Israel - Day Two
I’m so glad that many of you enjoyed my blog about day one of my trip to Israel and I have enjoyed reading many of your favorable comments. Day two was no less of a whirlwind. It began with an early morning interview with Dana Weiss of Ulpan Shishi for Israeli television, where we discussed aspects of my business and my impressions of Israel. After that, we visited the very large Mahane Yehuda Market, followed by an enlightening tour of Yad Vashem, Israel’s national monument and memorial of the Holocaust. There was also a walking tour through the maze of streets in the Old City of Jerusalem and even a visit to one of Israel’s premier goat cheese makers. The day was pretty much non-stop!
1 The next day in Israel started bright and early with an interview with Dana Weiss of Ulpan Shishi for Israeli television.
2 After the interview, we visited the Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem's main food market, which is often referred to as 'The Shuk' because it's the largest shuk in Jerusalem. That's our guide, Amir, in the center.
3 It was early Friday and the start of this market's pre-Sabbath frenzy.
4 The market's more than 250 vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables; baked goods; fish, meat and cheeses; nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and spices; wines and liquors; clothing and shoes; housewares, textiles, and Judaica.
5 The open-air market that began here more than 100-years ago, was rebuilt in during the 1920s with permanent stalls and roofing.
6 In recent years, major renovations were made to this bustling outdoor market, including infrastructure work, repaving of roads, and covering some of the open areas.
7 I love granola and I was drawn to this one, which was just baked and highly aromatic.
8 This is a special oven inside the granola booth, where the ingredients are toasted separately before blending.
9 We sampled the granola with yogurt and fresh fruit and it was very yummy.
10 Tali Friedman, our guide in Mehane Yehuda market, and I pose with a local shop owner.
11 This was a very busy cheese shop that had an impressive selection of French cheeses.
12 This French butter looked especially rich and creamy.
13 This shop was well-stocked with Israeli and European wine, beer, and liquor.
14 Lychee, prized for its perfume-flavor white flesh, is a popular fruit in Israel.
15 Amazing grapes and figs!
16 It was certainly pomegranate season in Israel.
17 Mountains of vibrant avocados
18 Braided challah is a traditional Jewish bread eaten on Shabbat, or Sabbath, and on Jewish holidays, except for Passover, when leavened bread is not allowed.
19 There were all kinds of breads to choose from.
20 These cheese-filled pastries caught my eye - yum!
21 And there were many wonderful cookies.
22 Very beautiful and delicious Middle Eastern pastries, including honey-drenched baklava and kataifi, made with shredded phyllo dough.
23 And this was definitely the place to shop for halvah, a sweet confection, the most familiar of which is made with tahini, or sesame paste.
24 There were so many wonderful varieties of halvah to choose from. I bought a piece of pistachio halvah, which I am savoring.
25 The candy booths were so colorful and filled with creative sweets.
26 Olives have always been an important staple in Israel and they are grown throughout the country. Mahane Yehuda Market had an amazing array.
27 Here is Chris with one of the very friendly shop keepers. @chrisherbert http://twitter.com/#!/chrisdherbert
28 I liked these rustic olive wood cutting boards.
29 Chris clutching a gigantic loofah sponge. @chrisherbert http://twitter.com/#!/chrisdherbert
30 Can you believe how bright and how seedless these watermelons are?
31 These comical vendors were working overtime trying to sell us fish.
32 I found it interesting that steel wool was packaged much like a skein of wool.
33 A selection of crocheted yarmulkes.
34 Here I am on the rooftop of the wonderful Mahane Yehuda Market.
35 Tali Friedman and I in her studio, where she creates her recipes. Tali is a chef who provides culinary tours of Mahane Yuhuda market and was our guide for our trip.
36 A selection of delicious cheeses at Tali Friedman's studio.
37 After leaving the market, we drove to our next destination, Yad Vashem, Israel's National Monument and Memorial of the Holocaust. This is what some of the apartment blocks in Jerusalem look like along the way.
38 As the Jewish people’s living memorial to the Holocaust, Yad Vashem safeguards the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations.
39 Inside the prism-like triangular structure of Vad Yashem - This is a very somber museum with a remarkable architectural design by world-renowned architect, Moshe Safdie.
40 This is a collection of books representing the corpus of art and knowledge produced by European Jews before the Holocaust.
41 This is a gallery of antisemitic signs and propaganda that were commonplace in Nazi Germany.
42 The Hall of Names - names and personal details of millions of victims have been recorded on Pages of Testimony, symbolic tombstones filled out by survivors in memory of their loved ones, and preserved here.
43 Back at The King David Hotel, I signed my name in the guestbook. My signature will appear on the floor, just like my friends Bill and Hillary Clinton.
44 And Paul Newman, who signed the guest book in 1960.
45 As well as the acclaimed Italian conductor, Arturo Toscanini in 1937.
46 And President Barack Obama who also stayed at the King David Hotel in 2008.
47 Lunch at The King David - Chris had a Caprese salad.
48 And I had gefilte fish – so yummy.
49 These are some popular Israeli condiments served with bread - olive paste, olive oil, and za’atar - a combination of sumac, hyssop, sesame, salt and pepper.
50 An excellent and beautiful cappuccino finished our meal.
51 With Andy and Josh Bernstein, my nephews. Josh (on the right) got married to Lily Snyder.
52 With our guide, Mark, just before a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem.
53 An interesting awning on the David Citadel Hotel.
54 The Tower of David sits above the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was rebuilt many times over the centuries.
55 Three flags on the Tower of David.
56 The walls of the Old City of Jerusalem - They have been rebuilt many times and they tell the story of many of civilizations that have lived in the Middle East.
57 Here I am standing under the Jaffa Gate to the Old City. This is one of 12 gates to Old Jerusalem.
58 Detail on the Jaffa Gate - Like the stones used for the rest of the Old City walls, these stones are large, hewn, sand-colored blocks.
59 More detail of the Jaffa Gate - Note the security cameras, as well.
60 The Walls of the Old City
61 A beautiful building in the Old City. In the 1930s the British imposed a law stating that all buildings in Jerusalem had to be faced with Jerusalem stone. This law is still in place today.
62 The Old City was originally built by King David in 1004 BCE and has always been considered the center of the world. The lowest part of the city walls date back thousands of years.
63 The Old City is divided into four quarters: Armenian, Jewish, Muslim and Christian. Here we are in the Armenian Quarter, learning much from our guide.
64 Walking along, we found these buttresses very beautiful.
65 More of the Old City
66 An amazing archway
67 We visited the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, in the Jewish Quarter. The wall is all that remains of the central temple of the Jews during Roman times.
68 Here I am in front of the Wailing Wall, a site for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage for centuries.
69 Quite often, people who pray at the wall will place slips of paper with written prayer into the crevices of the wall in hopes of the prayer coming true. Chris took a close look at the wall.
70 After the walking tour, we visited the Shai Seltzer's renowned goat farm west of Jerusalem. There are 150 Anglo Nubian goats, and they naturally graze on the hillside, eating all kinds of herbs and weeds.
71 The goat farm of Shai Seltzer. These are the male goats, who are segregated until breeding season.
72 Here I am with Shai Seltzer and his sons at their farm.
73 Shai Seltzer is one of the foremost experts on goat cheese in Israel. He breeds the ideal goat for Israel’s climatic conditions and has perfected the art of maturing and aging the cheese, known as affinage.
74 His artisanal cheeses ripen in natural lime stone caves, producing a unique flavor profile. Shai makes a variety of young cheeses as well as those aged two to three years.
75 The farm also grows grapes. The ripening clusters are protected with paper bag coverings, keeping away bugs, sun, and moisture.
76 At the farm, we sampled such delicious goat cheese. One was wrapped and aged briefly inside grape leaves.
77 Each cheese smelled and tasted differently, partly because of the various foods that the goats ate before they were milked. The cheeses that were aged the longest had stronger and more pronounced flavors.
78 Here I am with Gal, one of my young fans. He told me that he bakes cupcakes using recipes from my cupcake book!
79 We also tasted carob - it tasted like chocolate and was so good!
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I love these pictures. It's nice to some familiar sights.........I was in Israel in 2008. Enjoy your trip and keep up with these posts!!!!
Posted by: Natalie | September 9th, 2011 at 12:53 am
So much good looking food, or would that be...Food looking good,and so many beautiful sites. Thanks once again, for taking us to another "world".
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | September 9th, 2011 at 1:04 am
Hi Martha!
So happy to see you're enjoying you're trip to Israel. My mother went to Israel for a month when she was 19. Which was really quite something back in "those days." I grew up looking at the pictures. When I was 18 I won a scholarship trip to Israel from B'nai Brith for two weeks! Really loved it and all of my mother's picture's came to life.
Posted by: BluBabesCreate | September 9th, 2011 at 1:48 am
I am very glad that you enjoyed your visit to my homeland. I used to leave in the US and follow your good and bad times. Also on my last trip to NYC I bought in Macy's some of your stuff and I use them in my kitchen.
I hope I am not barking here at the wrong tree but my husband and I have the rights to a movie. It is called "Cold Feet" and it deals with a bride who doesn't show up on her wedding night. We would like to do an American remake and would aporeciate your advice. Please contact me. Thanks a lot.
Posted by: Sigalit Alexandri | September 9th, 2011 at 2:24 am
Here's the Channel Two Ulpan Sheeshee story that ran on friday, on the Israeli Mako website (scroll down to play video).
http://www.mako.co.il/news-channel2/Friday-Newscast/Article-2cae156180c2231017.htm
enjoy!
- maya, a fan from Israel
PS
here's a rough translation of the the anchor's opening remarks:
"Martha Stewart is the biggest American lifestyle and homekeeping guru. She's a mix of Ruth Sirkis [the local "Julia Child"], Israel Aharoni [A very famous TV chef], and Odetta [a local homekeeping food writer] - and all of that encased in a sweet, blond, smiling lady that built a million dollar empire of TV shows, branded housewares and cookbooks. Six years ago, this ultimate housewife was indicted for insider trading and was sent to jail. Everyone thought she was finished, but she was back with a bang, smilier and blondier than ever. Viewers, especially female, forgave her immediately, as long as she kept explaining how to make chicken salad and where to get the best scented candles. This week, the Israeli Tourism Board invited her to Israel to help elect the Dead Sea as one of the 7 Worldly Natural Wonders. Our Dana Weiss met up with her."
Posted by: Maya | September 9th, 2011 at 3:38 am
Lovely images Martha! it looks like you had a wonderful time there and great tour. Best of luck and success. Happy Fall.
Regards,
Rowaida
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | September 9th, 2011 at 5:08 am
Martha,
The pictures are beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing with us the details of your trip. You seem to have had a wonderful time.
Posted by: Dididdle | September 9th, 2011 at 6:46 am
I am loving this blog. Such interesting information and photographs! Want me some of that cheese!
Posted by: Susie Poss | September 9th, 2011 at 7:06 am
Martha,
This has got to be one of your most amazing blogs! Thank your for giving us such a wonderful glimpse of this beautiful country.
Posted by: Evelyn | September 9th, 2011 at 8:09 am
Thank you Martha! I have shared the pictures with my children who were so interested in everything that they told their teachers; "MY MOMS FRIEND MARTHA STEWART WENT TO ISRAEL AND WE SAW THE PICTURES!" lol We love traveling with you!
♥
Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca Meixner | September 9th, 2011 at 8:29 am
I'm dreaming of a culinary tour of the Mahane Yehuda Market with Tali Friedman! Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. By the way, I don't know if I could bare to drink that cappuchino, what a work of art. It's inspiring!
Posted by: Cindy F | September 9th, 2011 at 8:37 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for sharing this visit to much more of Israel on day two! What a lot of absolutely beautiful places we got to see that I have never seen before! Everyone of your photos are once again extremely beautiful and your comments are outstanding! Every place that you visited is so pristine and the structures are superb! It's hard to believe that you were able to visit all of these places in one day and I love everything you shared! Your 3 nephews shown here are so handsome-would love to see Josh's new wife Lily! How great that your signature will appear on the floor of the David Citadel Hotel with your other famous friends! Thank you again for sharing so much of Israel through your blog and twitter-Fantastic! Sure hope the rain stops soon out there at your Bedford farm. F&S are posting about the flooding at your farm on their website today-need to go look at their photos now. Hope you have a great day today and all weekend and forever! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 9th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Your pictures are amazing. I highly suggest you go to the following spice farm just north of Haifa. I was there this summer and was blown away by the presentation, selection and beauty. THIS IS A MUST!!
The website is:http://www.spice-way.com/ I hope your local hosts and or producers check this out and you add this to your visit. You will be glad you went!
Posted by: David Baden | September 9th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Hi Martha,
I had a feeling day 2 was going to include more FOOD and it certainly does so I made sure to eat breakfast before checking out your blog - but I’m still drooling. The foods in the Mahane Yehuda Market are so beautiful and impeccable looking especially the pomegranates, the avocados and certainly those brightly colored watermelons. The Holy Land certainly produces perfect looking food which is not surprising considering it’s the HOLY Land! But not just the food, Jerusalem is beautiful and I envy anyone who gets an opportunity to visit. I would love to see The Old City of Jerusalem and Vad Yashem and I’d be at that market every day too. Thanks Martha – you always take the best pictures and I must add that feta cheese, olives and Challah will be on my grocery list today! The pastries look good too! Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 9th, 2011 at 10:44 am
It has been a lifelong dream to go to Israel, your pictures were almost as good as being there and so interesting. I would like to taste everything in the market and sample every cheese.
Posted by: Elly Oliver | September 9th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Ah, Sweet Martha! I just learned that you've been to Israel! What a pity, I didn't meet You... Ive been here for 1 months... living in Tel-Aviv. I'd love to talk to you one day. Love you! Good luck!
Posted by: Anna | September 9th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
WOW! MARTHA! These photo's bring back so many wonderful memories for me. Israel is pretty much my most favorite country in the world! I was there in 2007 and am dreaming to get back. I can't believe you had lunch at the same goat cheese place we did- that was an awesome experience. There were soooo many amazing places to see and sooo many wonderful things to do. The best thing is the arch dig west of Jerusalem. That was super neat. If you need a Dr. While there- My boss from a few years ago, made aliah and moved there and started a practice- She is incredible. Her name is Dr. Sari Mansheim. God forbid you need a Dr. But she is Great! Ok- have fun! Thanks for the many wonderful memories! Suzie- your neighbor from Tarrytown, NY!
Posted by: Suzie Roscio | September 9th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Martha, these pictures stirred my emotions more than any post. At first all the pictures of the delicious foods at the markets, looked so beautiful and natural. The breads, cheeses, nuts, fruits etc. were wonderful looking but then the pictures of the memorial, the books etc. made tears roll down my cheeks. Its such a good reminder to see those pictures. I love the pictures of the buildings, etc. I am amazed at the Jewish people. They really have made the desert blossom like a rose.
Posted by: Frances | September 9th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I really enjoyed your pictures as they reminded me of my trip 10 years ago. It was so good to review some of the spots and remember. i would go visit again in an instant. You have so much left to see. Keep posting pics. It is a very special place!
Posted by: Jan Young | September 9th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Hi Martha ~
Such a treat to see your perspective of Israel and especially your photos of the open air markets. I am amazed at the colorful array of fruits and nuts... all made by nature. From now on I will take the advice of commenter Trish, and eat before I read your bloggings! Smart lady. Actually, as a regular reader and commenter, I enjoy very much reading the comments of two of your regular followers. Trish with her thoughtful thoughts, and Jan Erickson with her always sweet praising tone. Both ladies always have great comments and it is a pleasure to be in such good company.
Thanks ladies. And, thank you again Martha for sharing.
Posted by: Barbara Gookin ~ Nantucket | September 9th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Hi again Martha,
Now see, I just found another excuse to come back to your blog a few more times daily and not just to read any new comments. One just never knows when one's name might be mentioned or someone might enjoy reading that person's comments and so I say "thanks" to Barbara Gookin ~ Nantucket for your kind remarks about my 'thoughtful thoughts'. I hope to read more of your comments on a regular basis too. Thanks again. Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 9th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Thank you for taking me on a journey to Israel through your photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted by: liz hickey | September 9th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Martha, What an inspiration you make everything you touch become. I feel blessed to have the pleasure of sharing all your journeys with us, your followers. Have fun and thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Sandra Williams | September 9th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Hi, Martha,
To your many extraordinary accomplishments, please add world ambassador not only because you represent America at our best (or so we would like to think), but also because of what you share with us upon your return home.
Thank you so much for all you do for us.
Posted by: Bobbie | September 9th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Hi Martha,
Thank you for this post. I hope one time i could visit this country.
My mon and grand-parent talking with me a lot about this place,but i never leave here.
Your picture was beautiful.
Thank you again Martha.
Greetings,
Christophe.
Posted by: christophe | September 10th, 2011 at 2:46 am
Hi Martha, I thoroughly enjoy reading your fantastic blog posts, viewing your stunning photos many times, reading the delightful followers comments and this time I was delighted to see the comment by Barbara Gookin~Nantucket who was so thoughtful about my friend Trish's comments and mine! Thank you Barbara for your thoughtfulness and I will enjoy seeing more of your comments as time goes by! Barbara, I love following Martha every day because she is so inspiring, positive, and makes me happy every day! Barbara, I also saw your beautiful website and will check it out more thoroughly. Thanks again for all you do Martha and thank you also Barbara! Hope everyone has a great weekend! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 10th, 2011 at 11:45 am
hi Martha we loved having you here in israel,please come again soon!! i would love to see more great photos .
Posted by: naomi | September 10th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Amazing photos and amazing commentary. So glad you're having a great experience in such a special country.
Posted by: Sam | September 10th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
What a joy to read your blog from the Israel trip! We are heading there in 2 days ! Our first trip. I've already read a lot about it and your info is giving a personal touch to our education !! Million thanks. Will read it everyday !
Posted by: Teresa | September 11th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Martha, congrats on this great trip and thank you so much for sharing all your great photos! I enjoy living vicariously through your blog. I can't wait everyday to see what is new. We have a pretty simple life here in Glendale with working, caring for family members and just everyday life, but it's always fun to see your properties, trips and of course the gardens.
sincerely, mary.
Posted by: Mary | September 11th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
I love reading Martha's blog, I feel like I'm on the trip with her.
I love her holiday blogs. We are waiting to find out what Martha's them is this year for her Halloween show. We would love to go to the show. I put in for tickets for the beginning of the month, but would love to attend the Halloween show My family and I live for this time. My son makes all his monsters for his yard. We start early!
Any info would be appreciated
Thank you
Patty Swiderski
Posted by: Patty Swiderski | September 11th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Beautiful pictures! It must be a wonderful trip for you because you look so happy, at peace and radiant in your pictures. Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
Posted by: jill | September 11th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Loved the pictures Martha I cant wait for my trip to Israel.
Posted by: Michael Conley | September 12th, 2011 at 12:01 am
Dear Martha,
thank you for taking us on your journey I have found it most informative, love the photos, but I truly want to say congratulations on your health and fitness levels busy days that would do many younger people in let alone jet lag for some, I am now a devotee of your Wholesome section, you should be very proud all your hiking and yoga has done you well.
Posted by: robby47@exemail.com.au | September 12th, 2011 at 12:05 am
Martha,
I love both of your Israel posts!! What an amazing place with so many beautiful sites. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Krista | September 12th, 2011 at 6:36 am
I Love To Watch Martha Stewart And The Tips She Gives. Anna
Posted by: Anna | September 12th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Hope you will go to Haifa as well, visiting the Baha'i gardens and the Shrine of the Bab.
Mincka
Posted by: Mincka | September 12th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Hi Martha,
I am really enjoying your blog Israel trip! Please tell us how we can purchase the olive wood cutting boards... What beautiful cutting boards!
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 13th, 2011 at 5:39 am
Dear Martha, I've actually 'turned' my mom onto watching your show...today was about crafts, my fav thing to do (although it can be an expensive one!) I just bought my wonderful new daughter-in-law floor pillows, and now-thanks to the idea on 2days show-I will be stenciling beautiful lil' white flowers on them!! You are truley an inspiration to me for I believe that taking care of my family, my home, my dogs, creating beautiful things, gardening...simly making others happy, makes me happy, and you have been blessed w/ a gift-helping others find the 'crafter' within!! Thanks so much...
Posted by: Annie Kielas | September 13th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Ohhh that picture in the market, with all of those delicious looking dry fruit...wow. I LOVE dry fruit. I think that you wouldn't be able to get me out of there without several pounds of dry fruit. I think they would be souvenir...lol
Posted by: Crafting Marfa | September 13th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Dear Martha,
As you can see in the translation of the anchorman opening remarks to your interview with Dana Weiss --
"Martha Stewart is the biggest American lifestyle and homekeeping guru. She's a mix of Ruth Sirkis [the local "Julia Child"],etc." --
He used the name "Ruth Sirkis" to make the public appreciate and like you.
It is indeed a pity that we could not meet. Because we, at 73, are like you -- in the commitment to provid good and reliable cooking information to the Israeli public.
Will you attend the Frankfurt Book Fair Oct 12 to 15?
and if yes could we meet there?
Please respond even if the answer is NO.
With Best Regards,
Rafael Sirkis, Chairman
R. Sirkis Publishers Ltd.
131 Bialik Street
Ramat Gan 52523
I S R A E L
Cell: +972.54.206.4288
Posted by: Rafael Sirkis | September 18th, 2011 at 10:10 am