Megalithic Stone Circles

At one time, building stone circles meant a lot to many people in many parts of the world. Having once tried my hand at duplicating Stonehenge in the backyard, I can understand this. But nowhere are the megaliths more beautiful than in the British Isles, and especially Scotland Highlands and Islands. This picture is the Callanish Circle on the Isle of Lewis & Harris, in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of the Highland Scottish mainland. An enchanted land without a doubt.

High tourist season, a beautiful stretch of weather, well-served by modern transport, and not a soul in site. At least for a while. The average view out the train window in most of Scotland would be a designated natural beauty site in most other countries. I had to stop taking photos.

Fathers: Abba Shimshon & Bedouin in Sinai

Every son ought to have at least one photo of his father like this one. It doesn't have to be on a camel, though that helps, as does being at the foot of Mt Sinai. (Actually, Jebel Musa, Mt Moses, a traditional possible location of the famous Giving of the Ten Commandments.)

The nameless bedouin is certainly someone's beloved father, too. This is probably not his son's first choice of photos for the family album, but it does not represent subservience, but rather parnasa--making a living--and bringing home the lahbnei to his goat-hair tent full of children.

A Window on Eternity

Hard to believe that only a few meters away from this view of the Mount of Olives you can order fat bagles, thin-crust pizza, soft ice cream, or a skull-cap embroidered with your name. That is Israel. That is Jerusalem. One foot in the 21st century, and another out of time altogether. A living, breathing contemporary city, and a gateway to eternity.

Shanah Tovah for the New Year 5770

What? A view of the Kotel without the al-Aqsa mosque?! Can it be so?

Well, really now, it never was a very good symbol for Israel, was it?

A Walk on the Edge

A cove on the shore of the Sea of Galilee--Lake Kineret, from the ancient Hebrew kinor, or harp, as it was thought to be so shaped. Shaped much like the anatomical heart, minus the hoses though. Jerusalem is the spirit and soul of Israel, and the Kineret, then, is the heart. The great pumps send the waters up almost 700 feet--to sea level--from this deep hole in the earth, and into the National Water Carrier and out to the rest of Israel.

Below is a composition for the Scottish Highland Bagpipe, commemorating a mountain in the Negev Desert of southern Israel which some archaeologists believe to be the true Mt Sinai. I've been composing for the pipes for many years.

Hear HAR QARQOM --The Saffron Mountain

Dining Area with Books & Cat

Some people like to look at cabinets of dishware while eating. And what could be more interesting than staring at an armoire full of plates, at the same moment that you are actually eating off of one! A truly integrated, multi-sensory experience if ever there was. Though as a rule, I find books and cats more satisfying.

Usually we eat out of large plastic bowls while sitting in the salon. If only we had an armoire maybe we'd feel inspired to sit in the dining cul de sac.

Speaking of sacs, this is also one of the very few spots in all Israel where lessons on the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe (Khemet Khalilim Skotit) take place.

Fresh Food Every Day

Green onion, yellow onion, hot red pepper, tomato, eggplant, and just off screen olive oil, cabbage, and puy black lentils. Maybe a little heavy on the "breath fresheners," but my kind of food!