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Simon says: "What happened on this day in history?"

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Rabbi Henry Pereira Mendes of Shearith Israel 📅 ON THIS DAY: 8 June 1898 The Orthodox Union is born - & changes American Jewish history. 25 years after the Reform movement formed its own congregational body, Orthodox Jews in the United States created their own unifying voice: the Orthodox Union (OU). The founding meeting took place at Congregation Shearith Israel,  the historic Spanish & Portuguese synagogue in New York. The driving force? Rabbi Henry Pereira Mendes of Shearith Israel, who, alongside Rabbi Sabato Morais of Philadelphia, had already founded the Jewish Theological Seminary in 188. Why the urgency? Rabbi Mendes & his colleagues believed the Reform movement was abandoning too much Jewish law, especially the kosher dietary rules ( kashrut ). With Reform growing rapidly, particularly among new immigrants from Eastern Europe, they wanted a strong organisational voice for traditionally observant communities. What made the OU different? *A fierce commitment...
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Simon says: "Let's meet the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).

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The Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) Israel is home to 33 bat species, but only this one is a fruit bat. Forget what you know about creepy cave dwellers. These gentle, dog-faced bats are vital to Israel's ecosystem, & you can spot them at dusk across large parts of the country. 🌿 HABITAT From the Galilee & Golan Heights down to the Negev's Ein Gedi & Eilat Mountains, these bats love warm caves, abandoned bunkers & even ancient ruins. The Banias nature reserve & Nahal Soreq Cave are famous for their colonies. They roost in huge numbers, sometimes thousands strong. 🍽️ DIET Strictly frugivorous (fruit-eaters). Figs, dates, ripe persimmons, mulberries & even cultivated orchard fruits. They don't use echolocation like insect-eating bats - instead, they click their tongues rapidly to navigate. Think of it as a built-in fruit GPS. 🥚 BREEDING Mating happens in late autumn. Females give birth to a single pup (rarely twins) April - June – just in ...
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Simon says: "Let's meet the common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)"

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The common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) Lizards represent the largest group of reptiles in Israel, which is home to approximately 100 different reptile species! The common chameleon is one of them, & is found in scrublands, pine forests, coastal plains (& even urban gardens), for example the Carmel Range, western Galilee, Hula Valley & the Sharon region. They love bushes & trees, particularly pistachio, oak & tamarisk, where they move slowly & stealthily. Strict carnivores, their diet includes flies, grasshoppers, crickets & caterpillars. They catch them using a sticky, accordion-like tongue that shoots out in 0.07 seconds - & which is longer than their entire body length. Contrary to popular belief, they don't change colour just to "blend in." In Israel, they shift between green, brown, yellow & even dark gray to regulate temperature, communicate mood, & yes - to hide from birds, snakes & rival males. Each colour change hap...
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Simon says: "Meet Tristram's Starling (Onychognathus tristramii)"

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Tristram's Starling (Onychognathus tristramii) In Israel you can find 500 bird species due to our position as a major migration corridor between Europe, Asia & Africa. Meet Tristram's Starling (Onychognathus tristramii), one of our most striking birds which we see everywhere from the Negev to the Judean Desert & increasingly in towns. Monogamous pairs stay together year-round, even within large flocks Breeding season is March to June, nesting in rock crevices, cliff faces, & even urban buildings. Females lay 2-4 bluish eggs with brown spots; she will sit on her nest while her mate brings her food. They eat wild fruits, beetles, flies, bees & small snails &  can often be seen grooming ibex & domestic livestock, eating ticks & parasites right off them! Farmers in Ein Gedi and Mitzpe Shalom find them to be a pest, as they cause damage to date & grape crops. The bird is named after Reverend Henry Baker Tristram, an English clergyman & naturalist ...
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Simon says: "Meet the Asian Tiger Mosquito!"

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The Asian Tiger Mosquito Israel is home to approximately 22,500 insect species; prevalent at this time of year, in hot, humid regions & near stagnant water, we find the Asian Tiger mosquito, which is monitored for carrying the West Nile virus. This invasive mosquito has invaded at least 45 countries worldwide; Originally from Southeast Asia, it's now spreading across Europe & beyond. Females lay 40-90 eggs/cycle on container walls JUST above water level - they need just ONE OUNCE of water to breed! When rain raises the water, larvae hatch Eggs can survive dry conditions for up to 8 months & withstand winter Males form "leks" (mating swarms) a few feet off the ground, using feathery antennae to hear females' whine. Mating lasts just 5-15 seconds in flight Females can mate up to 4 times in their lifetime & produce several egg batches. They need blood meals to develop eggs & bite aggressively during DAYLIGHT hours, especially dawn (6-8am) & late a...
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Simon says: "Let's discover Israeli orchids!

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Orchis punctulata Did you know that Israel is home to over 30 native species of wild terrestrial orchids - and a thriving commercial orchid industry. 🌿 While local wild varieties grow naturally in forests & nature reserves, some are incredibly rare. A few, such as the Lady's Slipper orchid pictured below (Cypripedium calceolus), are legally protected & can only be admired in situ. What's less known? Israel is also a significant exporter of hybrid Phalaenopsis orchids, grown in state-of-the-art greenhouses using recycled water & climate control technology - a far cry from the fragile blooms you might expect from such a dry climate. So whether you're spotting a wild Ophrys in a Galilee woodland or buying a potted orchid from a local nursery, you're witnessing a surprising floral success story. #OrchidsOfIsrael #WildOrchids #NativeFlora #CommercialOrchids #IsraelNature #BotanyLovers #Phalaenopsis #ConservationThroughCultivation #FloraOfTheMiddleEast #...
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Simon says: "Let's find out about wild boars in Israel!"

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Wild boar in Israel 🐗 (Sus scrofa) Often spotted in the oak woodlands around the Golan & Galilee, the Carmel Mountains & the city of Haifa. In recent years, they've become a major urban fixture - & problem - wandering into residential areas to forage for food. 🌿 Eating habits Wild boar are omnivores who forage by rooting in soil with their strong snouts, eating: Roots, bulbs & tubers Fruits, acorns & agricultural crops Insects, worms & small invertebrates Occasionally small animals or carrion They play an important ecological role in turning soil over - but can also cause damage in agricultural areas. 🌙 Behaviour Mostly active at night (nocturnal) Live in groups called “sounders” (usually females & young) Adult males are often solitary Excellent swimmers & surprisingly agile in dense terrain 🐾 Breeding Can breed year-round in favourable conditions Peak births often follow rainy seasons when food is abundant Gestation is about 115 days Litters usu...
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