The Gazelle Valley - Urban Nature Park in Jerusalem

“My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag” (Song of Solomon, 2:9)

The Gazelle Valley is the first urban nature park in Israel. It’s a short walk from my home in the Katamonim neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem. For over a year now I have been volunteering at the park. It’s my second home, a place that lifts my spirits, where I feel at peace with the world. The 61-acre nature reserve is just down the road from the Botanical Gardens at Givat Ram, nestled between the busy Patt Junction, the Begin Highway and the neighborhood of Givat Mordechai. It is a great place to view mountain gazelles in their natural habitat and commune with nature. Around 80 members of this endangered species are living in the park, roaming freely throughout the grounds. The mountain gazelle is the more prevalent of Israel’s two gazelle species. They live in herds within defined territories. Formerly common in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean, it is now only found in central and northern Israel. These delicate creatures are mentioned frequently in Jewish sources as a symbol of power, speed and beauty.

Due to increased urban development and construction, the number of mountain gazelles dwindled from a few hundred in the 1940’s to a mere handful that remained in the valley by the end of the 1990’s. Hemmed in on all sides, many were attacked by predators or killed on the newly-built roads. A protracted grass-roots battle by neighborhood activists, together with the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), saved the area from local property developers. The Jerusalem City Council and the Jerusalem Foundation put their weight behind the project which culminated in the grand opening of the Gazelle Valley Urban Nature Park in March 2015. Before it could be opened to the public, a perimeter fence was constructed to keep the gazelles from falling prey to wild dogs and jackals. Part of the valley inside the fence was developed with trails, observation platforms, picnic areas and a visitors’ center. A larger natural core was roped off exclusively for the gazelles to wander freely, but protected, in the abundant undergrowth. Rainwater runoff fills the ponds and irrigates the valley’s trees and plants providing a “Nature –Based solution” to urban flooding.

No-one could have predicted the success of the Park. Since its opening, the number of gazelles has risen from 3 to over 80 – a sure sign that they are happy in their home. This year, for the first time, 20 gazelles were successfully relocated to the Golan Heights and Ramat Hanadiv on the Carmel. In addition to gazelles, the park is home to dozens of species of birds, reptiles, insects and native plants, creating a functioning urban ecosystem which attracts a cross-section of Jerusalemites and visitors from around the country. Bird watchers and photographers can be seen during the early hours together with joggers and others, like me, who just want to enjoy the peaceful, natural surroundings. The site is run by professional staff and volunteers who help maintain the park, advise visitors, and offer educational programs for school groups. It is open everyday from 6:30 a.m. until sunset. There is no entrance fee. https://www.gazelle-valley.com/eng/

By Madeleine Lavine .

Christmas in Jerusalem 2021

Sadly there are no overseas tourists visiting Jerusalem this Christmas. However plenty of locals were out and about last Saturday evening when I joined a friend to check out the Christmas lights at this holiday time. We weren't disappointed. Walking from the Russian Compound we popped into the Holy Trinity Church where we were enchanted by the heavenly singing.

From there we wandered through the City Hall complex to the Notre Dame Pilgrim Guesthouse. Opened at the end of the 19th century, this magnificent building faces New Gate where a local Christmas Market was in full flow. The view from the roof is spectacular. I was surprised to discover this gem after almost 40 years of living in the city. The spectacular views from the roof show the Chritmas tree in the courtyard below and the Christmas market just inside the New Gate across the road.

After tasting some of the delcacies on offer in the market, we continued through the alleyways of the Christian Quarter to the home of Jerusalem's Santa Claus Issah Kassisieh, who has turned his family home into a Christmas wonderland. We didn't visit this time but many others waited patiently for their special visit.

Touring Again, Finally! Scenes from a recent Old City Tour

How wonderful. After nearly 20 months, I have actually toured the Old City with friends and international tourists. On November 1st Israel opened up its gates to vaccinated tourists. What a joy to see familiar faces and sites in the glorious November. weather. This is a great time to visit. Sites are pretty quiet and accessible and locals are happy to see tourists. I want to share some of the places we saw on our walk from the Jaffa Gate along the Ramparts to Damascus Gate - one of my favourite routes. The colours, the sights and even the smells are tangible through the wonderful pictures taken by my friend, Viva Press, who visited from Tel Aviv. Apart from the Ramparts, we wandered through the Muslim Quarter savouring the sights, tastes and smells. We toured the Haram eSharif - The Holy Sanctuary housing the beautiful 7th-century Dome of the Rock - a Muslim shrine marking the site of Mohammed's ascent to heaven, and in the Jewish tradition site of the First and Second Temples, the place of the Foundation Stone and the Binding of Isaac by Abraham. Below are views from the ramparts: the bustling market streets, fresh sesame breads and delicious foods, and views to the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives from the Haram. We ended up in the iconic Mahane Yehuda Market at Rachmo where we ate Kurdish kubeh soup. Yum! We hope to see you here soon!

HAPPY 2021 - IDEAS FOR PLACES TO VISIT ON YOUR NEXT TRIP TO ISRAEL

Now we have shut the door on 2020, we can now focus on renewed hope for travel and tourism by the second half of this year. Israel is steaming ahead with its vaccination roll out and on target to see a return to nearer normal by April. Here is an article by VIva Sarah Press about some of Israel's natural wonders No Camels. (NoCamels.com covers breakthrough Israeli innovation in tech, science, food, health, cybersecurity, clean energy, art and design and more). I hope you enjoy it. The landscapes are certainly spectacular. We are waiting for you!

CHRISTMAS 2020: JERUSALEM'S SANTA

The Old City is very quiet this year. However, if you walk down St. Peter's Street from the New Gate, and continue down the winding alleyways of the Christian Quarter to the junction of St. Peter's Street and the Latin Patriarchate Road, you will soon hit "Santa Lane" where this December you can find the festively decorated Santa's House.

Issa Kassissieh, outside Santa's House
December 2020

For three years, Palestinian Catholic and well-know former local basketball player Issa (Jesus) Kassissieh, has been dressing up as the Jerusalem Santa and decorating his family's traditional 14th century home.

This year Santa is needed more than ever. 

Kassassieh, 42, says, "I try to bring happiness, even when I can't give a hug. When I talk to the children I see they need this in this situation. A smile, a nice word - they are very happy for that. Anyone can put on a red suit, but if you don't do it from the heart, you can't bring the miracle of Santa."

In better years, he has given his Santa a local twist by trading in the reindeer for a borrowed camel he rides in the Old City to the delight of locals and tourists alike.

Santa on his Camel

People of all religions visit. "I don't care who they are. My message is love and peace. Santa is for everybody."

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2021!

(Adapted from an article by Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News Service)

Virtual Jerusalem Tour March 2020

Easter and Passover are busy tourist times in Israel. This year is different from all others. The city is empty. Tourists and their guides are at home and sites are closed.

Here you can take a tour through the beautiful but empty streets of the old city.

To paraphrase Rabbi Judah HaLevy, I am in the West but my heart is in the East

 I cannot wait to return.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2WxwZeGH-U

Looking forward to better times.

Rare color footage from 1930s casts new light on holy city

I am a fan of old black and white photographs of Jerusalem.

Inside the Jaffa Gate

The link from the YNet news site shows rare footage of Jerusalem from the 1930s as never seen before, from the lens of the Margulis family, who vacationed in the city and took with them a 16 mm camera and a newly acquired color film.  

The Jerusalem Cinemateque has digitized the rare photographs. The photos and a short film of the old city can be seen in this link: https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5569188,00.html
Note that the Holy Sepulchre was undergoing renovations after the earthquake of 1927.
Apologies for the extraneous adverts, but I think this is worth it for a rare journey to Jerusalem past.