"Blessing of Rain"

               
Click Arutz Sheva- Israel News Photo Essay 

Israeli Winter Lemons

          

Roses & Rain



Kabbalistic Tu B'shvat Seder

Today is Tu B'Shevat and for the first time our family held a Tu B'Shevat seder following guidelines on Aish's page Kabbalistic Tu B'shvat Seder.  We enjoyed fifteen different types of fruits and appreciated the beauty and variety.





  

Water Caves

 http://israel365.co.il/ , a project of United With Israel, featured this photo of the beautiful Rosh Hanikra Caves today.  Daily photos and inspiration from the Holy Land.

Festival of Lights

Chanuka is tonight and there is a real feeling of the "Festival of Lights" in the air.  Store displays with brightly colored candles, oils, and many, many types of chanukiot (menorahs).








 

Yahrtzeit of The Arizal



View of Kever of Arizal


Check out this view above the kever of Rav Itzchak Luria (Arizal).  Today, the 5th of Av is his yahrtzeit and many, many people flock to his kever.  For details on the Arizal see
 http://www.safed-kabbalah.com/Arizal/Biography.htm

Pottery with Batya

Batya's Apprentice


We had a great day with Tzfat Artist Batya Erdstein www.erdstein6@gmail.com.  She offers a family workshop and was fantastic with all ages from preschooler through adult, not an easy feat!  Batya brought out the clay and plopped it on the center of the wheel.  She showed how to center the clay and how to shape it.  Everyone had a great time and made several pieces of pottery.  After the pieces air dried, they were painted with a red clay paint.  Batya also has a nice selection of kiln fired glazed pottery for sale and I bought a beautiful dish to put chumous in.  Definately worth a visit!