Touring Israel with a tour guide

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael The Atlantic Pistachio Also known as Elah Atlantit (Pistacia atlantica), this magnificent, tree can reach 15–20 metres, spread into a huge mushroom-shaped canopy, & live for hundreds of years. And here's where things get biblical… The Hebrew word elah refers to a terebinth or pistachia tree, & the Valley of Elah - Emek HaElah - takes its name from these trees. It was here that the Bible tells us David faced Goliath (1 Samuel 17) The elah appears several more times in the Bible: 🌿 Jacob buried his family's idols beneath an elah near Shechem (Genesis 35:4) 🌿 Saul's bones were buried beneath an elah at Jabesh (1 Chronicles 10:12) 🌿 Isaiah used the image of an elah stump to describe survival & renewal (Isaiah 6:13) 🌿 Hosea mentions the shade of the elah as a place where people practised idolatry (Hosea 4:13) One important detail: we can't be certain that all these biblical elah trees were Pistacia atlantica. Sev...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael Hadas ie myrtle, one of the 'Four Species (Arba Minim)' 🇮🇱 The common myrtle (Myrtus communis) grows wild in parts of Israel, including the Galilee, Mount Carmel & the Golan Heights - & cultivated in my garden in Zichron Ya'acov! But the myrtle is more than a beautiful, fragrant plant. Jewish tradition gives it some lovely symbolism: 👁️ Eyes: The shape of its leaves is traditionally linked to the eyes, reminding us to look carefully at how we see the world. 🌸 Kindness: In the classic midrash, the myrtle has fragrance but no taste. Fragrance represents good deeds, while taste represents Torah learning. It symbolises people whose kindness shines through their actions, even without great scholarship. 🤝 Unity: Together with the palm, willow & etrog, the myrtle is part of a bundle that reminds us that different people, with different qualities, belong together. Next time you hold a lulav, take a closer look at those...

  #ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael Israeli avocados Did you know that Israel grows several avocado varieties, including Hass, Ettinger & Pinkerton? From the coastal plains to the fertile valleys, avocado growing has become an important part of Israeli agriculture. A Mediterranean climate, drip irrigation & decades of agricultural innovation help farmers produce avocados for the local market & export. 🥑 From orchard to plate Sliced into salads, spread on toast, blended into smoothies or simply eaten with a spoon straight from the skin, avocados are a favourite in many Israeli kitchens! From the biblical Seven Species to today’s agricultural exports, Israel’s fruit industry tells a story of changing landscapes, farming traditions & innovation. 👉 Want to taste Israel for yourself? Join us on a tour & discover the flavours, farms & stories behind the fruits 👇 📩 imagineisraelenquiries@gmail.com 📲 Phone/WhatsApp: +972 54 2390412 🌐 https://imag...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael The Jerusalem Pine!”(Pinus halepensis) This is one of the trees you’re most likely to spot in Israel’s forests. Much of Israel’s pine woodland was planted by KKL-JNF over the past century. The Jerusalem Pine is well suited to dry conditions & can grow in relatively poor soils, making it a popular choice for reforestation. Some of its cones can remain closed on the tree for years, releasing seeds when heat causes them to open. After forest fires, this can help the pine regenerate, especially when the winter rains arrive. Needles grow in pairs, about 10 cm long, giving the tree its distinctive look • The female cones point sharply downward- a telltale sign distinguishing it from the Brutia Pine planted alongside it • Its straight trunk has made it useful for furniture, wine barrels & even paper • In the 1980s, a pest called the Israeli Matsucoccus scale insect caused mass die-offs, leading KKL to replace many plantings with the mor...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael The Jackdaws of Maresha Maresha (Beit Guvrin), is most famous for its remarkable 3,000 year old history of ancient peoples, & underground chalk caves. But as I found out when visiting there today, one of its most interesting residents is very much alive - the jackdaw (קאק), a small member of the crow family. And here's the surprise: jackdaws nest in the ancient columbarium! What's a columbarium? It's an underground dovecote, carved with thousands of small niches. These caves were used to raise doves for food, fertiliser & religious offerings. Today, those same niches provide perfect nesting spots for jackdaws. Look out for its silvery-grey neck, pale eyes & distinctive kak-kak call. You may hear one before you spot it! Jackdaws are highly intelligent & social, living in flocks with complex relationships and hierarchies. Look up! Next time you're exploring the columbarium at Maresha, take a moment to look in...

#imagineisraeltours #simonostertourguideisrael Israel's "Apple-Peach" Ever wondered why the Sharon fruit is so special? It's not just a persimmon, it's an Israeli icon. Named after the Sharon Plain where it was first cultivated, this fruit is a specifically bred variety of the 'Triumph' persimmon . But here's what makes it magic: No seeds, no core: Just pure, edible flesh . Zero astringency: Unlike regular persimmons, you can eat it firm & crunchy like an apple, or soft & sweet like a peach. No waiting for it to get mushy! The Israeli Process. After harvest, they're treated with a special controlled atmosphere (carbon dioxide) to remove that chalky feeling, making them ready to eat immediately . Season Alert: They're harvested in Israel around October & November, making them a perfect winter treat available right now. How to eat it: Just bite into it like an apple! (The skin is totally edible). Or slice it into a salad for a sweet c...