Touring Israel with a tour guide

The pomegranate (Punica Granatum)" A symbol of Israel, a gift of the land - & a tree I get to watch grow in my very own garden. - planted 19 years ago as a sapling. Every autumn when I crack open a pomegranate, I feel connected to generations of farmers & dreamers who did the same thing before me. In Israel, the pomegranate isn’t just a fruit, it’s a symbol, representing abundance, fertility, wisdom & the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Jewish tradition. It appears in the Song of Solomon, adorns ancient Judean coins, can be found in synagogue mosaics in the Negev & Caesaria, on the 5 Agorot coin minted between 1976 & 1980 & on a modern 2-Shekel Coin, which is a direct replica of an ancient Jewish coin from 103–76 BCE (minted under King Alexander Jannaeus). The pomegranate was one of the 7 sacred species of the Land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8), alongside wheat, barley, grapes, figs, olives & dates. The rind & roots were historically used to produce a ...

The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) The Black-winged Stilt is one of the most easily recognizable waders at Ma'agan Michael Birdwatching Park. But did you know these three fascinating facts? *They have the longest legs relative to body size of any bird in the world (except flamingos). Those bright pink legs are perfect for wading through deeper water without getting their feathers wet! *The "Tuxedo" Look: Their stark black-and-white plumage provides excellent camouflage in the light of the marsh, helping them blend in with the water & reeds. * The Accidental Tourist: While they are a permanent resident in Israel, many Black-winged Stilts are migrants. In fact, the name Himantopus comes from the Greek word for "strap-foot," referring to their incredibly slender toes, which help them balance on soft mud without sinking. Next time you visit Ma'agan Michael, see if you can spot one standing on one leg -they do it to conserve energy & regulate ...

  The Common Lionfish (Pterois miles) With its distinctive, feathery fins & zebra stripes, the lionfish is one Mediterranean’s most grave ecological threats. Native to the Indo-Pacific, the lionfish found its way into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Without natural predators in these waters, its population has exploded. They use their wide, fan-like fins to corner small fish & crustaceans; a lionfish’s stomach can expand up to 30 times its normal size, & a single lionfish can reduce a reef’s native fish population by up to 80% in just a few weeks! They have 18 venomous spines across their back, belly & tail, packed with a potent neurotoxin, which causes excruciating pain. If you are ever stung, soak the wound in hot (not scalding) water to break down the venom proteins until medical help arrives. While rarely fatal to healthy humans, a sting is incredibly painful, causing swelling, nausea & severe discomfort. If you see one, admire from a distance – never ...