After the Fires

Titora Hill, or Giv'at ha-Titura, is a popular archaeological site and beauty spot very near to my home. The original name of the hill, 'Tantara', was adapted in Arabic to 'Tanturah' and the Hebrew to 'Titora' (meaning brim of a hat). I have blogged about it before, here, here and here. During the spring there are over 80 different types of wild flowers on the hilltop. It also has enormous historic value. Evidence has been found which suggests that it may have been inhabited since the Chalcolithic period, between 4,000 and 3,150 BCE. Archaeologists have found artifacts from the First Temple period, whilst further remains indicate that the Hasmoneans lived on the hilltop in about 165 BCE. There is also evidence that it was used as a hideout during the time of Bar Kochba, who died in 135 CE. At the top of the hill the remains of a Crusader fort can be found.

There was little reporting in the English press of a wave of fires in Israel recently. The fires were spread as far south as the Dead Sea area and north to Nahariya. The largest fire occurred in Haifa where 527 apartments were destroyed completely, leaving 1,600 people homeless. Other major fires occurred in the Jerusalem area and there were smaller ones elsewhere, including a fire on Titora Hill. Israeli officials said the fires had been fanned by unusually strong winds and were made worse by a dry atmosphere, but they also said they suspected that many of them had been caused by arson. More than 35 people were arrested on suspicion of setting the fires or inciting to do so.

Mister Handmade in Israel and I went for a stroll on Titora Hill last weekend. Having woken early on the day of the fire from the fire-fighting planes flying right over our home, we were relieved to see that the hill was not as badly burnt as we expected. The main damage covers the area of the Crusader ruins and down the northern edge of the hill. It is thought that larger, faster moving animals could have escaped the fire, but that the smaller, slower crawling creatures would not have had any chance. The question is whether the larger animals will return and only time will tell.
Before the fires, funding had been granted for the clearing of the paths and a general maintenance plan for the hill, to make it more easily accessible and pleasant for walking. There is also a plan for the Israel Antiquities Authority to dig in the area of the Crusader fort. At the moment the consensus seems to be to not do anything after the fire and let nature take its course. There have been fires on the hill most years during the summer and the vegetation has rehabilitated naturally.

More than 4,900 acres of forests, brush land and open space were burnt in Israel during 8 days of fires. The current rains have brought up the first few Sitvanit HaYoreh (Sitvanit from Stav meaning autumn and HaYoreh, the first rain) on Titora Hill, as well as Carcum Horpi (Winter Crocus). I also noticed a fair amount of other greenery poking through the burnt, blackened ground - a sign of renewal and of course hope for better times. We are very lucky to have this wonderful green area on our doorstep. I hope that the entire area will be preserved - and stay free of fire - for many years to come.

* This post has been shared on Sundays in my City, Creative Mondays, Scenic Weekends, Macro Monday, the Good.Random.Fun., Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Our World Tuesday and Travel Tuesday.