The weekend begins after what feels like a weekend that was…Oh what joy the Spring carries with it. Holidays, Independence Day, end of year ceremonies, parties. . .

Here are some shots from Israel’s 60th Independence Day. Enjoy, relax and have a fun-filled (continued) weekend!

Your friends @ Israelity

Dress….one.jerusalem

Jerusalem…jewlicious

Russian Military Band joins Haifa celebrations…Dutchblog Israel

Benji “Goldstar” Lovitt

Want to get in on the Israel Independence Day Action?

You can help set a Guinness World Record by joining others from around the world and in Israel in singing the country’s national anthem, Ha’Tikva (The Hope), live as it is broadcast from Israel’s Reshet Television Network.

Want the details? Go to this site to get info, words to the anthem, background on the project & a clock converter for the broadcast local time in your area. (22:50 local Israel, FYI)

Meanwhile….Check the video…

In a few short hours, mia comrades, we take to the streets here in The Promised Land in order to celebrate …

ISRAEL’S 60TH BIRTHDAY!!!

Personally, I’ll be joining an excursion to Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square for festivities - music, fireworks, displays and lots of spray foam and silly string. Thousands and thousands of revelers will be there too but heck, a 60th only comes around once, ya know?

Tomorrow morning it’s off to the beach for a 10 a.m. air force show over Tel Aviv. Friends currently visiting Israel from Denmark were here a decade ago and say the 50th air show was stupendous.

A note to those of you who haven’t been able to join us here in Israel for the occasion and a wee “mood setter” for you:

It’s been festive for the past week, hordes of tourists are out and about - hotels are sold out, tour buses are everywhere - electric excitement is in the air, Rabin Square was packed with English, Hebrew, French, Spanish, etc. speaking visitors last night for the country’s live/televised memorial service program.

Our hearts are with those of you who can’t be here and if you’re feeling a bit low about not being state-side, check out the next entry on joining the live Ha’Tikva singing session. It’s a way of getting in on the action.

Happy Holiday to All! Get out there and Have Fun!

Your Friends @ Israelity

Last night at sundown…Israel began marking Memorial Day. From Harry at Jerusalemite blog:

Unlike in other parts of the Western world, where anonymous casualties are several times removed from the masses, Israel’s Memorial Day involves no mega retail sales, no football games and no barbecues. It is a bleak day where the entire nation pauses to reflect on the sacrifices our heroes have made in the name of our elusive peace and security.

…. a siren wails and Jerusalem (and all of Israel) stands in silence for one minute to remember the fallen. The state ceremony takes place at the Western Wall, and tomorrow, a two-minute siren will wail at 11:00, and families and locales will hold their own ceremonies and memorials.

It seems everybody but everybody is getting in on Israel’s 60th anniversary craze.

That includes, of course, marketers who are pulling gimmicks galore in a bid for attention and those hard earned shekels.

What are some of the trendier 60th trends?

- Marco’s Shoes is offering “special edition” sandals and clogs in blue and white motifs

- Shilav Baby Clothing & Accessories will be giving away 60 baby carriages to the first 60 new mothers who sign up on their website between May 7-8.

- The cafe cafe chain is offering hummus flavored ice-cream for the anniversary

- Blockbuster Video is offering 6-movie memberships for 60 shekels ($17) instead of NIS143 ($41) between May 6-8.

- Africa-Israel Investments is offering an NIS60,000 ($17,400) discount to government employees who purchase apartments in the Savyoneem neighborhood (!!!)

I don’t know why people think living in the country is so healthy.
This morning as I was out for a bit of exercise around the village perimeter, a large snake suddenly slithered across the road just in front of me.

I often see animals when I’m out walking - porcupines, deer, wild pigs (at a distance luckily), but this is the first time I’ve encountered a snake. And so near. My heart almost stopped beating and I found myself clutching my chest.

I made it home in record time, and phoned a friend.
“What color was it?” he asked.
“Brown.”
“With patterns?”
“Uh, huh.”
“Diamond type patterns?”
“yeh, kind of like that.”
“Was it big?”
“About a meter and a half. And fat too…”

“It was probably a sepher,” he said casually. “It’s Israel’s most dangerous snake. Wow, if it’d bitten you, and your heart was beating hard from exercise, you’d be dead in minutes.”

A few years back we were doing some repairs to our house, and a couple of workmen dug a hole near one of the windows. Suddenly a snake appeared out of the hole, slithered across the arms and chest of one of the builders and made for the gate. In one smooth movement, my husband grabbed a spade and cut off it’s head.

Later one of our neighbors told him off. “It was a black snake,” he said. “If you’ve got a black snake in the garden then you won’t get a sepher.”
“What and the black snake doesn’t bite?”
“No it does bite and you’ll get really sick, but you won’t get as sick as if you get bitten by a sepher.”

In these here parts, everyone’s got a snake story, or failing that a scorpion one, or a tale about some other close encounter with a poisonous beastie. Makes you long for city living… where a cockroach is the worst you’ll find to make you scream.

How does Israel compare with the rest of the world when it comes to the current recession/economic slowdown?

According to Israel’s press citing The Economist, growth trends are expected to rise by 3.6% in 2008 and 3.9% in 2009. This after a 4-year 5.3% growth pattern per annum.

Comparatively, the U.S. is expected to grow economically by a mere 1.7% in 2008 and 1.6% in 2009.

And who stands to flourish beyond the pale? China and India with 9.6% expected growth this year.

Hmmm..

This video coinciding with Israel’s 60th is upbeat & fun and it’s a glimpse of the usual tourist type fare. Tia, Sabra at heart.

Yep, Israelis DO eat olives for breakfast.

But don’t take our word for it…

elahnzetlin.com noticed too…

Here it is. The update you’ve been waiting for. realtelaviv.com brings us THE hottest Independence Day Party venues in Tel Aviv Wednesday night for gettin’ that groove thang shake it out and dance up a storm a-workin’ (!!!)

No excuses. Get out your happy shoes and GO!

The city will start to light up around 20:00: all of a sudden the streets will fill up, like ants coming out after the winter. I recommend simply joining the crowd!

The only other thing you just must have with you on this special night is a foam sprayer. This is a long time Israeli tradition, kids and adults all spray it each other like crazy! You really have to watch your back…

Head over to realtelaviv.com for insider info on late night after party action too.

YAHOO!!

Someone care to update us on Jerusalem and Haifa happenings?

Watch who you call “sweetie baby baby”…it could cost you cash AND community service.

Such is the case of Constant Takatch, a 54-year-old resident of the Tel Aviv suburb Bat Yam.

While lolling poolside at a Dead Sea resort hotel last year, Constant called out to an attractive female guest: “Hey Doll! Sweetie!”.

The horrified woman decided to take action and filed against Takatch with Beer Sheba police for sexual harassment. The police, sensing the claim was the real deal, forwarded it on to a magistrate’s court.

Takatch admitted to his catcalling ways but said he meant no harm.

Never mind. NIS2000 fine and 80 hours of community service.

Done.

Gila of Gila’s Big Adventure recently traveled from Israel to Turkey. En route…

… in line at the Israeli passport check. An Arab-Israeli goes to me “Where are you from?” I reply back cheekily…” I am from Israel..where are you from?”…to which he replies” No you do not look Israeli!… I am from Azza (i.e. Gaza..sf)…do you know Azza? It no longer exists…it is now Tel-Aviv Ilit”. In other words…now part of greater Tel-Aviv…I found this viewpoint…literally straight from the source striking.

Striking…well, um…yes indeed.

I had some stuff to do at Israel’s national carrier site - that would be El Al Airlines for those not in the know (plug plug) - so I navigated on over and found the “Travel With Pets” section because that’s what I needed.

Lord knows how it happened but all of a sudden I found myself careening over to the bit on in-flight meal offerings. (Someone care to hold my hand and recite the Serenity Prayer together?)

After spending a few moments browsing in-flight meal choices I had a hefty revelation: The Jewish populace is NOT in danger of hollowing out around the collective midriff anytime soon.

For of all the in-flight offerings I’ve ever perused - and I’ve perused a few in my day - I don’t ever ever EVER recall seeing one as abundantly abundant as Israel’s.

Check it out:

Special Meals*
Chicken Meal – For passengers who do not want a beef meal(when meat meals are being served to other passengers).

Fish Meal – For passengers who do not want a beef or chicken meal.

Hindu Meal – The meal reflects the characteristic tastes and aromas of the Indian kitchen and contains no beef. Intended for followers of the Hindu religion.

Meal for Greek Orthodox Pilgrims – Meals based entirely on fruit and vegetables.

Fruit Meal – Based on fresh and dried fruit.

Strictly Vegetarian Meals – Vegetarian meals that do not include eggs or dairy products.

Vegetarian Meals that may contain eggs or dairy products (when dairy meals are served to other passengers).

Asian Vegetarian Meals – Do not include animal-based ingredients or root vegetables and reflect the characteristic tastes and aromas of the Asian kitchen.

Children’s Meals – Consisting of a combination of familiar, fun food that kids love.

Healthy Meals

Diabetic Meal – For passengers who must control their blood sugar levels (diabetics). Includes sugar substitutes and low-fat products.

Gluten Free Meals – A special meal for celiacs. Meals exclude wheat-based and other grain products, such as: pasta, bread, cakes, unless wheat free and gluten-reduced.

Low Salt Meal – A special meal for passengers on a salt-restricted diet.

Lactose-Free Meal – Excludes dairy products and their derivatives (when dairy meals are served).

Strictly Kosher meals
Meals are prepared by “HaMasbia” and are under “Badatz Yerushalayim” kashruth supervision:

Strictly Kosher Meal

Strictly Kosher Fish Meal

Strictly Kosher Children’s Meal

Strictly Kosher Meals from New York
Served only on flights from New York. Meals are under “Regal” kashruth supervision.

Strictly Kosher Meals – Regal

Strictly Kosher Fish meal – Regal

Strictly Kosher Children’s meal – Regal

Strictly Kosher Vegetarian meal– Regal

*sigh* All this food stuff making you hungry? Can I get you something?

Well this week’s the week. Sixty and all. Fireworks. Celebrations. Parties. BBQ’s…

We thought it only fitting to drum up a few renditions of this tune. Because, after all, it’s pretty much why we’re here.

Happy Sixtieth Israel. Catch you at 120.

Here we go again spotting ridiculous signage in Israel.

From Israeli By Day, American By Night who speculates Israelis are so proud of their English (sic) they refuse to have a 3rd party proof before going to print:

My boss sent me these pictures. These are 100% real signs in the Lake Kinneret area, the Sea of Galilee, the Jesus place (and Israel’s biggest freshwater source). My boss, Mikhael, is pretty dead on with his observation of whatever mindset could allow these signs to actually be paid for and displayed in public as legitimate warnings for a well traveled area

Living in Israel, it’s kind of tough to get away from major happenings.

Cocoon yourself inside the house or apartment and avoid press or television you may try, but if something’s going on you’re probably going to hear about it.

Take Friday night. Things have warmed up temperature-wise in the Promised Land and walking down the streets of Tel Aviv it was impossible NOT to know this game was on.

There were the in-stereo screams: “OH!” & “Aye!” and the wild hand clapping and running commentary coming from multiple television sets.

Kudos to Maccabi Tel Aviv; All Eyes are on Tonight’s Euroleague Championship Game!

Madrid. Finals. CSKA Moscow versus Tel Aviv. Be There or Be Square.

Aloha.

Bauhaus building design, writes blogger Chris over at telaviv.com, is what make this wonderful city of ours (Tel Aviv) a very special place to be.

According to Chris, there are 4,000 Bauhaus style architecture structures in Tel Aviv and in his posting he lists his top five favorites accompanied by photos.

A sampling:

56 Mazeh Street
Oh my goodness!!!!!! This has to be my all time favorite building. This for me is pure Bauhaus, this is the way Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus movement, would have done it. I could easily take a day off work, sit on the pavement and just soak up the enormity of this building.

And now…a quick lesson in internet marketing.

Heard about the four P’s? Let’s go through them quickly.
1) Product: what you’re selling. Let’s take Mexican food in Israel for example. It’s nasty. Good luck marketing that.

2) Price: self-explanatory. Dr. Pepper costs 85 million shekels per can. I wonder why they don’t sell more here. The more competitive your prices, the easier you’ll be able to sell your product. Have you been to AM/PM before in Tel Aviv? I only go there if, aleph, it’s Shabbat, or bet, I’m at gunpoint. They won’t be hiring me for their marketing team anytime soon.

3) Place: where you’re selling, how the product gets to the customer. I hear our neighbors make chumus better than we do. I also won’t be finding out anytime soon. This may explain why I don’t see many commercials for Chickpea Joe’s in Ramallah (or maybe it’s because I don’t have cable.)

4) Promotion: where and how you get your message to your customer. Internet advertising is the way to go these days although it seems that we still have some kinks to figure out in 2008.

WHY AM I SEEING THIS ON MY COMPUTER???

Ooh la la! Baby baby-how about you come back to my place and we make fatwas all night long? At least they made the ad in my native language…not like this time.

Thanks, Talia. 

For more laughs, check out What War Zone???