By: Jason

Passover (Pesach) is one of the major holidays here in Israel. One trip to the supermarket or the shuk (outdoor market) even a month or so before and you will be amazed by the aisles that are set aside with various and sundry Pesach paraphernalia including, yes, matzah. This year, I tried potato matzah which tastes essentially like Pringles! Like Thanksgiving, Pesach is centered around family, guests, great food and drink, being together, and giving thanks to, among other things, the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt (more details here). The story is told in the Haggadah (Passover book) through narratives, prayers, songs, and poems during the Seder dinner, which may go hours upon hours.

This year, I was fortunate enough to have been invited to a variety of different Pesach Seders here in Israel: Romanian, Polish, Argentinian, Egyptian and Ashkenazi (traditional eastern European). I felt very honored that so many folks wanted me to participate with their families. I decided to spend the Pesach Seder with my cousins who live about an hour south of Haifa near Modi'in.

What a fantastic time I had! I was thrilled to be able to spend Pesach with my cousins and share in such a great experience. They had decided to go solo and do something simple with me as their sole guest (although it was far from small). We had a Seder table decorated with an assortment of beautiful works of art including Seder plates, matzoh trays, wine cups and there was an astonishing amount of delicious food that just kept coming. 

Seder table before we sat down

The highlight for me was how much my cousin’s kids (four of them, ages 4-12) participated. Each of them had a special activity that they had planned for the Seder whether it was a poem, leading in song, commentary, and discussion, or standing up on a chair and making a beautiful observation about something we had read.  It was truly amazing how inspirational they were and how well they carried themselves. One of my other highlights was the Lego pyramid city that my cousin (age 7) made by himself that became the centerpiece of the table; he also included a Lego rendition of the Pharaoh’s army and the Jews' march through the Red Sea (really something!). 

The masterful Lego pyramids

I was also touched by the pictures of family who are no longer with us (aunts, uncles, grandparents) that were displayed on the table.  It was a moving Seder, but full of joy and happiness as well.

By: Jason and Rebecca

Recently, we had a chance to visit the idyllic and spiritual city of Tzfat (see related blog), tucked away in the northern hills of Israel.  We spent the day wandering the streets and alleyways, visiting shops that, yes, included its well-known cheese and wine makers. Our first stop was a place called Kadosh Cheese specializing in small batches of gourmet cheeses, halva, and other dairy products.  

When you think of cheese tasting, you might think of pulling up a chair in a quaint bistro or cafe. As we wandered into the shop we were immediately instructed to have a seat and join the other guests: three Israeli police officers who were already snacking on cheese cubes and olives, which they washed down with hot coffee.  What an amazing experience!!  We were thoroughly welcomed at the table and these guys kept passing us platters of cheese and refilling our coffee cups. 

the only picture I managed to sneak of
our cheese-eating companions

As the discussions went on (in Hebrew of course) we felt welcomed and part of the company and of course felt REALLY extra safe!!!!  All said, it was a great experience and we purchased some of the best blue cheese we've ever had.

A Trip to Tzfat

By: Rebecca

One of the last places on our must-see list was the city of Tzfat (Safed, Tsfat, Zefat - however you want to spell it). Although we had heard mixed reviews about the city, some people love it, others say it's not what it used to be, we were looking forward to checking it out.

Tzfat is one of the four holy cities in Judaism and has long been a center of Kabbalah (or Jewish mysticism). It is still home to a large Kabbalistic community as well as a large artist colony. Perched on the top of a mountain in the northern Galilee, Tzfat affords beautiful views of the valleys below. Unfortunately, the day we visited was hazy, and the Sea of Galilee barely visible, but the scenery was breathtaking nonetheless. The road up the mountain winds through vineyards and olive groves. We were too busy concentrating on the hairpin turns to take any pictures! 

The view to the north from a rooftop observation deck

We spent most of the day wandering around two of Tzfat's most famous neighborhoods. The Artists' Quarter and the Synagogue Quarter. There were all sorts of beautiful things for sale, but unfortunately, since Tzfat is such a known tourist destination, the prices were a bit inflated. By visiting the artists in their studios rather than shopping at galleries, we did manage to find some pieces of art and Judaica to take home.

Just one of the many art pieces throughout Tzfat.
This one depicts the zodiac in ceramic tiles.

A door to one of the many synagogues

A giant havdalah candle at the
Safed Candle Company

All that shopping made us hungry so we visited one of Tzfat's dairies for a cheese tasting, stopped at a small wine cellar for a sample, and had a delicious Yemenite sandwich for lunch. 

We found Tzfat to be a beautiful place to spend a day and would definitely recommend it. If you plan on shopping, just make sure you have an idea of how much things generally cost so you don't pay too much for something you could get elsewhere. Of course, there are beautiful one-of-a-kind items that are well worth the money and it's great to support the local artists that call Tzfat their home.

More pictures of our trip here:

Tzfat