kayits – summer – קַיִץ

Posted by Shira Cohen-Regev on June 30, 2008 under Vacations in Israel | Be the First to Comment

It is summer officially now. The school year ends, it is hot and humid, and all I can think about is either an air-conditioned place or anything to do with water – the pool, the shower, simply drinking cold water, and the best of all – the beach at sunset eating watermelon and feta cheese (or any other kind of hard, salty cheese). I know it sounds “different” to the non-Mediterranean mouth, but the combination of the cold sweet watermelon and the salty cheese makes unbelievable miracles in your mouth and soul – you must try it.

Some Israeli won’t call it a summer until they play the ultimate beach game of the Israeli culture, called “matkot” (מַטְקוֹת) – this is a non-competitive game named after the racquet, the matka. The word may come from the word maka (Hebrew) or madka (Arabic), both meaning a knock or a blow and referring to the somewhat aggressive rendezvous between the ball and the matka that creates a significant sound on the beach.

Another thing that makes the summer more bearable is summer songs. One that I particularly remember from my childhood is called: “lixvod hakayits” meaning “in honor of the kayits” (לִכְבוֹד הַקַּיִץ). This song was written and composed by Dany Senderson and sung by a band called “gazoz” (גָּזוֹז). The name of the band is refreshing by itself as it means “soda-pop” – sparkling water with some added flavor that was popular before the cola and its companions arrived at the Holy Land. The song tells about someone who arrives at the beach early in the morning enjoying an empty beach, the waves on the water and the silence that make him feel as if a dream comes true. He ends up an hour later with 1000 people eating ice-cream bars (‘artik, אַרְטִיק), playing matkot and breaking his dream. I think it summarizes much of the Israeli summer experience. I found a naïve, funny video of this song and thought it would be nice to share it with you.

Lixvod Hakayits לִכְבוֹד הַקַּיִץ

Music and Lyric: Dany Senderson מִילִים וְלַחַן: דָנִי סֶנְדֶרְסוֹן

The Hebrew Corner פִּנַּת הָעִבְרִית

The Saxne – הַסַּחְנָה

Posted by Shira Cohen-Regev on June 23, 2008 under Traveling in Israel | Be the First to Comment

Gan Hashlosha National Park הַפַּרְק הַלְּאֻמִּי גַּן הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה –

Last Saturday, I found myself resting under the shade of huge oleander plants (הַרְדּוּף) watching a couple of pigeons nesting just in the right angle for me to observe. The kids were sliding on a narrow canal just on top of a magnificent waterfall and my husband swam in a 100-meter (~1 yard) semi-natural pool until he arrived at a huge-long black waterfall were he could enjoy a nice water massage. It all happened at the National Park  located on the eastern part of Israel at the foot of Mount Gilbo’a, in the Beyt-She’an valley.

This National Park was initiated by water springs that flows all-year-round with a constant temperature of 28 degrees centigrade (82.4^oF). Like almost every place in our area, this site has a long history that can be traced to the prehistoric era as well as the biblical time )as can be seen in the Museum of Regional and Mediterranean Archeology  located in one corner of the park(. In the 14th century, Rabbi Ishtori Haparchi described in his book of “Bulb and Flower” (kaftor vaperax, כַּפְתּוֹר וַפֶּרַח) this place as the doors to the Garden of Eden. We tend to agree with him.

The valley was abandoned for hundreds of years and was flooded by the water from the springs. In the 1930s, Jewish settlers arrived at the valley, dried the swamps, cleaned the spring beds and began farming the fertile land and build settlements. In 1938, three men who were active in settling and defending the area traveled when their car went over a road mine. The Gan Hashlosha (the Garden of the Three, גַּן הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה) National Park is named after these men: Dr. David Mosensohn, Aharon Etkin, and Haim Sturman.

 The Amal creek (נַחַל עָמָל) traverses the length of the Park and the spring water is collected in three natural pools (that were enlarged), and create waterfalls and natural Jacuzzis. The naturally warm water allows swimming all-year-round. Hence, the name of the place in Arabic is “saxne” which means warm. The riverbanks have well-tended lawns and a landscaped garden with exquisite flowering shrubs, palms and olive trees that make this place a true oasis.

The “Time Magazine” selected this park as “one of the world’s most intriguing spots.” We won’t argue with them!

The Hebrew Corner פִּנַּת הָעִבְרִית

 Pictures by Shira Cohen-Regev

You may click this link to watch a virtual tour of the Saxne:
http://www.tourwise.co.il/virtualTours/?tour=138_HE

And to see more pictures of this magnificent spot: http://www.pbase.com/doronnissim/gan_hashlosha_national_park_sahne

The Scroll of Ruth מְגִלַּת רוּת

Posted by Shira Cohen-Regev on June 11, 2008 under Bible History, Holidays | Read the First Comment

Shavu’ot, names, and friends   שָׁבוּעוֹת, שֵׁמוֹת וַחֲבֵרוֹת

During the Holiday of Shavu’ot, we read in the Synagogue the Book (or Scroll) of Ruth. 

The story tells about the Jewish family of Elimelekh who moved to Moab (מוֹאָב) due to the drought in the land of Judea. The sons of the family married Moabite women. After some years the father Elimelekh and his sons died. Ruth the Moabitess who was married to one of the sons decided to join her mother-in-law Naomi when she decided to go back to Judea. She told her:

“עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי, וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי” (“thy people shall be my people and thy God my God;” Ruth:1:16). They arrived at Judea during Harvest time (around Shavu’ot) and Ruth went to collect the leftover wheat in the field of Boaz. (This is the right of the poor to collect the leftovers according to Jewish law).

Boaz is a family member of Elimelekh who is impressed first by Ruth’s appearance and second by her loyalty to Naomi. Eventually, Boaz and Ruth get married and they are the great grandparents of King David.

The Scroll of Ruth and Shavu’ot

There are few reasons why we read this story on Shavu’ot:

First, the story happened during harvest time which is the agricultural component of Shavu’ot.

Second, Shavu’ot is also the Holiday of Giving the Torah. Giving the Torah is considered as the time the Children of Israel were converted from being slaves to being free Jewish people. Ruth actually converted to Judaism and this is another reason we read her story during the Holiday of Giving the Torah. 

Third, according to Jewish tradition, King David was born and died during Shavu’ot. As Ruth was his great grandmother, we read about his descendents at that time.

The meaning of the names in the Book of Ruth

Many of the names in the Book of Ruth have a meaning in Hebrew related to their character or story.

Naomi (נָעֳמִי) comes from the Hebrew root .נ.ע.מ which refers to being pleasant, lovely, and gracious.

Elimelekh (אֱלִימֶלֶךְ), her husband, was from the Judea tribe and his name suggests that he wanted to become a king: “אֵלַי מֶלֶךְ” means “kingship comes to me”. It may also mean “G-d is my king” (אֱלִי=my G-d, מֶלֶךְ=king).

Boaz (בֹּעַז, בּוֹעַז), Ruth’s saver and second husband and the great grandfather of King David may have received his name from being strong, powerful, courageous and brave. “עַז” means “strong and brave” whereas the pronoun “בּוֹ ” means “in him.”

And last but not least is Ruth (רוּת). There are several explanations and midrashim (מִדְרָשׁ  = interpretation of holy scriptures) for the origins of her name. The one I have recently found suggests that the name Ruth (רות) comes from the word Re’ut (רֵעוּת) which means friendship.

My Ruths

I like the friendship interpretation of the name Ruth very much since I have many significant friends named Ruth. Somehow all my Ruths are more than friends        (רֵעוֹת) – they are more like the sisters I have never had. Therefore, I sent them a special Shavu’ot card referring to them as my Ruths club and writing about our special relationships in the light of Shavu’ot. Not all of them like being related to Ruth the Moabitess. Ruthy remembers being “matched” to every Boaz who came across her whereas Ruti felt the burden of the Ruth she was named after.

However, for me, each Ruth is special and I am blessed of having such friends:

· You already met Ruthy in the post about Passover. We knew each other since we were young girls but became friends only recently.

· Ruth and I became friends when we served together in the Air Force (the service in Israel’s army is one of the strongest friendship initiator and the best match-making office…). We really did not like each other in the beginning, but life has its own ways and plans.

· My sister-in-law Ruti who is an outstanding flautist and the one who understands the best our common family matters suggested that I should write about the “Ruths club” in this blog.

· And last but not least is “Safta Ruth” – who is not my children’s real Safta (סָבְתָא – grandmother), but became one when we lived away from our biologic grandparents. She is also the great teacher who guided me through to the wonderful field of teaching Hebrew and I am grateful for that.