The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem.
Many years ago, when I visited Israel as a tourist, I had gone up to Jerusalem to spend some days in the Capital. There is so much to do in Jerusalem……even to do nothing but watching people can be more than entertaining.
I had bought a “ pictorial map” and found that it said “Biblical Zoo” in one of the religious neighborhoods. So off I went….. to something that should be more than a disappointment. The zoo was a smelly place with unhappy animals stuffed into cages which were much too small.
Fortunately things have changed. The zoo was closed in 1991 and reopened at a new location in 1993. Today it is a spacious park with lots of green and water flowing.
The vision of the zoo is “ To establish a zoological collection and to maintain it under optimal living conditions, in an effort to preserve rare animals and species threatened with extinction. Prominently featured in the collection are animals from the Land of Israel, with special emphasis on those species mentioned in the Bible.”
Besides “displaying” animals the zoo is aiming at conducting research, breeding and reintroducing animals to the wild. There is a zoo hospital on the spot to ensure good care for wounded or sick animals. ( You can check out their web site at http://www.jerusalemzoo.org.il/ )
One of the special things about this zoo is that it is “kosher”. As we get close to Pessach or Passover( the Feast of the unleavened bread), the animals will be fed unleavened food only.
The signs giving information about the animals are written in Hebrew, Arabic and English. In some cases they even have information in Yiddish. ( Yiddish is a spoken Jewish language “made up from” Hebrew, Polish and German.) Some religious Jews use Hebrew only for prayer and studying the Bible and use Yiddish as their daily language. As many of the visitors to the zoo are religious there are cases when information has to be given in Yiddish as well;
The most unpopular animal in the Bible is the pig….One of the species at the zoo is called “ Collared peccary”. This animal looks like a pig. In order not to offend the religious visitors this particular sign has an addition in Yiddish reading; “ Dos iz nisht a chazir.” which means : “ This is not a pig”.
The next time you are asked which animal has a curly tail, loves to dig in the dirt and sais “oink, oink” , the answer may not be as obvious as you think.
Churchill once said ; " I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
Elin Elkouby
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Bibi Netanyahu’s government.
On September 17’th 2008 Tzipi Livni won the Kadima leadership election. Ehud Olmert resigned as Prime Minister and Livni got six weeks to form a coalition. The election of February 10’th 2009 was the result of her not succeeding in doing so.
The election gave Kadima 28 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Likud got 27, Yisrael Beiteinu got 15, the Labor Party got 13, Shas got 11 and the rest went to smaller parties.
As Livni could not form a government the “ball” was thrown to Bibi Netanyahu who started working on various options. He has had talks with both Livni, Lieberman and Barak and the journalists have not had much more than confusion to share with the public….. It has been a “stormy kind of quiet”.
From the “outside” it looks as if Netanyahu is trying to get the best qualified person in the various minister positions without considering the parties they represent. This has caused fear within the parties as they are afraid of loosing power as “units”.
Kadima was established by people who left both the Likud and the Labor Parties. For them to join forces with Likud seems threatening. It is as if they are going through an identity crisis….
The Labor Party has had an internal storm since Netanyahu announced that he would like to see Ehud Barak as Minister of Defense. The internal election on March 26’th resulted in 680 votes for joining Netanyahu’s coalition and 507 against. Barak is now striving to keep the Labor Party united and asks his Party-fellows to respect the result of the vote.
It is not hard to understand why Bibi consider Barak to be the best man for the job;
Ehud Barak is one of these people who just “ has it all”. He was born and raised in a kibbutz and enlisted in the army at age 17. He led a commander unit in the 1967 war and a tank battalion in the Sinai in 1973 and was soon noted for his exceptional bravery and coolness under fire by his superiors.
Barak led Israel’s anti-terrorist unit for many years and was involved in the planning of the Entebbe raid and hostage rescue mission which has entered history as the “most audacious and perfectly executed special force operation ever”. ( Bibi Netanyahu’s brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, ended his life leading this operation. )
Barak holds an under graduate degree in Physics and Mathematics and a masters degree in Economic Engineering Systems besides being a gifted pianist and linguist.
He has served as head of Israel’s Intelligence and Central Command, was appointed army Chief of Staff and stepped down to serve various governments as Interior Minister, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister.
Barak is Israel’s most decorated soldier. He has seen Israel’s security situation from every possible angle. It is therefore interesting to note that he was striving to engage the Palestinian leaders in a productive dialogue in the mid 1990’s, that he ended 17 years of Israeli occupation in Southern Lebanon and that he offered Palestinian prime minister Yassir Arafat to divide Jerusalem and to withdraw from various areas in Judea and Samaria. ( The Palestinians refused and “answered” with the Second Intifada in 2000)
For the Labor Party to join the coalition is seen by many as a “healthy” move as the government otherwise would be represented by too many right wing politicians.
Netanyahu will present his coalition to the President of Israel by the end of the month.
Elin Elkouby
On September 17’th 2008 Tzipi Livni won the Kadima leadership election. Ehud Olmert resigned as Prime Minister and Livni got six weeks to form a coalition. The election of February 10’th 2009 was the result of her not succeeding in doing so.
The election gave Kadima 28 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Likud got 27, Yisrael Beiteinu got 15, the Labor Party got 13, Shas got 11 and the rest went to smaller parties.
As Livni could not form a government the “ball” was thrown to Bibi Netanyahu who started working on various options. He has had talks with both Livni, Lieberman and Barak and the journalists have not had much more than confusion to share with the public….. It has been a “stormy kind of quiet”.
From the “outside” it looks as if Netanyahu is trying to get the best qualified person in the various minister positions without considering the parties they represent. This has caused fear within the parties as they are afraid of loosing power as “units”.
Kadima was established by people who left both the Likud and the Labor Parties. For them to join forces with Likud seems threatening. It is as if they are going through an identity crisis….
The Labor Party has had an internal storm since Netanyahu announced that he would like to see Ehud Barak as Minister of Defense. The internal election on March 26’th resulted in 680 votes for joining Netanyahu’s coalition and 507 against. Barak is now striving to keep the Labor Party united and asks his Party-fellows to respect the result of the vote.
It is not hard to understand why Bibi consider Barak to be the best man for the job;
Ehud Barak is one of these people who just “ has it all”. He was born and raised in a kibbutz and enlisted in the army at age 17. He led a commander unit in the 1967 war and a tank battalion in the Sinai in 1973 and was soon noted for his exceptional bravery and coolness under fire by his superiors.
Barak led Israel’s anti-terrorist unit for many years and was involved in the planning of the Entebbe raid and hostage rescue mission which has entered history as the “most audacious and perfectly executed special force operation ever”. ( Bibi Netanyahu’s brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, ended his life leading this operation. )
Barak holds an under graduate degree in Physics and Mathematics and a masters degree in Economic Engineering Systems besides being a gifted pianist and linguist.
He has served as head of Israel’s Intelligence and Central Command, was appointed army Chief of Staff and stepped down to serve various governments as Interior Minister, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister.
Barak is Israel’s most decorated soldier. He has seen Israel’s security situation from every possible angle. It is therefore interesting to note that he was striving to engage the Palestinian leaders in a productive dialogue in the mid 1990’s, that he ended 17 years of Israeli occupation in Southern Lebanon and that he offered Palestinian prime minister Yassir Arafat to divide Jerusalem and to withdraw from various areas in Judea and Samaria. ( The Palestinians refused and “answered” with the Second Intifada in 2000)
For the Labor Party to join the coalition is seen by many as a “healthy” move as the government otherwise would be represented by too many right wing politicians.
Netanyahu will present his coalition to the President of Israel by the end of the month.
Elin Elkouby
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Gilead Shalit; “When the Shark and the Fish first met.”
Today it is exactly 1000 days since Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit was on army duty together with two other soldiers in their tank on the Israeli side of the border to Gaza. Their tank was attacked by Arabs who managed to open the door of the tank and to put it on fire. Two soldiers were shot on the spot while Gilead was taken captive and brought to Gaza. This happened on June 25’th 2006.
A few day later, on Juli 12’th, Hizbollah terrorists crossed the border over to Israel in the north. They killed eight soldiers and kidnapped two others while the Hizbullah fired rockets from Lebanon at Israeli border town to cover the attack. This was the beginning of the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006.
The two soldiers captured were Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser.
On July 15’th 2008, coffins containing the remains of Eldad and Goldwasser were returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange.
The dead have all been buried but Gilead Shalit is still alive.
When Gilead was 11 years old he wrote the following story:
"When the Shark and the Fish First Met"
A small and gentle fish was swimming in the middle of a peaceful ocean. All of a sudden, the fish saw a shark that wanted to devour him. He then began to swim very quickly, but so did the shark.
Suddenly the fish stopped and called to the shark: "Why do you want to devour me? We can play together!"
The shark thought and thought and said: "Okay- fine: Let’s play hide and seek."
The shark and fish played all day long, until the sun went down. In the evening, the shark returned to his home.
His mother asked: “How was your day, my dear shark? How many animals did you devour today?”
The shark answered: “Today I didn’t devour any animals, but I played with an animal called FISH”.
“That fish is an animal we eat. Don’t play with it!” said the shark’s mother.
At the home of the fish, the same thing happened. “How are you, little fish? How was it today in the sea?” asked the fish’s mother.
The fish answered: "Today I played with an animal called SHARK."
"That shark is the animal that devoured your father and your brother. Don’t play with that animal," answered the mother.
The next day in the middle of the ocean, neither the shark nor the fish were there.
They didn’t meet for many days, weeks and even months.
Then, one day they met. Each one immediately ran back to his mother and once again they didn’t meet for days, weeks and months.
After a whole year passed, the shark went out for a nice swim and so did the fish. For a third time, they met and then the shark said: "You are my enemy, but maybe we can make peace?"The little fish said: "Okay."
They played secretly for days, weeks and months, until one day the shark and fish went to the fish’s mother and spoke together with her. Then they did the same thing with the shark’s mother; and from that same day the sharks and the fish live in peace.
THE END
Numerous attempts have been made to cause the release of Shalit. It is clear to everyone that the price will be heavy as an agreement will only be reached which has the exchange of prisoners as part of the deal. So far Hamas has presented a list of 450 Arab terrorists to be released from Israeli prisons. These are all men with “a lot of blood” on their hands and who are aimed at continuing their “contributions to Holy war on Israel”.
Gilead Shalit has become part of every family in Israel. To wake up to a new day knowing that he is in the hands of Hamas is tormenting. To see the light of hope being lit and later put out, in the eyes of his closest family is heart breaking. There is no way to describe it…….
On the other side of the border to Gaza there are mothers, wives and children who are longing for their dear ones to return home. The same people that we know only as cold blooded murderers and terrorists have family who’s hearts are crying out to be united with them.
We are just like Fish and Sharks in the sea. Our problem is that both sides see themselves as being the Fish ……..
Elin Elkouby
Today it is exactly 1000 days since Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit was on army duty together with two other soldiers in their tank on the Israeli side of the border to Gaza. Their tank was attacked by Arabs who managed to open the door of the tank and to put it on fire. Two soldiers were shot on the spot while Gilead was taken captive and brought to Gaza. This happened on June 25’th 2006.
A few day later, on Juli 12’th, Hizbollah terrorists crossed the border over to Israel in the north. They killed eight soldiers and kidnapped two others while the Hizbullah fired rockets from Lebanon at Israeli border town to cover the attack. This was the beginning of the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006.
The two soldiers captured were Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser.
On July 15’th 2008, coffins containing the remains of Eldad and Goldwasser were returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange.
The dead have all been buried but Gilead Shalit is still alive.
When Gilead was 11 years old he wrote the following story:
"When the Shark and the Fish First Met"
A small and gentle fish was swimming in the middle of a peaceful ocean. All of a sudden, the fish saw a shark that wanted to devour him. He then began to swim very quickly, but so did the shark.
Suddenly the fish stopped and called to the shark: "Why do you want to devour me? We can play together!"
The shark thought and thought and said: "Okay- fine: Let’s play hide and seek."
The shark and fish played all day long, until the sun went down. In the evening, the shark returned to his home.
His mother asked: “How was your day, my dear shark? How many animals did you devour today?”
The shark answered: “Today I didn’t devour any animals, but I played with an animal called FISH”.
“That fish is an animal we eat. Don’t play with it!” said the shark’s mother.
At the home of the fish, the same thing happened. “How are you, little fish? How was it today in the sea?” asked the fish’s mother.
The fish answered: "Today I played with an animal called SHARK."
"That shark is the animal that devoured your father and your brother. Don’t play with that animal," answered the mother.
The next day in the middle of the ocean, neither the shark nor the fish were there.
They didn’t meet for many days, weeks and even months.
Then, one day they met. Each one immediately ran back to his mother and once again they didn’t meet for days, weeks and months.
After a whole year passed, the shark went out for a nice swim and so did the fish. For a third time, they met and then the shark said: "You are my enemy, but maybe we can make peace?"The little fish said: "Okay."
They played secretly for days, weeks and months, until one day the shark and fish went to the fish’s mother and spoke together with her. Then they did the same thing with the shark’s mother; and from that same day the sharks and the fish live in peace.
THE END
Numerous attempts have been made to cause the release of Shalit. It is clear to everyone that the price will be heavy as an agreement will only be reached which has the exchange of prisoners as part of the deal. So far Hamas has presented a list of 450 Arab terrorists to be released from Israeli prisons. These are all men with “a lot of blood” on their hands and who are aimed at continuing their “contributions to Holy war on Israel”.
Gilead Shalit has become part of every family in Israel. To wake up to a new day knowing that he is in the hands of Hamas is tormenting. To see the light of hope being lit and later put out, in the eyes of his closest family is heart breaking. There is no way to describe it…….
On the other side of the border to Gaza there are mothers, wives and children who are longing for their dear ones to return home. The same people that we know only as cold blooded murderers and terrorists have family who’s hearts are crying out to be united with them.
We are just like Fish and Sharks in the sea. Our problem is that both sides see themselves as being the Fish ……..
Elin Elkouby
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
How to make God laugh.
An old woman once told her grandchild that “if you want God to laugh you should tell Him your plans for the future.”
If someone had told me this when I was young I would probably have been very disappointed. I had lots of plans and I took myself very seriously. I did not like to be laughed at.
Looking back on my life today, however, I must admit that I have been on “roads” that I had never planned for. I have enjoyed most of my “adventures” through life and there are very few experiences that I would have liked to “erase”.
One of the tourists participating on the last group I guided asked me ; “So what will you be when you grow up? ” He was himself a retired pilot who had not retired from life and who knew that God never retires anyone……
I am getting close to 50 and still feel that I have great appetite for wherever this “walk” will lead me next.
The first followers of Jesus were Jews. The name they choose for their fellowship was “The Way”. I can easily identify with such an aspect on life as a believer. The only focus should not be “Heaven”, but to see the opportunities that are placed right in front of our nose. We need to now where our goal is in order not to loose direction, but at the same time we should not be afraid to live while we do.
We go through “seasons” in life and we meet challenges that are not always easy or pleasant. Some have more difficult choices to make than others and life is definitely not “fear”. In the middle of this the “book that I never finish reading” promises that “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1.Chor;10,13)
I do not consider myself more clever than the One who created me. Still there are times when I shout to Him in despair and when I cry out in frustration and even in anger. –Some will say that it is not a very “Christian” thing to do to shout at God, but I am only a human being and never really tried to be a good “Christian”. –
One of the Ten Commandments sais ; “ You shall not lie.”, and I have always been very honest about being frustrated….If my own children are shouting at me I try to keep my mouth shut until “all the air is out” . Sometimes that is all that is needed for them to see the situation in a different light and to open their ears and willingness to listen. Sometimes after such a “storm” a hug is more appropriate than words as the quiet message of love can strengthen their inner cord more than a thousand lessons could ever do. Other times there is a need to use words in order to help sorting out the mess and to do teaching on standards in life. As a parent I will always prefer to be in a place where my children seek my company when they are confused.
I am confident that God is not less understanding towards me when I act out as a frustrated teenager in His presence.
But life is not just about sorting out hard feelings. I am very childish in my relationship with God and I let Him know that I see all “the flowers, the trees, the butterflies and everything else that adds color, taste, beauty and fun” to life as I walk along. I am constantly reminding myself not to take any of the good things for granted.
The Bible recalls Enoch “walking with the Lord” (Gen;5,19-24). His walk lasted for 365 years. A little girl was once asked by her Bible teacher to retell the story of this man using her own words.
Her version was this: “God and Enoch used to go for long walks together. One day God said “ We have come to a place where there is a shorter walk to my home than to yours.” Enoch enjoyed so much to be in God’s home that he never left .”
Elin Elkouby.
An old woman once told her grandchild that “if you want God to laugh you should tell Him your plans for the future.”
If someone had told me this when I was young I would probably have been very disappointed. I had lots of plans and I took myself very seriously. I did not like to be laughed at.
Looking back on my life today, however, I must admit that I have been on “roads” that I had never planned for. I have enjoyed most of my “adventures” through life and there are very few experiences that I would have liked to “erase”.
One of the tourists participating on the last group I guided asked me ; “So what will you be when you grow up? ” He was himself a retired pilot who had not retired from life and who knew that God never retires anyone……
I am getting close to 50 and still feel that I have great appetite for wherever this “walk” will lead me next.
The first followers of Jesus were Jews. The name they choose for their fellowship was “The Way”. I can easily identify with such an aspect on life as a believer. The only focus should not be “Heaven”, but to see the opportunities that are placed right in front of our nose. We need to now where our goal is in order not to loose direction, but at the same time we should not be afraid to live while we do.
We go through “seasons” in life and we meet challenges that are not always easy or pleasant. Some have more difficult choices to make than others and life is definitely not “fear”. In the middle of this the “book that I never finish reading” promises that “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1.Chor;10,13)
I do not consider myself more clever than the One who created me. Still there are times when I shout to Him in despair and when I cry out in frustration and even in anger. –Some will say that it is not a very “Christian” thing to do to shout at God, but I am only a human being and never really tried to be a good “Christian”. –
One of the Ten Commandments sais ; “ You shall not lie.”, and I have always been very honest about being frustrated….If my own children are shouting at me I try to keep my mouth shut until “all the air is out” . Sometimes that is all that is needed for them to see the situation in a different light and to open their ears and willingness to listen. Sometimes after such a “storm” a hug is more appropriate than words as the quiet message of love can strengthen their inner cord more than a thousand lessons could ever do. Other times there is a need to use words in order to help sorting out the mess and to do teaching on standards in life. As a parent I will always prefer to be in a place where my children seek my company when they are confused.
I am confident that God is not less understanding towards me when I act out as a frustrated teenager in His presence.
But life is not just about sorting out hard feelings. I am very childish in my relationship with God and I let Him know that I see all “the flowers, the trees, the butterflies and everything else that adds color, taste, beauty and fun” to life as I walk along. I am constantly reminding myself not to take any of the good things for granted.
The Bible recalls Enoch “walking with the Lord” (Gen;5,19-24). His walk lasted for 365 years. A little girl was once asked by her Bible teacher to retell the story of this man using her own words.
Her version was this: “God and Enoch used to go for long walks together. One day God said “ We have come to a place where there is a shorter walk to my home than to yours.” Enoch enjoyed so much to be in God’s home that he never left .”
Elin Elkouby.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Pope and Israel.
A delegation from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate were in Rome to meet with the Pope last Thursday. The reason for the visit was that the excommunication of Holocaust denying Bishop Richard Williamson was lifted last December.
The Vatican has made efforts to be reconciled with the Jews since Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations in 1993 and periodic meetings between Rome and the Chief Rabbinate were initiated by Pope John Paul II in 2004.
This is in line with the “new” trend within the Catholic Church from the Council of Vatican II initiated by Pope Paul XXIII in the beginning of 1959. As soon as he became Pope he announced that “it is time to drag the church out of the Dark Ages and into the modern world. It is time to open the stained-glass windows and let in some fresh air.”
Pope Paul died in 1963 but Vatican II continued in four sessions through his successor, Pope Paul VI. One of the changes has been that the Catholic Church wants to have dialogue with other faith communities such as Jews, Moslems and others.
The present Pope Benedict XVI gave the visitors a warm reception and said “The Jewish people, who were chosen as the elected people, communicate to the whole human family knowledge of and fidelity to the one, unique and true God.” He also thanked the delegation “who quickly helped to clear up the misunderstanding and to restore the atmosphere of friendship and trust.”
The Pope has accepted an invitation from Israeli President Shimon Peres to visit the Land, and will “ make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ask the Lord- visiting places sanctified by His passage on the earth- for His precious blessing of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all of mankind.” The visit will take place from May 11-15 2009.
Shimon Peres’ response when he received the news that the Pope had accepted his invitation was; “I am delighted that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has responded positively and accepted my invitation to visit the Holy Land. The Pope will be a most honored guest, welcomed and respected by people from all walks of life. His visit will be a moving and important event bringing the spirit of peace and hope. Welcome to Israel.”
Pope John Paul II visited the Holy Land in March 2000. The first visit ever of a Pope to this land was in January 1964 when Pope Paul VI came and stayed for 11 hours.
Elin Elkouby
A delegation from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate were in Rome to meet with the Pope last Thursday. The reason for the visit was that the excommunication of Holocaust denying Bishop Richard Williamson was lifted last December.
The Vatican has made efforts to be reconciled with the Jews since Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations in 1993 and periodic meetings between Rome and the Chief Rabbinate were initiated by Pope John Paul II in 2004.
This is in line with the “new” trend within the Catholic Church from the Council of Vatican II initiated by Pope Paul XXIII in the beginning of 1959. As soon as he became Pope he announced that “it is time to drag the church out of the Dark Ages and into the modern world. It is time to open the stained-glass windows and let in some fresh air.”
Pope Paul died in 1963 but Vatican II continued in four sessions through his successor, Pope Paul VI. One of the changes has been that the Catholic Church wants to have dialogue with other faith communities such as Jews, Moslems and others.
The present Pope Benedict XVI gave the visitors a warm reception and said “The Jewish people, who were chosen as the elected people, communicate to the whole human family knowledge of and fidelity to the one, unique and true God.” He also thanked the delegation “who quickly helped to clear up the misunderstanding and to restore the atmosphere of friendship and trust.”
The Pope has accepted an invitation from Israeli President Shimon Peres to visit the Land, and will “ make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ask the Lord- visiting places sanctified by His passage on the earth- for His precious blessing of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all of mankind.” The visit will take place from May 11-15 2009.
Shimon Peres’ response when he received the news that the Pope had accepted his invitation was; “I am delighted that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has responded positively and accepted my invitation to visit the Holy Land. The Pope will be a most honored guest, welcomed and respected by people from all walks of life. His visit will be a moving and important event bringing the spirit of peace and hope. Welcome to Israel.”
Pope John Paul II visited the Holy Land in March 2000. The first visit ever of a Pope to this land was in January 1964 when Pope Paul VI came and stayed for 11 hours.
Elin Elkouby
Friday, March 13, 2009
A “word” for the week end.
Being a tourist guide gives me the privilege to meet wonderful people from many different places and to be part of something that can be life changing to some of them.
The spring season has just started. The fields are green and full of flowers. The desert hills are covered with tiny green plants which make them look like green domes. The birds are singing, the sun is pleasant and the weather is …………. not as good for the land as it is for the body, soul and spirit of those who are touring.
This cartoon sais it all. It is a “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson.
Being a tourist guide gives me the privilege to meet wonderful people from many different places and to be part of something that can be life changing to some of them.
The spring season has just started. The fields are green and full of flowers. The desert hills are covered with tiny green plants which make them look like green domes. The birds are singing, the sun is pleasant and the weather is …………. not as good for the land as it is for the body, soul and spirit of those who are touring.
This cartoon sais it all. It is a “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson.
Let the day fall all around you
And let the breath of life surround you
What a day it should be a holiday
And those lazy days are hard to come by
Stay with me and lend me your company
For You, You show to me
All the world gives for free
And there's no more that a man can ever ask for
And if we, we could see half He gave us to see
Then we'd be half way to finding the answer
So where will all the seasons go
It's for us to ask, it's for Him to know
It's too much for me, for such is the mystery
And all these things we take for granted
But how did they get here, when were they planted?
If we could see, then what would the answer be?
Today we'll see the butterfly
And we'll smell the grass and we'll feel the sky
Oh what a day, let no one take this away
But I will live my life forever, asking the questions
But answers will never come to me
For such is the mystery
For You, You show to me
All the world gives for free
And there's no more that a man can ever ask for
And if we, we could be half He wants us to be
Then we'd all be half way to finding the answer
This song was written by John Dawson Read and it has become my favorite of all times. It can be found on Cliff Richard’s album “Walking in the light”.
I thought this could be a good start on the week end.
Elin Elkouby
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The feast of Purim.
This feast is not mentioned in Leviticus 23, and therefore is not considered a "holy" feast.
Purim is the plural of the Hebrew word "pur", which means lot- the object used to determine something by chance- and it refers to Haman's use of lots to choose the date for his intended destruction of the Jews. The feast of Purim is all about the Book of Ester in the Bible.
There are no historical documents to verify the story of Purim. There are different openions among scolars of whom there are those who believe that it really happened some time between 486 and 465 BC when Xerxes was Persian king and that Xerxes and Ahasuerus is identical. If it is a true story it must have happened when the Jews were in Babylonian Exile.
Purim is fun time for Israeli children. They have dress up parties in kindergardens and at schools followed by a short holiday.
One of the nice things about Purim is that people give baskets with sweets to family and friends.
I remember this to be one of the highlights during the year when my girls were small. They would come with me to the shop and choose sweets for the baskets and later help me fill them up and wrap them with a transparent colored plastic wrap. The baskets had both ribbons and a blessing on it for the family we wanted to pass it on to. My girls loved to take these baskets and deliver them to our neighbors. ----Of course we got some baskets too.........the girls were thrilled to have all those sweets in the house and I enjoyed this "giving and sharing with our neighbors"
holiday.
Last year, however, something happened which put an end to this fun. A family of Messianic believers received a Purim basket which exploded when their their teenage son picked it up. Jewish terrorists used this sweet holiday tradition to cover explosives. The bomb was powerful enough to kill him but as by a miracle he did not die. His body, however, got filled with shrapnel and he was in critical condition as they brought him to hospital. This young boy has spent most of his time at the hospital undergoing numerous operations since this happened last year.
Purim used to be a feast to celebrate that the Jews overcame an enemy determined to destroy them. Last years event turned this to be a day when Jewish terrorists turn against other Jews in an attempt to destroy them. What a sick thing to do....!!!
So, it was a little different to receive a Purim basket this year. I would never have picked it up if it had not been delivered by my neighbors in person.
Elin Elkouby
This feast is not mentioned in Leviticus 23, and therefore is not considered a "holy" feast.
Purim is the plural of the Hebrew word "pur", which means lot- the object used to determine something by chance- and it refers to Haman's use of lots to choose the date for his intended destruction of the Jews. The feast of Purim is all about the Book of Ester in the Bible.
There are no historical documents to verify the story of Purim. There are different openions among scolars of whom there are those who believe that it really happened some time between 486 and 465 BC when Xerxes was Persian king and that Xerxes and Ahasuerus is identical. If it is a true story it must have happened when the Jews were in Babylonian Exile.
Purim is fun time for Israeli children. They have dress up parties in kindergardens and at schools followed by a short holiday.
One of the nice things about Purim is that people give baskets with sweets to family and friends.
I remember this to be one of the highlights during the year when my girls were small. They would come with me to the shop and choose sweets for the baskets and later help me fill them up and wrap them with a transparent colored plastic wrap. The baskets had both ribbons and a blessing on it for the family we wanted to pass it on to. My girls loved to take these baskets and deliver them to our neighbors. ----Of course we got some baskets too.........the girls were thrilled to have all those sweets in the house and I enjoyed this "giving and sharing with our neighbors"
holiday.
Last year, however, something happened which put an end to this fun. A family of Messianic believers received a Purim basket which exploded when their their teenage son picked it up. Jewish terrorists used this sweet holiday tradition to cover explosives. The bomb was powerful enough to kill him but as by a miracle he did not die. His body, however, got filled with shrapnel and he was in critical condition as they brought him to hospital. This young boy has spent most of his time at the hospital undergoing numerous operations since this happened last year.
Purim used to be a feast to celebrate that the Jews overcame an enemy determined to destroy them. Last years event turned this to be a day when Jewish terrorists turn against other Jews in an attempt to destroy them. What a sick thing to do....!!!
So, it was a little different to receive a Purim basket this year. I would never have picked it up if it had not been delivered by my neighbors in person.
Elin Elkouby
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The mulberry tree.
I remember my first encounter with a mulberry tree. I was told that this was the tree in which a little fellow called Zacchaeus once climbed in order to get a glimpse of Jesus. That was the translation in the Norwegian Bible. Most English speakers know this tree to be a Sycamore tree. The Experts are still arguing…..and Zacchaeus would have climbed any tree that would have served his purpose.
What fascinated me was that it was full of sweet “raspberries” and that it had no thorns.
Later I was to learn that a mulberry tree is to the silkworms what the eucalyptus tree is to the Koala. It is not about some more “tiny fellows being fond of climbing”, but about food. The silk worm eats the leaves of the mulberry tree.
Today, unfortunately, there are almost no wild silkworms left and the mulberry tree leaves has been changed with an artificial kind of diet.
In the old days the people of the far East developed trade routes for them to earn money on silk production. There was a network of roads going across the Asian continent connecting the silk producers with the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and Europe. One of these roads went through the Negev desert.
The town of Safed, up in the Galilean mountains, was once a center for silk production. When the Jews of Spain and Portugal were expelled during the inquisition the Turks actually invited Jews to come and settle in Safed. In order to survive they started lots of businesses and the production of fabrics was one of them. The main production was from sheep wool but also silk production has been connected to this town.
There are no silk factories in Israel anymore so the mulberry trees are left for the ones who enjoy them for their berries.
Elin Elkouby.
I remember my first encounter with a mulberry tree. I was told that this was the tree in which a little fellow called Zacchaeus once climbed in order to get a glimpse of Jesus. That was the translation in the Norwegian Bible. Most English speakers know this tree to be a Sycamore tree. The Experts are still arguing…..and Zacchaeus would have climbed any tree that would have served his purpose.
What fascinated me was that it was full of sweet “raspberries” and that it had no thorns.
Later I was to learn that a mulberry tree is to the silkworms what the eucalyptus tree is to the Koala. It is not about some more “tiny fellows being fond of climbing”, but about food. The silk worm eats the leaves of the mulberry tree.
Today, unfortunately, there are almost no wild silkworms left and the mulberry tree leaves has been changed with an artificial kind of diet.
In the old days the people of the far East developed trade routes for them to earn money on silk production. There was a network of roads going across the Asian continent connecting the silk producers with the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and Europe. One of these roads went through the Negev desert.
The town of Safed, up in the Galilean mountains, was once a center for silk production. When the Jews of Spain and Portugal were expelled during the inquisition the Turks actually invited Jews to come and settle in Safed. In order to survive they started lots of businesses and the production of fabrics was one of them. The main production was from sheep wool but also silk production has been connected to this town.
There are no silk factories in Israel anymore so the mulberry trees are left for the ones who enjoy them for their berries.
Elin Elkouby.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Who said boycott ????
A Norwegian politician proudly announced on TV that he had never eaten an Israeli orange. I was thinking ; “No wonder you look pale…”
Often the question of boycotting Israeli produce pops up on various countries political agenda. They all seem to have the agricultural produce in mind, but Israel contributes with a lot more… I have been wondering if someone would have liked to be without this:
Israel the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the worlds population, can lay claim to the following:
Most of the windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft Israel.
The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel by Intel.
Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor are produced in Israel
The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.
Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.
________
According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry’s most impenetrable flight security.
________
In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world.
________
Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with more trees than in the 20th century. More than 60% of Israel is desert.
________
Israel: Bio-Tec and Medicine:
Israeli researchers have created a “biological pacemaker’ which corrects faulty heart rhythm.
Israeli scientists are developing a nose drop that will provide a 5-year flu vaccine.
A revolutionary new drug developed by the Hebrew University prevents re-clogging of coronary arteries after undergoing “balloon therapy’.
Israeli scientists have created a DNA nano-computer that not only detects cancer, but also releases drugs that specifically target and treat cancerous cells.
Israeli stem-cell technology is being used in the US to regenerate heart tissue.
Thanks to Israel’s Given Imaging Ltd, doctors have the PillCam. Israel’s Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill.
Two of the most revolutionary drugs on the market:
Capaxone, which treats Multiple Sclerosis, and
Rasagaline, which treats Parkinson’s, were developed and produced by Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals.
Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment.
Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential of saving lives among those with heart failure.
The new device synchronized with the camera helps doctors diagnose heart’s mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.
_________
Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
_________
Israel has the world’s second highest per capita of new books.
_________
Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.
_________
25% of Israel’s work force holds university degrees, ranking third in the industrial world, after the United States and Holland. 12% hold advanced degrees.
Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees reported to thee population, in the world.
_________
Israel’s Nobel Prize winners:
Chemistry: 30 prize winners (20% of world total)
Physics: 47 prize winners (26% of world total)
Economy: 26 prize winners (42% of world total)
Physiology or Medicine: 53 prize winners (28% of world total)
Literature: 13 prize winners (12% of world total)
Peace: Menachem Begin , Henry Kissinger, Elie Wiesel, Shimon Perez and Itzchak Rabin
Israel spends more money per capita on its own protection than any other country on earth.
Elin Elkouby
A Norwegian politician proudly announced on TV that he had never eaten an Israeli orange. I was thinking ; “No wonder you look pale…”
Often the question of boycotting Israeli produce pops up on various countries political agenda. They all seem to have the agricultural produce in mind, but Israel contributes with a lot more… I have been wondering if someone would have liked to be without this:
Israel the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the worlds population, can lay claim to the following:
Most of the windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft Israel.
The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel by Intel.
Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor are produced in Israel
The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.
Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.
________
According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry’s most impenetrable flight security.
________
In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world.
________
Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with more trees than in the 20th century. More than 60% of Israel is desert.
________
Israel: Bio-Tec and Medicine:
Israeli researchers have created a “biological pacemaker’ which corrects faulty heart rhythm.
Israeli scientists are developing a nose drop that will provide a 5-year flu vaccine.
A revolutionary new drug developed by the Hebrew University prevents re-clogging of coronary arteries after undergoing “balloon therapy’.
Israeli scientists have created a DNA nano-computer that not only detects cancer, but also releases drugs that specifically target and treat cancerous cells.
Israeli stem-cell technology is being used in the US to regenerate heart tissue.
Thanks to Israel’s Given Imaging Ltd, doctors have the PillCam. Israel’s Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill.
Two of the most revolutionary drugs on the market:
Capaxone, which treats Multiple Sclerosis, and
Rasagaline, which treats Parkinson’s, were developed and produced by Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals.
Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment.
Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential of saving lives among those with heart failure.
The new device synchronized with the camera helps doctors diagnose heart’s mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.
_________
Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
_________
Israel has the world’s second highest per capita of new books.
_________
Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.
_________
25% of Israel’s work force holds university degrees, ranking third in the industrial world, after the United States and Holland. 12% hold advanced degrees.
Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees reported to thee population, in the world.
_________
Israel’s Nobel Prize winners:
Chemistry: 30 prize winners (20% of world total)
Physics: 47 prize winners (26% of world total)
Economy: 26 prize winners (42% of world total)
Physiology or Medicine: 53 prize winners (28% of world total)
Literature: 13 prize winners (12% of world total)
Peace: Menachem Begin , Henry Kissinger, Elie Wiesel, Shimon Perez and Itzchak Rabin
Israel spends more money per capita on its own protection than any other country on earth.
Elin Elkouby
Monday, March 2, 2009
….that they may be one.
I was on a women’s conference last week end. It’s called “ The Third Side”, aimed at women married to Jews, Christian Arabs or Armenians, themselves not belonging to either one of these groups. “Musalaha”, which means reconciliation, is the organization behind these conferences.
When I was invited to the first one a few years ago I didn’t really feel like “wasting” a week end away from my family. I was amazed, however, to discover the other women who were to join.
We spent most of the first week end listening to each other’s stories; What brought them to Israel and how they met their husbands. Each one of these women had a story which could have been a “best seller” if told though a book. What was interesting was that each one didn’t see anything extraordinary about their own story while all the others did.
We come from many different backgrounds and from lots of countries. The one thing we have in common is the fact that we have left what we grew up with and have started over again in a place very unlike where we came from. For many it caused a serious problem with language and culture and resulted in some seeing themselves almost as a “displaced” person.
The amazing thing has been that others clearly see the potential in a woman who hardly sees it herself. For some of the ladies this has been a great help and also a push to get out of self pity and confusion and to look up and onwards.
We have a lot to add to the Israeli society. We are more curious about different groups of people and have attitudes less colored by prejudice. We are not as easily seen as a threat as we approach someone “from the other side’. We do not teach our children to be afraid of neither Jews nor Arabs. There is no : “If you do not behave, the Jewish soldiers ( or the Arabs) will come and get you”….. in our way of bringing up our children.
Still we live being part of one or the other side of the conflict. In order to “survive” this it is important to have certain things explained.
This last conference dealt with “Operation Cast Lead”.
People belonging to a Messianic Jewish fellowship are used to be praying for the Israeli Army, asking God’s protection over the soldiers and being proud that some of the soldiers serving in elite units actually are Messianic Jews.
People belonging to an Arab Christian congregation are taught that participating in war is unbiblical. The Christian Arabs have an all pacifistic attitude based on their faith.
For these two “faith communities” to respect one another and to even love one another is nothing less than a miracle. We believe in such miracles and we need them desperately.
The most important thing to learn in life is probably that the base for love is not that we agree, but rather that we respect one another. ---I remember a friend of mine sharing an experience he had in Gaza. This happened before the second Intifada and when the Israeli Army were still in control of the entire Strip. He was on reserve duty for a month and had been sent to serve in Gaza. One day as he was patrolling with his unit he saw an Arab whom he recognized from a believers conference. The two men shouted from joy and gave one another a great hug while his army comrades and the other Arabs surrounding them were left watching with unbelief shining in their eyes.
The difference between the possible and the impossible is that the impossible may take longer.
Elin Elkouby
I was on a women’s conference last week end. It’s called “ The Third Side”, aimed at women married to Jews, Christian Arabs or Armenians, themselves not belonging to either one of these groups. “Musalaha”, which means reconciliation, is the organization behind these conferences.
When I was invited to the first one a few years ago I didn’t really feel like “wasting” a week end away from my family. I was amazed, however, to discover the other women who were to join.
We spent most of the first week end listening to each other’s stories; What brought them to Israel and how they met their husbands. Each one of these women had a story which could have been a “best seller” if told though a book. What was interesting was that each one didn’t see anything extraordinary about their own story while all the others did.
We come from many different backgrounds and from lots of countries. The one thing we have in common is the fact that we have left what we grew up with and have started over again in a place very unlike where we came from. For many it caused a serious problem with language and culture and resulted in some seeing themselves almost as a “displaced” person.
The amazing thing has been that others clearly see the potential in a woman who hardly sees it herself. For some of the ladies this has been a great help and also a push to get out of self pity and confusion and to look up and onwards.
We have a lot to add to the Israeli society. We are more curious about different groups of people and have attitudes less colored by prejudice. We are not as easily seen as a threat as we approach someone “from the other side’. We do not teach our children to be afraid of neither Jews nor Arabs. There is no : “If you do not behave, the Jewish soldiers ( or the Arabs) will come and get you”….. in our way of bringing up our children.
Still we live being part of one or the other side of the conflict. In order to “survive” this it is important to have certain things explained.
This last conference dealt with “Operation Cast Lead”.
People belonging to a Messianic Jewish fellowship are used to be praying for the Israeli Army, asking God’s protection over the soldiers and being proud that some of the soldiers serving in elite units actually are Messianic Jews.
People belonging to an Arab Christian congregation are taught that participating in war is unbiblical. The Christian Arabs have an all pacifistic attitude based on their faith.
For these two “faith communities” to respect one another and to even love one another is nothing less than a miracle. We believe in such miracles and we need them desperately.
The most important thing to learn in life is probably that the base for love is not that we agree, but rather that we respect one another. ---I remember a friend of mine sharing an experience he had in Gaza. This happened before the second Intifada and when the Israeli Army were still in control of the entire Strip. He was on reserve duty for a month and had been sent to serve in Gaza. One day as he was patrolling with his unit he saw an Arab whom he recognized from a believers conference. The two men shouted from joy and gave one another a great hug while his army comrades and the other Arabs surrounding them were left watching with unbelief shining in their eyes.
The difference between the possible and the impossible is that the impossible may take longer.
Elin Elkouby
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