Hurvat Nekes

The war continues, and for the past month we have stayed mostly at home, or very close to it. Of course, daily life still goes on - we need to eat - and with Passover, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, beginning this week, there is even more food preparation than usual.
So we venture out from time to time, carefully planning each trip to the supermarket. We try to go shortly after a missile attack, reassured by the knowledge that there is a safe room at our destination. The sirens still sound, day and night. We are all exhausted, but for the most part, safe.
This blog post was written before the war began. I hope the day will come soon when we can once again visit Hurvat Nekes in peace.

Hurvat Nekes (חורבת נכס) is a beautiful site on the western outskirts of the city of Modi'in. ​Archaeological finds from many periods - from prehistoric times to the present day - have been discovered there, together with the standing remains of buildings from the former Arab village of al-Kunayyisa.

The name Hurvat Nekes translates as "the ruins of Nekes." Hurvat means "ruin" or "ruined site" in Hebrew ("khirba" in Arabic) and refers to a ruined site, abandoned village, or ancient archaeological mound, often containing remnants of buildings, cisterns, and walls. Hurvat is commonly used for smaller sites (villages, farms, outposts). Larger, mound-shaped sites are often called "tel" (תל) in Hebrew.

Hurvot, or "khirab", are common sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, often dating to the Byzantine or Roman period. They serve as crucial archaeological, agricultural, or residential markers.

Hurvat Nekes is made up of three low hills and the valleys separating them. From the western hill there are wide views toward the Shfela (lowlands) and the ruins of al-Kunayyisa and its orchards.​ Al-Kunayyisa was a former Arab village that was abandoned on 10th July 1948 during the War of Independence. The village lay less than 2 km to the northeast of the Ramle-Jerusalem highway, and was linked to it - and to neighbouring villages as well - by dirt paths.

Al-Kunayyisa, whose name likely refers to a small church or shrine (derived from the Arabic root kanisa, meaning "church"), was resettled in the early 20th century atop an earlier settlement, the remains of which include rough stone walls, arched doors and building foundations. Within the remains of the settlement, you can see the main alley, side alleys, residential buildings, courtyards and service buildings adjacent to them, including several tabuns and a granary. One of the buildings was probably used as a mosque, and a prayer niche (the mihrab) facing south can be seen.

Agriculture was the backbone of the villagers' economy, focusing mainly on the cultivation of grain. The villagers also cultivated citrus and olives in the northern and southern parts of the land, which they irrigated from nearby wells. Today, fig, almond, olive, carob, and pomegranate trees and cactuses grow among the buildings. The lands in the vicinity are cultivated by a nearby kibbutz.

A wealth of archaeological remains at Hurvat Nekes reflects continuous human activity in the area. As well as the remains of the village of Al-Kunayyisa, prehistoric flint tools, rock-cut water reservoirs and cisterns, stone cups, burial mounds, wine and olive presses, agricultural terraces and quarries have be found there. The finds represent several periods, including the Iron Age, the Roman period, the Byzantine period, the Mamluk period, and more.

The hills and slopes of Hurvat Nekes are dotted with low trees and shrubs, including buckthorn, Christ's thorn, and other native shrubs. At the time of our visit, on a beautiful sunny weekend at the end of January, almond trees were blossoming and the area was lit up with red anemones, or in Hebrew, "calaniot". The Hebrew name "calanit" comes from "kalanit" meaning "little bride", referring to the flower's delicate shape. It is Israel's national flower.

Today, the site of Hurvat Nekes functions as an open park that combines nature, history, mountain biking and hiking trails. A path crossing the centre of Hurvat Nekes forms part of the Israel Trail, Israel's national long-distance hiking route. Additional local marked trails (including green/yellow markings) connect the hills and valleys, though numerous pits and caves are scattered throughout the area, requiring hikers to proceed with caution. Cattle also graze in the area, and the slopes are home to a rich variety of wildlife, including yellow scorpions, beetles, centipedes, and other species.

From the western hill at Hurvat Nekes, the Modi'in-Jerusalem railway stretches out in the distance. At the top of the hill, we came across this charming little bench, below. The Hebrew sign reads: "In honour of the fighters. For everyone who sometimes needs a little peace and quiet."

Though I may not be a fighter in the traditional sense, that sentiment truly resonated with me. We enjoyed a well-earned rest, taking in the fabulous view.

* This post has been shared on Mosaic Monday, Busy Monday, Monday Morning Blog Club, Through My Lens

A Match Made in Tel Aviv

The war continues to rumble on, and in our part of the country we hear sirens and the loud booms of missiles being intercepted overhead throughout the day and night. The result is broken sleep and a lingering tiredness that carries into the following day. In most cases, we first receive a preliminary alert on our phones, followed a few minutes later by a more urgent warning instructing us to get to a safe space, where we sit and listen to interceptions close by.
In our home, we are fortunate to have a safe room - as do all houses and apartments built since 1992. These rooms are constructed from reinforced concrete and steel, with heavy doors and protected windows. However, many people across the country are not in the same situation. Some must hurry down multiple flights of stairs, while others even need to go outside to reach a shared bomb shelter. This is especially challenging for families with small children, and for the sick or elderly, who often cannot manage it at all.
These moments, repeated throughout the day, create a new rhythm to daily life - one marked by pauses for alerts and a constant need to stay aware. And yet, in between the sirens, we are trying really, really hard to maintain our normal lives.

Just before the war began, a friend in the UK was excited to tell me that her daughter had got engaged to her long-term partner. "Can I ask if you could make a card for them?" she wrote. "So excited to be able to ask you!"

Her daughter and future son-in-law met each other through NOAM, the youth movement that my own boys belonged to. NOAM is an acronym for No'ar Masorti, Masorti Youth, a Zionist youth movement. The couple got to know each other when they both lived and served in Israel and though they are now in the UK, they plan to settle here again one day.

My friend sent me the couple's engagement photo and told me they share many interests: they're both vegan, they love Israel, they met through Noam Masorti, and they both love Tel Aviv.

I showed the young couple, with the bride-to-be proudly displaying her engagement ring, against the backdrop of Tel Aviv. The Israeli flag is blowing in the wind behind them. Next to the flag I included the NOAM logo, and below it I added a little bowl with vegetables in it, as a nod to their shared vegan lifestyle.

The card reached the UK quickly and seemed to be very well received!

The bride-to-be wrote:
"Hi Lisa, I just wanted to say the biggest thank you for making the card my parents sent for our engagement. It’s SO beautiful and you are incredibly talented! I already want to frame it!"
Shortly after, my friend messaged:
"Hi Lisa! The card has arrived! They love it 🥰 Thank you so much again, and I can’t wait to see it myself!"

* This post has been shared on Happiness is Homemade, Craft Schooling Sunday, Mosaic Monday, Handmade Monday, Busy Monday, Talking About It Tuesdays, Tuesday Turn About, Tuesdays with a Twist, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop, Saturday Sparks Link Party, BFF Open House, Funtastic Friday and Crazy Little Lovebirds.

Cats, Cocktails & Cowboy Boots

As Julie's 60th birthday approached, a group of her friends got in touch and asked me to design a birthday card to mark the occasion. A whole range of ideas was suggested for the design, but the list was eventually whittled down to a few of her - in Julie's own words - "crazy hobbies"!
I was told that Julie adores her two cats - one black and one tabby. She's also into weightlifting (free weights, no less!) and is apparently a master bartender. More recently, she has taken up line dancing via YouTube videos - and says she absolutely loves it. I was also asked to incorporate a 60 somewhere in the design.

I decided to depict bespectacled Julie with her beloved kitties in her arms. In front of her sits the barbell she trains with. Behind her, I added tiny cocktails, complete with umbrellas and coloured straws, along with a large flat-screen TV playing her favourite YouTube line dancing video. I also included a big pink 60 to highlight her milestone birthday.

It seems that Julie was thrilled with the card. Her friends sent me the photo, shown near the top of this post, on the evening of her birthday celebration, and then Julie herself followed up with this lovely message:
"Hi Lisa, the card you made for my 60th birthday is fantastic! Thank you so much! My kids were amazed by it because they said it perfectly represents me and my latest crazy hobbies. I'm going to frame it."

* This post has been shared on Saturday's Critters, Happiness is Homemade, Mosaic Monday, Handmade Monday, Busy Monday, Talking About It Tuesdays, Tuesday Turn About, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop and Crazy Little Lovebirds.