Page 13 - Discover Israel Magazine - 2015 Edition
P. 13
Druze pita bakers and Margalit Zenati
spice merchants ofer their inside the Peki'in
wares. Photo: Amit Shaal synagogue.
Photo: Amit Shaal
Good Neighbors
in the Galilee
where they come to enjoy its spectacular life. The story of Margalit’s father was turned authored the mystic work of the Zohar, while
mountain vistas and walking down the main into a Hebrew play and staged in the town. miraculously nourished by a single carob
street, stopping in to meet Savta (“Grandma”) In the wake of the riots, the Jews left Peki’in, tree and a mountain spring. Carobs still
Jamila, an enterprising Druze matron who although the Zenatis and a few others shade the cave, and the spring emerges
manufactures soap from a secret recipe below in the center of town at a picturesque
eventually returned.
based on olive oil that she swears is good for pool, which is best taken in while lingering
just about everything that ails. Visitors can The Druze and the Jews share a bond that over Arabic-style cofee or tea at the outdoor
also explore the ancient synagogue to enjoy predates Israel’s establishment, after which café next door.
warm, fresh-baked pita that they can watch the members of this 1,000 year-old faith
being made on an old-fashioned sadj (a kind decided to tie their fate to Israel and send A walk through the town takes visitors
of upside-down wok) and buy souvenirs. In their sons to serve in the army alongside their past the gate to the Druze place of prayer,
Israel’s highly charged atmosphere, that in Jewish compatriots. The Christians now live marked with a star bearing the ive colors of
itself is a story worth telling. mainly in their own neighbourhoods, called the Druze lag, and the local church, down
Makhoul, although their church is near the to the synagogue. Grape vines as thick as
Peki’in relects the entire complicated town center, and the Muslims, a minority tree-trunks wend their way in and out of
chronicle that is Israel. Its history goes back here in contrast to their overall numbers the windows of some abandoned buildings;
among Israel’s non-Jews, attend a mosque carob and pomegranate trees sprout
to at least Second Temple times, when it
is irst mentioned by historian Josephus in the neighbouring town of Rama. from jumbles of stones of once-elegant
Flavius. According to a Jewish traveler in courtyards, and everything is daubed with
1602 the mainstays of Peki’in’s economy in One regular stop on the touring map is the brilliant vermillion of wild bougainvillea
those days were the raising of silk worms the cave next to Gabriel and Elisabeth’s running riot in unexpected places. But the
house, where according to tradition, rebel village charm – and its architectural potential
for the textile industry centred in nearby
Safed. An 18th-century traveler describes and sage Rabbi Simeon Bar Yochai led – cannot be hidden.
the city’s “abundance of lemons and sweet from the Romans and hid for 13 years with
apples, and milk, along with butter, cheese his son. During that time he is said to have The synagogue in the center of the village
and honey that is sent throughout the land of was built in its present form in 1873 thanks
Israel,” and observed that it was “inhabited to a contribution by one Rafael Halevi
by some 20 Jewish families, born in the land, from Beirut, “may God protect and save
who are shepherds of sheep and goats, and The menorah over the synagogue him,” says a plaque on the wall. In 1956,
beckons visitors. Photo: Hanan
have a small synagogue.” Issachar announces another plaque, a large menorah
was placed atop the building when the State
That same tiny synagogue is one of the of Israel restored it. The plaques inside,
highlights of a visit to Peki’in – that is, if however, of a menorah and a Holy Ark, are
Margalit Zenati, the keeper of the key, far more ancient: According to local lore they
is around to open the door. Margalit’s were brought from the Temple in Jerusalem
family lived through a precarious, modern and placed there by Bar Yochai himself.
chapter in the town’s history. During the
1936 disturbances, her father was taken Peki’in’s unusual intertwining of ancient and
hostage by Arab rioters who, word has it, modern Israel and its many diferent cultures
were planning to do away with him when the and religions is well worth a trip of the
Druze of the town stepped in and saved his beaten track.
13
DISCOVER ISRAEL
spice merchants ofer their inside the Peki'in
wares. Photo: Amit Shaal synagogue.
Photo: Amit Shaal
Good Neighbors
in the Galilee
where they come to enjoy its spectacular life. The story of Margalit’s father was turned authored the mystic work of the Zohar, while
mountain vistas and walking down the main into a Hebrew play and staged in the town. miraculously nourished by a single carob
street, stopping in to meet Savta (“Grandma”) In the wake of the riots, the Jews left Peki’in, tree and a mountain spring. Carobs still
Jamila, an enterprising Druze matron who although the Zenatis and a few others shade the cave, and the spring emerges
manufactures soap from a secret recipe below in the center of town at a picturesque
eventually returned.
based on olive oil that she swears is good for pool, which is best taken in while lingering
just about everything that ails. Visitors can The Druze and the Jews share a bond that over Arabic-style cofee or tea at the outdoor
also explore the ancient synagogue to enjoy predates Israel’s establishment, after which café next door.
warm, fresh-baked pita that they can watch the members of this 1,000 year-old faith
being made on an old-fashioned sadj (a kind decided to tie their fate to Israel and send A walk through the town takes visitors
of upside-down wok) and buy souvenirs. In their sons to serve in the army alongside their past the gate to the Druze place of prayer,
Israel’s highly charged atmosphere, that in Jewish compatriots. The Christians now live marked with a star bearing the ive colors of
itself is a story worth telling. mainly in their own neighbourhoods, called the Druze lag, and the local church, down
Makhoul, although their church is near the to the synagogue. Grape vines as thick as
Peki’in relects the entire complicated town center, and the Muslims, a minority tree-trunks wend their way in and out of
chronicle that is Israel. Its history goes back here in contrast to their overall numbers the windows of some abandoned buildings;
among Israel’s non-Jews, attend a mosque carob and pomegranate trees sprout
to at least Second Temple times, when it
is irst mentioned by historian Josephus in the neighbouring town of Rama. from jumbles of stones of once-elegant
Flavius. According to a Jewish traveler in courtyards, and everything is daubed with
1602 the mainstays of Peki’in’s economy in One regular stop on the touring map is the brilliant vermillion of wild bougainvillea
those days were the raising of silk worms the cave next to Gabriel and Elisabeth’s running riot in unexpected places. But the
house, where according to tradition, rebel village charm – and its architectural potential
for the textile industry centred in nearby
Safed. An 18th-century traveler describes and sage Rabbi Simeon Bar Yochai led – cannot be hidden.
the city’s “abundance of lemons and sweet from the Romans and hid for 13 years with
apples, and milk, along with butter, cheese his son. During that time he is said to have The synagogue in the center of the village
and honey that is sent throughout the land of was built in its present form in 1873 thanks
Israel,” and observed that it was “inhabited to a contribution by one Rafael Halevi
by some 20 Jewish families, born in the land, from Beirut, “may God protect and save
who are shepherds of sheep and goats, and The menorah over the synagogue him,” says a plaque on the wall. In 1956,
beckons visitors. Photo: Hanan
have a small synagogue.” Issachar announces another plaque, a large menorah
was placed atop the building when the State
That same tiny synagogue is one of the of Israel restored it. The plaques inside,
highlights of a visit to Peki’in – that is, if however, of a menorah and a Holy Ark, are
Margalit Zenati, the keeper of the key, far more ancient: According to local lore they
is around to open the door. Margalit’s were brought from the Temple in Jerusalem
family lived through a precarious, modern and placed there by Bar Yochai himself.
chapter in the town’s history. During the
1936 disturbances, her father was taken Peki’in’s unusual intertwining of ancient and
hostage by Arab rioters who, word has it, modern Israel and its many diferent cultures
were planning to do away with him when the and religions is well worth a trip of the
Druze of the town stepped in and saved his beaten track.
13
DISCOVER ISRAEL
