The Month of Spring in the Royal Garden
According to biblical tradition, the Hebrew month of Nissan is called Hodesh haAviv, the month of Spring. This month which is distinguished as the season of our annual celebration of Passover, marks the beginning of spring with all its floral delights. We have enjoyed a relatively wet winter, staving off for a little while the usual threat of drought in this land where water is more valuable than oil. So we feel blessed as we prepare our homes for Passover, clearing out the leavened remnants of the past year, cleaning and scrubbing our dwellings and our souls to ready ourselves for the advent of the Festival of Freedom.
I am particularly taken by the richness of the Israeli urban landscape as Wendy and I take our dog Kipper for walks through our neighborhood. All around us we see evidence of spring’s motley blessings bestowed upon the most unusual and unlikely places. Alleyways offer bouquets of tiny flowers eaking their way through cracks in the pavement as if to belie the drab ordinariness of a city passageway, while empty lots burst into a riot of color seemingly overnight just to delight us when we take our morning constitutional. And when we do, Kipper gets to do his business royally!
You see, across the street from our building is an empty lot about three to four acres in size. According to local lore (and the assurances of our realtor) this property actually belongs to Her Royal Highness the Queen of England. Yes, Kipper’s favorite dumping ground is royal land. Now, how many of you can make a similar claim about your pet’s privy? Ahhh, the wonders and delights of living in Jerusalem.
During most of the year, the plot is a Royal Preserve for the refuse and cast-offs of the neighborhood. But, during Hodesh HaAviv, the empty lot is transformed into a lush garden of wildflowers, butterflies and bees. The waist-high mustard plants cover the old pipe, bits of rubber hose, plastic containers and occasional errant license plate that decorate the sorry space. The yellow mustard forms the backdrop for the colorful display of wildflowers like a canvas painted by a divine hand. Indeed, for the next few weeks (very few unfortunately) we are graced by a garden worthy of Her Royal Highness herself.
So, rather than attempting to describe this marvel, allow these pictures to speak for themselves.
I am particularly taken by the richness of the Israeli urban landscape as Wendy and I take our dog Kipper for walks through our neighborhood. All around us we see evidence of spring’s motley blessings bestowed upon the most unusual and unlikely places. Alleyways offer bouquets of tiny flowers eaking their way through cracks in the pavement as if to belie the drab ordinariness of a city passageway, while empty lots burst into a riot of color seemingly overnight just to delight us when we take our morning constitutional. And when we do, Kipper gets to do his business royally!
You see, across the street from our building is an empty lot about three to four acres in size. According to local lore (and the assurances of our realtor) this property actually belongs to Her Royal Highness the Queen of England. Yes, Kipper’s favorite dumping ground is royal land. Now, how many of you can make a similar claim about your pet’s privy? Ahhh, the wonders and delights of living in Jerusalem.
During most of the year, the plot is a Royal Preserve for the refuse and cast-offs of the neighborhood. But, during Hodesh HaAviv, the empty lot is transformed into a lush garden of wildflowers, butterflies and bees. The waist-high mustard plants cover the old pipe, bits of rubber hose, plastic containers and occasional errant license plate that decorate the sorry space. The yellow mustard forms the backdrop for the colorful display of wildflowers like a canvas painted by a divine hand. Indeed, for the next few weeks (very few unfortunately) we are graced by a garden worthy of Her Royal Highness herself.
So, rather than attempting to describe this marvel, allow these pictures to speak for themselves.
Wendy and I wish all of you a happy, and colorful Passover.
Shalom from Jerusalem.
Shalom from Jerusalem.
posted by RSJD at 9:59 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home