Krembo- Explaining an Israeli winter tradition

Picture a mound of marshmallow fluff placed on a cookie and covered in hardened chocolate. Each one is individually wrapped. The Krembo, an Israeli winter treat about the size of a fist is sweet through and through.

Translated as "cream-in-it," the Krembo was created in Denmark over 200 years ago as a homemade treat, and has been mass produced in Israel since the 1940s. It comes in two flavors-- the ever popular and traditional flavor vanilla, and the newer mocha. Smaller manufacturers tried introducing  other flavors like banana and strawberry but they didn't really catch on.

I know when people consider it to be winter because Krembo start appearing in stores. It's over 90 degrees right now in Jerusalem, but Krembo are in the stores. Never sold in the summer, they are winter treats through and through. According to some researchers, they can even be considered a pop-cultural item and a national icon and are a comfort food for Israelis abroad who can find them.

The Krembo in popular culture can be seen in the translated version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, when Dumbledore's favorite sweet was translated not as sherbet lemon, but as a Krembo instead. It also shows up often in Israeli movies and cult fiction. In 2007 it was made into an ice cream flavor, breaking the tradition of Krembo only in the winter, in place of ice cream.

With three main, components -- cookie, marshmallow fluff and chocolate – the only question which remains is "How do you eat it? Cookie, cream or chocolate first?"

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find us on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.

Can Halloween celebrations reflect Jewish traditions?

The air is turning crisp as the skies are getting darker. Parents get ready with Halloween costumes for the kids and bags of candy to hand out at the door, but in the back of your mind you wonder- how can a pagan holiday reflect Jewish traditions for my kids?

The similarities between Halloween and Jewish holidays are vast, tying together religions, beliefs and traditions throughout the world.



Through these similarities, it is possible to celebrate Halloween while embracing Judaism – with a little bit of explanation.

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find us on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.

Khirbet Qumran - where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered

With the recent announcement that the Dead Sea Scrolls will be posted on Google for everyone to see at http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/google-to-bring-dead-sea-scrolls-online-980794.html?cxtype=rss_money_16350, I thought it might be a good time to introduce everyone to one of my favorite sites, the place where the Scrolls were first discovered.

Khirbet Qumran is an archaeological site nestled in the hills about a mile inland from the Dead Sea. The hike up to the ruins was hot due to the very dry climate of the surrounding desert.

The beauty of the desert landscape made the heat worth it. From the visitors center Shmuel and I could see the ancient ruins to our right, with the Dead Sea stretching out behind in the distance. Though the connection between the ruins of Qumran and the caves where the scrolls were found is not known, it’s assumed by most archaeologists that the ruins contained a monastery, where the scrolls were written.

Dating back to the iron ages, the ruins can still be clearly made out amidst their sandy, rocky surroundings. The focus on water and its storage is an integral part of the structure, showing that not much has changed in this location. One of the ruined cisterns clearly showed the change that did occur- when an earthquake raked the building on the east side, causing a crack in the cistern.

Ask about Khirbet Qumran on your next visit to Israel. Also, check out the Dead Sea Scrolls once they are up on Google. The story of their discovery can be found here: http://www.bib-arch.org/online-exclusives/dead-sea-scrolls-02.asp.

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find us on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.

Money and Israel- The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

Formed in 1935, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange - TASE started as the Exchange Bureau for Securities by what is now Bank Leumi, one of the major banks of Israel.
After the establishment of the State of Israel, a formal stock exchange was established. It moved to its current location in "The City" in 1985. The Tel Aviv neighborhood "The City" is the central area for finance and commerce in Tel Aviv proper.
Since 2007, the TASE has signed Memorandums of Understanding with the London Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext and the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The TASE visitors' center is located at the historical trading floors. It provides tutorials about the stock exchange and the capital market for university and high school student groups, led by TASE staff members. Tours must be organized in advance.

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find IsraelExperts on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.

A Renaissance festival in a Crusader fortress-- Yehi'am Fortress National Park

Over Sukkot, my husband and I went with another couple to the Israeli Renaissance Festival. Located in the hills outside of Akko at the Yehi'am Fortress, stepping through the gate was literally a step back in time.

What's really cool about the Yehi'am Fortress is that it combines the Crusaders, the Ottomans and the Pioneers of Israel all in the same walls. There is no recorded history of when the fortress was built, but we know that the walls were first destroyed in 1265 by the Mamluk Sultan Baibers. In the 1760s the walls, towers and moat were rebuilt by Bedouin Sheikh Daher al-Omar. It was settled again in 1946 by Jewish pioneers who lived within the crusader walls and was a major fighting ground during the 1948 Independence war.

Shmuel, our friends and I walked through the Renaissance festival. Around us were arts and crafts of the crusader time period, sword fighting, and people in costumes. Musicians playing period-appropriate instruments set the mood. Most of the crafts were perfect for children, from sand glasses and pottery making, to pinecone decorations and wood staining.

We then went up to the fortress where the Renaissance fun did not stop. Set back into the grand halls of the fortress, musicians continued to play, while children were given a sword lesson in an open area between the buildings.

We could see the views around us-- Akko and Haifa in the distance, with the rolling hills of the Golan Heights green before our eyes. As we walked down we could hear smidgens of Hebrew, English and Arabic around us, and enjoyed the mingling of the different groups from the religious to the secular, all enjoying the festival together.

After we left the fair, we stopped in Kibbutz Yehi'am at the Brewery and shared 2 pints of the home brewed dark and light beers. We all agreed we would be coming back with kids in the future.

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find us on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.

Eilat: The Red Canyon- It's not just in Utah

Next to Eilat is a trail that leads through a red canyon-- literally the stone that arches up on either side of us as we walked through the canyon is red. Smooth to the touch, the layers of history are clear to the naked eye in the layers of the rock.

The hike takes about 45 minutes and is normally perfect in the spring or fall. The weather is comfortable with just a little bit of a breeze through the rocks- something normally lacking in the desert. It is necessary to bring water, but the crevice can be reached by car.

The trip to the Red Canyon from Eilat is also interesting. The Egyptian boarder is on your left and Israel stretches to the right, divided only by a road.

Good for children and adults, the Red Canyon is a beautiful hike through the desert.

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find IsraelExperts on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.

Rosh Chodesh- (New Month) /New Moon- Cheshvan

When I look out of the window of my house in the Castel neighborhood in Mevaseret, it's starting to look like fall. It's not the fall of colored leaves or dying trees. It's the fall of a new beginning. Now that the holidays are over, the pomegranates have reached their peak. The oranges are just starting to take shape and the flowers, which have gotten their first rain of the season, are finally starting to bloom. The greenery that has hidden all summer is starting to peak out of the branches as it prepares for the rainy season. The new year has truly started.

Cheshvan, which some people consider the second month of the Jewish year, is sometimes called Marcheshvan. There are two different etymological explanations for the name. The word Marcheshvan is taken from "eighth moon/month" -- the eighth month of the Jewish year (if you count from Nisan, the beginning of Passover as many do for counting the months). The "mar" -- bitter -- at the beginning of the word may have been added because there are no holidays in Marcheshvan.

So we have the second month of the year, starting in the middle of the entire year, depending on how you count. It's a lot like IsraelExperts. We have been running trips for 12 years but are only now starting a blog-- to bring more knowledge of Israel to you-- our friends and readers. We'll look at places in Israel, traditions, customs and holidays as the year rolls by and we invite you to learn with us. We hope you will enjoy and learn from our blogs, and use them to work with us to build the best trips to Israel that you will ever participate in.
Welcome to the IsraelExperts blog.

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IsraelExperts is a fully-licensed Israel tour operator; our head office is in Israel. Comprised of experienced Israel destination professionals, logistics experts, informal educators and accredited tour guides, IsraelExperts works with major organizations around the world in the field of Israel-Diaspora relations and Israel education, and offers you its ability to provide quality innovative programs. You can find IsraelExperts on line at www.israelexperts.com or email us at education@israelexperts.com for more information.