Tu Bishvat

In Jerusalem, February got off to a Busy Start

Sharon A

What a week, this was an unusual week!

The weather went from sunny and spring-like to cold, wet, and rainy. Here are a few highlights for you of what happened on the Jerusalem streets as January ended and February began.

Monday

Monday at the Knesset there were clouds gathering – weather-wise.

Inside the Negev Meeting Room, a meeting was held to discuss the hot issue of the government report on antisemitism that was released to the public.

Convened by the Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Social Equality Amichai Chikli, the meeting included leaders of organizations involved in the field and personalities active in social media.

Various Members of Knesset arrived, spoke, and left. It was a busy day with meetings throughout the building. I liked seeing one tour for individuals in wheelchairs and another for young mothers with babies in strollers.

The bottom line, antisemitic attacks have increased.

Outside the Knesset orange tulips were open in the sunlight in Jerusalem.

But at night the rain began as we attended a wedding in Beit Shemesh.

Tuesday

The Montefiore Windmill was lit at night on my way to Yemin Moshe.

An interesting evening in Mishkenot Sha’ananim hosted by the Jerusalem Press Club was in memory of Yossi Nesher z”l. An Israel radio Arabic-language broadcaster, he spoke to the new immigrants from Arabic-speaking countries in a language they could understand.

Glad I took an umbrella. I walked home in the rain, pouring rain.

My boots were finally dry enough to wear again by Friday afternoon.

With the rain pouring down, it was a good time to stay home and zoom.

Wednesday

A CAMERA webinar highlighted a serious issue in US public education.

Ethnic study activists are promoting courses that are anti-Israel and support BDS, through Teacher Development training, community groups, and classroom materials. With no standards and no transparency, political activism is getting into schools. Too many are unaware that these courses vilify Jews and are meant to turn children against Israel.

Thursday

On Groundhog Day 2023 – Punxsutawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter in the US, but in Jerusalem, Israel we had a little sunshine.

Here’s a view from a sixth-floor window at Hadassah Hospital on Mt Scopus in the late afternoon.

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How sad to see the memorials inside of Eli and Natali Mizrahi z”l, who were murdered in Neveh Yakov by a terrorist the week before. She had worked at the hospital.

Friday

On Friday I noticed this sign near the exit to the “Founders whose great generosity has made them Partners of Hadassah in Mount Scopus reborn.” Remember this Jewish hospital was not accessible from 1947-1967.

And sitting near the sign was an elderly Arab man in a Yad Sarah wheelchair. Oh, the not-so-simple Jerusalem streets!

Shabbat

The flowers were so colorful – perfect for a simple Shabbat greeting.

Tu Bishvat

It’s that fun time of year again! The almond trees bloomed early.

Almonds on display in Jerusalem Machane Yehudah Market before Tu Bishvat

Remember it was all almonds last year? Now off to find something new to share next time from the multiple Tu Bishvat events.

February has only begun, just another week in Jerusalem with so much more happening soon! Come and see for yourself or host an online tour.

Jerusalem in January: See What’s Hot and Happening

Sharon A

January in Jerusalem, Israel, could be cold, dark and wet. But this year the weather has been mild, with sunny days and cool nights. Perfect weather to get out and walk on Jerusalem streets. Sadly, not good weather for farmers.

In the Talpiot neighborhood, the sun was shining over this old drab building painted with vivid colors.

I had gone to find the mural hung in support of Iranian women. The large banner is to be in this Jerusalem location for six weeks and then move on to another Israeli city.

The vivid Talpiot murals have increased over the years and graffiti has become a popular artistic expression along with the Jerusalem building and construction boom of recent years.

Not everything in Jerusalem is as it appears.

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This building might seem like a slum, and yet it is located in a popular and increasingly expensive neighborhood.

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Meters away from the Train Track trail, popular for walking and cycling.

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And this street in Jerusalem is a considered major thoroughfare.

Shabbat morning three Arab women were having driving lessons, on this street at the same time. One teacher was wearing a hijab, something that I hadn’t seen before.

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In Jerusalem, it’s possible to find time to pray, almost all day and all night.

You can also purchase a snack, drink, or pair of tzitzit from the vending machine at any time of day.

You never know what you will find next on the Jerusalem streets.

The bus stops are decorated with cute posters for a warm winter in Jerusalem. And it has been a very warm winter indeed!

The flowers are bursting with color.

It’s hard to walk down Jerusalem streets and not stop and notice.

This week I have constantly been impressed at the colors and variety.

But most of all, a sign of how warm it has been, the almond trees are in bloom already well before Tu B’Shevat – even before Rosh Chodesh Shevat.

I went on Friday to check out the almond blossoms and passed by Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence. Five layers of barriers were in place on Friday afternoon, all ready for anti-government protesters on Saturday night.

I checked out what was happening, and put together this video.

Remember Balfour Street from the previous protests? It was open to pedestrians during the protests and for many months.

Oh, the Jerusalem streets. What will happen next?

“You took me and my daughters 7 years ago and we loved it! Hopefully on our next visit!” was the comment I woke up to this morning in an email.  Was that the best cancelation comment ever?

When will you see the real Jerusalem streets?

10 Facts for Tu Bishvat: All About Almonds:

Sharon A

The blossoming almond tree is the symbol of ט”ו בשבט -Tu Bishvat, the “New Year of Trees.” I love seeing the almond flowers appear to burst, literally overnight, into full bloom. The delicate and majestic flowers of the common almond, in shades of white or delicate pink, gradually envelop the exposed stems and can be observed in cultivated orchards and abandoned open areas.

Love the flowers, but the almond trees? The date of flowering is not always exact and often depends on the weather. This has been a relatively warm winter, and the weather caused this Jerusalem almond tree to bloom early.

  1. The spectacular flowers cover the tree in white or pink. They are fragrant and thus stand out in the landscape, becoming a symbol of Tu Bishvat. The almond is called shaked in Hebrew, which means the fastest or most diligent because it blooms first before all other wild and fruit trees in the country.

2. The common almond tree belongs to the rose family, this large family includes about 120 genera and 3200 species. It is common in most areas of the world, especially in temperate zones. Other members of the family are the fruit trees, plum, peach, cherry, and also rose bushes.

3. Four species of almond trees grow in the wild: Arabian almond, harem almond, small-leaved almond, and common almond. It is difficult to distinguish between them.

4. Although the almond is not included among the seven species in the Bible, it has a respectable place in our sources, mentioned many times in the Bible and the Talmud, as one of the five species of zimrat ha’Aretz, considered “the best produce of the Land,” included in the gifts that Jacob told his sons to take to the ruler in Egypt. (Genesis 43:11)

5. The fruit is wrapped in a green peel and changes its color to brown over time. When the fruit ripens, the peel splits in two and usually falls off. The almond seed remains on the tree wrapped in another extremely hard bark that is cracked only by pressure. Another bark envelops the seed cocoons. This shell is thin and brown in color. The part eaten is the seed. Almond fruits are also eaten whole before ripening when the seed coat is still green.

New almond trees blooming near the old Monastery in Jerusalem

6. But, BEWARE! In abandoned areas and orchards, bitter almond trees usually grow. They are used as a cultivar for the cultivated almond. Bitter almond seeds are dangerous to eat. They contain a substance called amygdalin from which the toxin cyanide is released.

7. However, almonds have long been considered a fine fruit for food and medicine. Maimonides praised them: “Almonds are the finest in fruits.” They have great nutritional value and contain, among other things, fat, protein, and calcium. The almond is considered the healthiest food out of 100 tested foods, including avocado and olive oil, (according to the FDA). It has been recommended to eat 7-12 almonds a day.

8. Do cultivated almonds grow in an orchard or vineyard? Planted almond trees grow in a kerem, “vineyard.” The term kerem “vineyard” usually refers to grapes, olive, and almond crops.

9. The Israeli almond industry is in development. In Israel, over 62,000 dunams of almond groves stretch from the south to the Golan Heights. Some of the new varieties have been developed at the Volcani Center.

Almond growing in Israel takes the environment into account, including low water consumption, and sophisticated and focused mechanization. Israel consumes about 10,000 tons every year. Most of the consumption comes from local crops and the rest will come from the United States.

10. Fast then slow? Almond ripening is very slow, in contrast to its agile flowering, it lasts about six months.

Only 5-10% of all almond flowers bear fruit.

I store almonds in the freezer to keep fresh and to keep them out of the way so as to not grab too many to eat at a time.

Almonds, nuts, and dried fruit have been piled high in the shuk, Machane Yehudah Market, and in supermarket displays and stores throughout Jerusalem, Israel over these past weeks.

The present Israeli Knesset building was opened on Tu Bishvat, but no big celebrations this year like 6 years ago for the 50th.

It was 2 years ago for Tu Bishvat, multiple large events were celebrated. The last event I attended at Beit Hanasi before the coronavirus closed the doors of the Israeli President’s Residence was the JNF-KKL Tu Bishvat celebration.

Here’s hoping next year we can celebrate Tu Bishvat together again!

Tu Bishvat Sameach!

My thanks, as every year, to a wonderful friend Sara for providing the information for all things almond and her amazing website with everything you would want to know about the Wildflowers of Israel.