safety from Gaza missiles in southern Israel

These bomb shelters for farmers were built for protection as the rockets rained in from Gaza.

Now they are being used for storage, but if an alarm sounds, in the Negev there is no time to head home. Some workers have less than fifteen seconds to run to shelter.

After 12 years, Gush Katif produce, though no longer from Gush Katif, stands for quality and bug-free vegetables with low pesticide use, and some are grown organically.

Cabbage growing in hot house in southern Israel

Farmers are growing in special green houses in the Negev, sending their produce to be packed at Hasalat and then sent to stores in Israel and around the world.

Not all the farmers who left Gush Katif have permanent homes yet, so many years after they were expelled.

Kfar Darom building sites ready, but still no homes built

These are the housing plots for the new Shavei Darom community.

Gush Katif Kfar Darom playground built though no homes yet

The JNF playground is built and ready, but there are no children yet to play there.

Kfar Darom mikvah built before any homes Gush Katif

The community mikvah is state-of the-art with access for those with disabilities.

Land for homes Kfar Darom Gush Katif to rebuild

The Shavei Darom infrastructure is ready, but there are no homes built yet.

12 years after the destruction of Gush Katif, those expelled are still living in temporary residences.

Southern Israel bomb shelter next to bus stop

Bomb shelters next to bus stops are real and ready.

Cabbage in hothouse in Southern Israel for Gush Katif vegetable

But it was good to see that greener days are ahead for some of the former residents of Gush Katif.

It’s also good to see the new signs over the Jerusalem streets for Passover.

Street sign Happy spring holiday

 Chag Aviv Sameach Be Yerushaliyim

Happy Holiday of Spring in Jerusalem.

 

Future Israeli Leaders in the Negev

Future Israeli Leaders in the Negev

The southern Israeli desert called the Negev

has been in the news this week.

Sadly, two lives were lost there,

and the details are still emerging.

On a recent trip to the Negev 

we passed dozens of Bedouin encampments

Beoudin along road in Negev

like this one along the roadside.

Thousands of Bedouins live in hundreds of homes like these

that just “popped up” along side the Negev roads.

But I would rather share a new, special “village” with you,

Army base in southern Israel Kiryat Ariel Sharon

an elite army training base named for Ariel Sharon.

Entering the grounds, a large

Kiryat Ariel Sharon negev

outdoor stadium is on the right side of road.

Near the entrance,

Negev army base shul

 one of three synagogues sits on the main square.

IDF base commanders

The commander of the base, Colonel Avi Motola,

says he feels more like a mayor, with a budget and services

for 10,000 soldiers who are on the training base.

Map of Negev army training base

A map of the base, larger than some Israeli cities.

Different army units training at Negev base

This slide shows the governing structure of the IDF and its branches

on this state-of-the-art consolidated training campus.

A convention center, pool, library and more are planned.

There are six dining rooms with huge kitchens to serve up meals.

New army base in Negev

This view from one central location

IDF Training base in negev

and another show the barren desert in background.

Desert lands take up a third of the country.

New infrastructure, such as roads, were built to benefit everyone.

Civilians work on the base, which helps the local economy.

The plan is for families to come and further develop

the surrounding Negev cities.

Inside the training center,

Room to train medics under conditions of battlefield

simulator rooms have sound and smoke

to prepare young soldiers for action.

Especially impressive are the areas to train medics.

Room to train medics in IDF Negev base

On the ground covered by a “blood” stained blanket

is a dummy with equipment around the walls.

The window on right lets medical teams be supervised.

Room to train medics

There are multiple rooms, reflecting the various terrains.

Training with artificial bodies and body parts

Medics training at new base in NEgev

helps prepare efficient medical response teams.

With the shorter attention-spans of new recruits,

plus shorter terms of service,

new means of more effective education are crucial.

Basic training is three weeks,

the special courses can last from 3 weeks to 14 months.

Simulators to teach driving in Negev army base

Young soldiers learn to drive on these simulators.

The large truck dashboard and weather conditions

are two factors which can be programmed.

New planted tress in army base in Negev

Outside were new plantings to landscape the campus.

IDF soldiers lying on ground relaxing in Negev base

One journalist on our trip commented on the relaxed

atmosphere of the base, so different to army life in China.

Soldier talking on phone in Negv

This is a perfect spot to sit in the shade and talk on phone.

Female IDF soldiers walking in army base with backpacks

As more young women are serving in IDF,

it was impressive to see their presence on the base.

Hope you enjoyed this brief look

Field in name of Ariel Sharon in Negev

into the training of new officers for the IDF.

Oh, the last words as you exit,

Go in Peace says sign at exit of new army base Ariel Sharon

Go in peace.

Jerusalem to Eilat

Today the sun is shining in Jerusalem, Israel.

Jerusalem spring flowers

The daffodils in the Botanical Gardens are in bloom.

But last week was very cold,

and for the first time we drove south to Eilat.

Once we left the Judean Hills,

road to Eilat

 there are long stretches of road in the desert,

sign to beware of camels

lined with camel warning signs.

camels at rest stop

Not sure if these camels were real,

ostrich in Negev

but this ostrich was running along a fence.

Bedouin along road

Bedouin encampments,

Bedouin along highway

have popped up everywhere.

I always thought Eilat is far.

Well, nothing in Israel is that far!

We did stop once on the way down,

the distance is similar to that of NY to Baltimore.

IDF soldier gets drink

In the rest stop this was a favorite sign.

Another interesting sign on the road was

road to Eilat

this one is to warn of a road closed due to flooding.

I now understand why people run to see areas like this

flooding sign

when they are covered by streams of rushing water.

It is hard to imagine deep water here,

but these markers are in many locations on the road.

Then there is the huge Ramon Crater,

Timma desert Raomn crater

an impressive sight stretching for as are as you can see.

But from that crater outlook

you must go down,

Road to Eliat

twisting around and down,

danger sign

on curves and sharper curves.

Once in Eilat the views

of the water from beachfront hotels

Jordan view from hotel in Eilat

are picture postcard perfect.

Remember,

Jordan view from Eilat hotel

Jordan is this close,

and Egypt is just on the other side.

We went to see the Israman (Israeli Ironman) race.

Sunrise water start of Israman

At dawn nearly 2000 men and women

swam in the cold water.

Then after a quick change, they jumped on their bikes,

and pedalled up the Eilat Mountains.

Bike start Israman in Eilat hills

They left their bikes here for UPS trucks to take back to city,

and then they set off running a full or half marathon course,

back to Eilat near the starting point.

Bart Candel of the Netherlands came in first again this year.

But I think every one who finished the race

was a winner.

Israman

Imagine doing this course with one leg?

There were lots of other inspirational stories,

maybe I will share them another time.

On the way back to Jerusalem

new Ramon Airport near Eilat

we passed the site of the new Ramon Airport

desert

and fields of solar panels.

The Dead Sea may be shrinking,

but it still seems big as you drive along.

warning sink holes

These beware of sink hole signs warn of serious

Sink holes near Dead Sea

sink holes along the Dead Sea.

Back to Jerusalem,

Jerusalem bus with Shema Yisrael on side

where else would one find these new bus signs?

“Listen, Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.”