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Petah Tikva

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    • TravelerMaybe EuroVelo 8
      1
      Day 99

      You’re in the Army now!

      July 17, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 95 °F

      The Holy City, The Big Pomegranate, it’s Jerusalem. Number two is Tel Aviv, secular, smart and electric, the Yin to Jerusalem’s Yang, opposite but connected. And then there is Haifa, getting about as much attention as a third child.

      Tel Aviv displays the Building Crane as the national bird. Beautiful first rate, high rise condominiums yanked straight up out of the ground by the boom arm. Each unit is worth millions and they’re building nonstop because they sell. A couple years ago Tel Aviv was the most expensive city in the world. Today it’s still third most expensive. With that wealth there’s going to be disparity. Tel Aviv has a poor ass end just like I saw in Liverpool and Tokyo. The smell of hot piss in the tree planters and daytime sidewalk sleepers. Flies on unconscious people in the entry alcoves of boarded buildings. Long black fingernails on thin dirty arms reaching out asking for shekels in a language I don’t understand. A woman with legs thin like pipe cleaners sits on a plastic chair smoking a hand rolled cigarette.

      Israel only became a country in 1948 and was immediately attacked. It was attacked again in 1967. Preceding those Arab attacks Jewish militias fought violently against British rule impeding a Jewish homeland. Plaques around town commemorate where skirmishes and individual heroism against the Brits happened. One I read was about a fighter smothering a grenade to save his mates.

      Bibi and his crew of heredi want more power for their legislative/executive branch agenda at the expense of the Judiciary branch. This upsets the expected balance of power in a country without a constitution to spell it out. Plus Bibi is under investigation for corruption by the same Judiciary he seeks to weaken. Regular Israelis oppose cheating like this and feel the government doesn’t listen. Protest rallies, we’ll call them, are coming to a head. So far super peaceful, even boring. We’ll see.

      A tourist coach bus picked us up at Ben Gurion Airport for the first week of volunteering. Our army base is nearby in the Tel Aviv area, We do inside work pushing around medical supplies. Sorting, labeling, counting, boxing of things like Foley catheters, tourniquets, bandages and atropine pens. We have Americans, Canadians, British, Hungarians, French, Belorussians, Serbians and more. Anyone may also be an Israeli citizen and live here. Bring your money if you’re thinking moving here.

      The soldier with the eye patch saw action in Lebanon and spent four years in the hospital. That wasn’t even the most interesting part. Everyone here seems so exotic I feel like a milquetoast. Women soldiers have a comfortable confidence. They work elbow to elbow with male soldiers and it looks great.

      The food is incredibly wholesome. Super creative vegetable recipes. Controlled protein portions. Kosher kitchen. Dairy utensils have a small hole in the handle to tell the difference. Two different sets of cafeteria trays and dishes as well to keep things separate and kosher. Breakfast and dinner are “dairy” meals. Lunch is a “meat” meal. As you know, vegetables are always parve. And yes, hummus is usually to be found.      Read more

    • TravelerNéhány nap Izraelben
      Day 6

      Utolsó nap és Ben Gurion

      November 19, 2022 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

      Elérkezett az utolsó nap is. Már reggel elszokorodott a csapat hogy haza kell ma menni, de hát ez van, ilyen a nyaralás. Egyszer csak vége lesz.

      Mint ha az idő is akart volna még egy utolsó D-vitamin csomagot adni, nagyjából magyar nyári hőség volt egész nap.

      Nagy tervezés nem volt mára, akartunk még a srácoknak egy kis mozgást, játékot, szóval megbeszéltük a családban a többi gyerekes szülővel, hogy irány Savyon, ott van egy jó kis park, vigyünk labdát, takarót, kaját és piknikezzünk együtt.

      Ezzel együtt átéltem ma első Izraelben vezetésemet, ugyanis mivel már mi is négyen vagyunk, nem férünk el egyik családdal se egy kocsiba, szóval kaptam egy kocsikulcsot és indulás.

      Először reggeliért indultunk, ami rengeteg falafel humusz, burakas, és minden egyéb volt, aztán irány a park. Savyon a környék elit helye, puccos új villákkal, szóval tényleg jó kis park lett ahova mentünk. És szerencsére a játszótér mellett hatalmas füves placc ahol Brúnónak gyorsan megkérdeztük a helyi srácokat hogy beállhat e hozzájuk focizni, és hamar kialakult a nagy focimeccs. Először 4en voltak, 10 perc múlva már vagy 14 gyerek rúgta a bőrt. Szóval jól sikerült a kiruccanás. Utána még egy hatalmas fagyi party, és irány vissza Bnei Atarotba pakolni.

      Összeszedni mindent egyszerűbb volt, mint otthon kitalálni mit hozzunk, szóval délután még egy pihenő is belefért.
      Indulás előtt még nagy búcsú mindenkitől, a kutyusoktól többször is, és irány a reptér.

      Már idefele is irtam hogy ez nem egy Debrecen Airport, óriási területen van maga a reptér is, a terminálok között konkrétan autópályák vannak csinálva a távolságok és a sok kocsi miatt.
      Mi a Terminal 3-ról indulunk most haza, amit szerencsére a Wizzair elküldött még tegnap, hogy tudjuk. Arról viszont hogy várhatóan 30 perc késés lesz, már csak akkor írtak mikor a reptérre értünk.
      A kiléptetés is többlépcsős mint a belépés volt. Először van egy előzetes csomag check, aztán a csomag feladás, jegy ellenőrzés. Innen átmentünk egy másik emeletre ahol elkezdődött a csomagátvilágítás, utána még 1 útlevél ellenőrzés és már bent is vagyunk.

      Mivel akartunk egy kis édességet még hazafele, a srácokat beszabadítottuk a DutyFree shop-ba, ahol már a méretektől is elámultak. Be is vásároltunk rendesen, aztán elsétáltunk a beszállókapuhoz, ahol kis szendvics, kis játszótér, és röpke 1,5 óra el is telt mire végre elkezdődött a boarding.

      Most 22:06 van, a 21:00-s gép épp a kifutót keresi szóval órák kérdése és elindulunk 😀😀

      Last Check is from Debrecen...      Read more

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    • TravelerLa chemin de l’Arche
      Day 2

      Vers Aphek

      December 19, 2022 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      Le chemin vers Aphek traverse la ville de Rosh Haayina, ville nouvelle et agréable encore en construction où s’alternent constructions et champs agricoles.
      Sur la route je m’arrête dans une boulangerie pour prendre un café et un beignet. Car c’est ça aussi Hannoucah: manger des beignets 😋

      Pour la suite du chemin je décide de prendre un bus. En me dirigeant vers l’arrêt j’entends « combat » dans mon esprit. Que m’attend il à Aphek?      Read more

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    • TravelerLa chemin de l’Arche
      Day 2

      Aphek

      December 19, 2022 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

      A l’entrée du parc national des frissons me traversent. Je prie avec une certaine intensité avant de me diriger vers le guichet d’entrée. Passer ce guichet une envie pressante d’aller aux toilettes me prend. Ouf c’était moins une 😅

      Le parc d’Aphek à quelquechose de paradisiaque. Les importantes sources d’eau, dans un pays connu pour sa sécheresse, assure une biodiversité d’animaux et de plantes unique.

      Outre ses importantes sources qui ont alimenté Jérusalem à 60 km pendant le mandat britanique, Aphek est le point de passage entre l’Egypte et le nord.

      Je me dirige vers le fort antipatris construit par Hérode en l’honneur de son père au dernier siècle avant Jésus-Christ.

      On sent encore le faste du lieu, les remparts sont bien présents et forment une cour intérieure immense. On a retrouvé ici des lettres en canaanite, hittite, egyptien, akkadien, hébreu qui montre l’importance du d’échanges commerciales.

      C’est à Aphek que les philistins emporteront l’arche de l’alliance dérobé aux israëlites à Eben-Ezer.

      Je fais le tour du lieu je ressens l’envie de prier avec les bannières. De nombreux enfants arrivent. Je reviendrai plus tard je m’en vais voir ce qu’il y a en contre bas du fort.

      Ici se trouve un odéon datant de la période hellénistique. L’odéon est un lieu où s’exprime le chant et la poésie, la beauté pourrait on dire.

      Nous faisons ce chemin pendant le temps d’Hannoucah fête qui célèbre la victoire de la lumière sur les ténèbres. Moment où la culture grecque a voulu engloutir l’esprit juif où la séduction, le culte de l’homme et de la beauté a voulu remplacé la louange à Dieu là où se trouve la liberté, libéré des passions humaines.

      Ne nous y trompez pas la culture grecque n’est pas mauvaise en soi mais si elle n’est pas ajusté à l’Esprit du Vivant elle devient source de dépravations de déreglements psychoques et morales de toutes sortes entrainant dans son sillon malheur, blessures, frustrations. Dieu a bien confié la beauté a Japhet mais sous la conduite de Sem. La beauté vient bien de Dieu mais elle peut venir un culte de l’apparence comme nous le constatons aujourd’hui.

      Dans ce lieu je lève la bannière de l’Esprit du Seigneur et je prie pour que le monde ne soit pas séduit par les apparences mais garde son esprit éveillé pour affronter dans la paix ce qui vient, en gardant vivant en soi l’espérance que Christ amène.      Read more

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    • Paul BernardIsrael 2015
      Day 26

      Day 14: Morning

      June 1, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      This morning begins our last week here in Israel. Of course it will be a bittersweet week. All good things, they say, must come to an end. (I would probably say, “Many good things…”) No one here wants to see it end, but we are all ready to get back to family and loved ones. Do I ever miss my girls, Carol and Samantha.

      But the trip isn’t over yet and we’ve been told the best is yet to come. After what we’ve experienced, that’s hard for most of us to believe. We leave for our final field trip for four days up to the region of Galilee. Mt. Carmel, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, etc. The area that Jesus lived his life. He came to the end of his Earth-stay here in Jerusalem, but he stayed on Earth in the region we’ll be in for the next week. I’ll try to post, but cannot promise anything due to wi-fi supply. 

      Yesterday, we went to two wonderful places. We started the day with an early train trip across town to Yad Vashem, the Jewish Holocaust Museum. I am not sure how to convey the power and emotion of being in a place like that. I taught Holocaust literature for almost 8 years to Jr. High and High School students, but walking through that place put clothes on all of the abstractness of what I taught. I’m not sure if that metaphor makes sense, but I can’t think of a good way to say it. As I watched survivor testimonies on T.V. screens throughout the museum, I was forced several times to choke back tears and take deep breaths so as to not be overwhelmed with emotion. A few times I huffed audibly so as to betray the deep affect that it was having on me. Tourists in all shapes and sizes and colors were overcome as I was though, so I had no reason for hiding. We wandered out the back of the museum in silence, no one sure what to say.

      The end of the day had a very different feel to it. I may have mentioned my climber friend who is here in Israel on the trip. Well, he wasn’t a friend before the trip, but climbing is always a quick and easy bond. With a group of people, we made our way across town on public transportation to a climbing gym across the street from the Jerusalem Mall. We all laughed at how unconcerned about safety they were at the gym. “Do you know how to belay?” “Yes” “OK, don’t get hurt.” No waivers, nothing. And we had a great time climbing all over the place, only occasionally coming near to messing something up irreversibly. I was glad that we only had a few hours in the place because my strength faded quickly and we got home at a reasonable hour.

      Oswald Chambers wrote in today’s devotional that sometimes “we mistake panic for inspiration.” In other words, sometimes the people we look at who are busy for the Lord are often in more of a state of panic than inspiration. Panicked that they are not doing enough. Panicked they their life has not been full enough, or good enough. That is why, he goes on, most of us work more FOR God than WITH God.

      Several times on this trip I have been struck by the sense that much of my life is busy for God. But walking where Jesus walked on the streets of Jerusalem, seeing what He saw from the Mount of Olives, reminds me that this life is so much better when done next to Him.

      This may be weird, but more than a few times now I have pictured Jesus walking right in the middle of our little group of student-tourists, laughing at something stupid someone said.      Read more

    • Paul BernardIsrael 2015
      Day 13

      In the Kidron

      May 19, 2015 in Israel ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

      After morning class today, we spent six hours walking an overview of the Old City of Jerusalem. We’ll do this two more times before we leave Jerusalem. We entered the Zion Gate, about ¼ mile from where we’re staying. Walked down to and out of the Dung Gate, wandered past the City of David, down into the Kidron Valley, up through the Lion gate, out the Damascus gate, then back through the Christian, Muslim and Jewish Quarters, finding ourselves exhausted and happily back at the Zion Gate. Most of you won’t care about that, but for those that do, you now know.

      My favorite spot of the day was to sit in the small valley of Kidron while our professor read Psalm 130. We all squinted in the scalding sun as we took in the history of this place. 1 Kings 15:13 tells the story of Asa around 913 B.C. in the Kidron valley, burning "an abominable image for an Asherab" which his mother, Maacah, had created. He lit the fire in the Kidron Valley, not far from where we stood. As Hezekiah again sought reform for the nation about 200 years later, "all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Yahweh" was carried to the brook Kidron (2 Chronicles 29:16); "All the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron" (2 Chronicles 30:14). Josiah’s reforms of Israel in the 7th century B.C included bringing “the Asherah from the house of Yahweh, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust." (2 Kings 23:6).

      “The Kidron Valley is a place of cleansing. It is the place where God puts things right,” he said. Which then makes it no surprise that Jesus’ return will be right above this spot, on the Mt. of Olives. “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east.” (Zechariah 14:4)

      As we sat in the Kidron Valley and listened to Psalm 130, it was a blatant reminder that we too need to come to the valley every once in a while and purge our lives of the burdens and sins that weigh us down. Our idols, our high-handed sin… bring them on down and beat ‘em to dust. Then make slow, steady climb back up out of the valley to the Holy City.      Read more

    • TravelerPilgrimage to Israel
      Day 10

      Jewish Words, Currency and Newspaper

      May 16, 2019 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

      Shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם ) is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility and can be used as both hello and goodbye. In Arabic, it is pronounced Salom.
      Good Morning in Hebrew בוקר טוב is pronounced Bow-Care-Tov
      Thank you in Hebrew תודה is pronounced Toe-Dah
      Hebrew is written and read from right to left.
      One US Dollar is approximately equal to 3 Shekels.      Read more

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    • Traveler2018 Israel
      Day 1

      Anreise

      December 26, 2018 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

      Nachdem wir die Sicherheitsbefragung hinter uns gebracht und das Gepäck aufgegeben haben, gönnen wir uns ein Gläschen Bier und machen uns dann auf den Weg durch den Security Check. Nach 4 Stunden Flug, landen wir gegen 23:30 Uhr in Tel Aviv. Nachdem wir eingereist sind und unser Gepäck abgeholt haben besorgen wir uns noch schnell Bargeld, wine SIM Karte fürs Handy (unter anderem zum Navigieren) und holen den Mietwagen ab.
      Weiter geht es zum Hotel in Tel Aviv. Gepäck ausladen, Einchecken, Auto in einem Parkhaus einige hundert Meter entfernt unterbringen, zum nächsten Supermarkt um noch eine Kleinigkeit zum Essen zu besorgen und anschließend zurück ins Hotel. Gegen 4:00 Uhr, fallen wir völlig erledigt ins Bett.      Read more

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    • TravelerSabbatical 2.0
      Day 6

      Shabbat shalom!

      April 6, 2018 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

      Toll ist, wenn die Freunde auf der ganzen Welt verteilt sind! Die spontane Sabbatical Zeit wollte ich natürlich auch nutzen, um einige von ihnen zu besuchen.

      Eine meiner besten Freundinnen, die ich aus der Schulzeit kenne, ist vor ein paar Jahren der Liebe wegen nach Israel ausgewandert. Ich habe sie schon ein paar Mal in Tel Aviv besucht, aber es ist immer wieder toll dort zu sein. Ich liebe das Essen, die Stadt, die Leute, den Strand und das Wetter, aber auch die Wunderlichkeiten des Landes;)...
      Mit der Landung am Freitag wurde auch direkt Shabbat (und das Ende von Pessach) eingeläutet und dies mit einem traditionellen Familienessen begonnen.
      Pessach gehört zu den wichtigsten Festen des Judentums und erinnert an die Befreiung der Israeliten aus der Sklaverei. Es ist ein Familienfest, das über eine Woche lang mit verschiedenen Riten einhergeht wie dem Verzehr von Matzen bzw. Verbot von gesäuerten Lebensmitteln. Als Säuerndes gilt jede der fünf Getreidearten Weizen, Roggen, Gerste, Hafer, Dinkel, die für mindestens 18 Minuten mit Wasser in Kontakt kam, sowie jede Speise und jedes Getränk, das aus einer dieser Getreidesorten hergestellt ist oder sie enthält. Und: es darf auch nichts damit in Berührung gekommen sein. Alles super penibel reinlich und bei den orthodoxen Juden sehr aufwändig. Im Supermarkt gibt es in dieser Zeit auch kein gesäuertes Brot zu kaufen... Für die Leute Glutenunverträglichkeit aber ein Fest :D      Read more

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    • Paintings for HopePaintings for Hope
      Day 140

      Israel

      August 7, 2014 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Hanik Josephson
      "Hello My name is Hanik. I live in Israel. My son just got back from the battle in Gaza. I hope no more young men will have to go through a war, no moms will have to cry on their death husbands or children from any side. Love Hanik"Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Petaẖ Tiqwa, Petah Tiqwa, Petah Tikva, פתח תקווה, ILPET, Q190828

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