Beit She'an and the Earthquake

On our way from Jerusalem to the Sea of Gallilee on February 6, we stopped to visit at Beit She'an. Here a series of cities have existed going back at least to the 15th century B.C. Excavations at the site reveal details of the City as it existed during the Roman period. This city was destroyed in an earthquake during the 8th century A.D.

Walking through the excavated city, it is possible to see in some detail the nature of the City when the earthquake struck. There is a large ampitheatre, several impressive major streets, beautiful mosaics and even a well preserved Roman latrine (public toilet). Photos from top to bottom show 1) the ampitheatre; 2) Palladius Street 3) Silvanus Street - showing the columns toppled by the earthquake in the 8th century and 4) a public toilet.

Lyme Disease in Manitoba

Five people in Manitoba developed Lyme disease last year. While much surprise has been expressed about this, it is quite likely that this is not new, but rather the result of an awareness campaign last year to alert physicians about Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is easy to miss because it can cause symptoms which are easily mistaken for other diseases if citizens and doctors are not alert to the possibility of Lyme disease. It is quite likely Lyme disease has been present in Manitoba but has been underreported. Hopefully the greater awareness will result in much improved detection and reporting of Lyme disease in Manitoba.

It is important to be aware of Lyme disease because it can be treated. If it is not detected and treated it can lead to medical complications involving the heart, nervous system or joints.

JNF-Canada and Montreal Oasis Park

Within the City of Beersheba, JNF-KKL has been very involved in the development of a park alongside the Beersheba River. The area was poorly cared for and needed a massive cleanup. This is now well underway.

JNF-Canada has contributed to the park shown in the top photo - the Montreal Oasis Park (or Liberty Bell Park as it is sometimes called). The signs as shown in the bottom photo recognize the efforts of JNF-KKL and the various countries which have contributed (in this case Canada).

Sculpture Way at Hatzerim

Near Beersheba at Hatzerim, artists working together with JNF-KKL have developed a sculpture way which is lined with various sculptures by Israeli artists. The top sculpture by Margo Feinstein is in the form of a gate - to the future. On the gate has symbols of the Moslem, Jewish and Christian religions and we were told the sculpture is entitled "Maybe it is time for you to find peace among yourselves."

In the middle photo, shown with Ornat Morgan standing beside it so you can see its relative size, is a sculpture we were told is entitled "Freedom of Movement". The City of Beersheba is in the background.

JNF-KKL has also been very active in this area planting trees to create a savannah. In order to capture water for the trees, a mound of earth is piled up on the downhill side of each tree (see bottom photo). This captures enough water after a rain to enable the tree to grow. It is a labour intensive way to planting trees, but it is necessary if they are to survive.

Water storage in the Negev

A sophisticated system for conserving and storing water has been developed in the Negev. The system stores and uses separately clean high quality water, water which has been used and then recycled (used preferentially for agriculture) and water which is slightly saline (used for crops which can tolerate slightly saline water).

The top photo shows Naomi and Ornat Morag at a reservoir near the Besor River. The reservoir holds up to 4,000,000 cubic meters of water. The central photo shows the water capturing system along the Besor River. Rather than a dam, to hold and capture water, some of the water which comes down the river after a rain is diverted into a holding pond and then pumped into the reservoir or into irrigation channels. The bottom photo shows irrigated fruit trees growing nearby.

Flowers from Israel

Each year some 1.4 billion flowers are exported from Israel. Most go to Europe and some go to North America. Eli Matan, Director of the Besor Experimental Station in the western Negev, shows us the many flower varieties they are developing. At the same time, as they develop varieties, they are also involved in developing approaches to using water carefully and to recycling water. The top photo shows Eli Matan showing me his flowers.

As Eli explained to us, some 40% of the flowers presently exported are varieties which have been developed in the last 10-15 years. Success in this industry means intensive and ongoing research and development in order to continue to have markets.

We also toured several greenhouses where station personnel are improving ways of using greenhouses to grow tomatoes and eggplants. In one greenhouse, we were shown techniques which yield about 40 kg of tomatoes per square meter (I think I have this figure correct; it is a lot of produce!!). Middle photo shows the lush growth of tomatoes under Eli's care.

Roughly half the budget for this experimental agricultural station comes from JNF-KKL. It is impressive to see the land as it was (sand and cacti in places which are not irrigated), and after irrigation. In the distance, we can see the houses of Gaza - a reminder of where we are today in Israel.

The bottom photo shows cactus growing in sand desert adjacent to the experimental farm to show what this area was like before the farm.

The Jewish National Fund

One of the major reasons that we are in Israel is an invitation from the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth Leisrael) to observe the efforts they have made in agriculture in the Negev, in managing water, in planting trees, and in improving the environment in Israel. Sunday was our first of two days with people from the Jewish National Fund.

Our day began with a visit with Yehiel Keket, Chairman of the Jewish National Fund. In his office in Jerusalem (photo above), he discussed with us the achievements of the Jewish National Fund and its contributions. JNF has planted some 250 million trees in Israel and they are to be seen all over the country. Indeed, we have already been very impressed by the trees and forests we have seen. Some 90% or more of the trees in Israel have been planted by JNF! Many of these trees have been planted in very challenging conditions.

As well, JNF has had a major role in water management in Israel. We will visit sites in the Negev and in the Hula Valley where the JNF has had a major role. We leave impressed - and depart for the Negev.

Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Saturday, we left the high country around Jerusalem to descend through the mountains down, down, down to the Dead Sea. Our first stop was Qumran. It was quite something to see the small settlement, the channels which bring water down from the Qumran wadi and provide water to the community, including a bathing or "water purification" area used by the members of the Essenes sect who lived there in the first century B.C. and up to about the year 68 A.D (top photo).

From the site, one can see one of the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found (second photo from top). There were in fact quite a number of such caves with scrolls (eleven to be exact) . Indeed, the total extent of written scrolls (about 900) is large and they offer a very substantial amount of information - varying from texts of scripture to rules of the community.

Our second stop was the oasis at Ein Gedi where there is a nature reserve. We hiked up to see the waterfalls, noting a variety of birds and mammals (ibex and rock hyrax) along the way. The hyrax, a small rodent like mammal which is in fact related to the elephant, loves to perch on rocks, and as we found, in trees (third photo from top).

Before we left the Dead Sea region, we had a swim, or rather a float in the salty water (bottom photo). Naomi had quite a time keeping her balance as she floated.

It rained like tears when we visited Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, is the place to remember the names of those who died in the Holocaust. Everyone has a name, and it is important to remember this.

On our arrival at Yad Vashem, rain was falling like tears. It is a sad place - a place to remember how so many people failed to stand up and protect Jews when they were being singled out and persecuted. It is chilling to remember what happened, and the Museum holds nothing back. At the same time, those who helped and those who stood up for human rights are also remembered. The top photo shows Avi and me in front of Yad Vashem. The photo was taken after our visit, as it was too wet before.

When we emerged from the Museum, the clouds were lighter and we could see over the City of Jerusalem (bottom photo). But soon, the rain and the tears came again as we entered the memorial to the many children who perished in the Holocaust. It is hard to believe that 1.5 million children died.

And to those who think it cannot still happen, I have been reading recently Romeo D'Allaire's book about the Rwanda genocide of 1994. It is chilling - and a harsh reminder of the need, even today, to stand up and to do what we can to prevent such atrocities wherever they may occur in the world. It is, of course, one reason why the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg is needed.

Shortly after our visit, the rain and the tears stopped. But the memories of Yad Vashem will remain for a long time.

Water and Jerusalem

One of the reasons for the original establishment of the City of Jerusalem was the presence of water-springs at the site. Recent work has provided new information on the elaborate systems developed historically for collecting and gathering water from the spring. Avi took us to see two elaborate tunnel systems, each constructed in different eras. The upper one, built about 6,500 years ago, so we were told, is now dry. The lower one, built 4-5,000 years ago has water running in it from the spring to the Pool of Siloam. While we walked through the dry upper tunnel (top photo), a group of school children paddled and splashed through the lower tunnel (middle photo).

Maps of the City of David (about 3,000 years ago) show the walled City of David (mostly below the present walled City of Jerusalem). Four towers along the wall,guarded the site of the spring. Clearly it was pretty important. We went down through the tunnels where people of the City descended to get their water in order to reach this spring.

In the bottom photo we are visiting with Abraham Siam at the Pool of Siloam Antiquities located just beside the Pool of Siloam.

Politics, Art and Birds

Thursday, we also had an opportunity to visit the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament. One of the outstanding features are large inspiring paintings and mosaics by Marc Chagall. The Knesset was not in session, but we had an opportunity to learn about its history, both older and more recent.

Close by the Knesset is a small three acre area of urban wildlife. The Jewish Bird Observatory is to be found within the shadow of the Knesset, and here on a daily basis, there is an observatory for watching and for banding (in Israel they say ringing) birds. Shai Agmon showed us a Scops Owl (similar to a Screech Owl), which had been found in poor condition and which they were now rehabilitating. It is a wonderful spot for young people to learn about birds.

We were also privileged to have the opportunity to have discussions with Ifat Reshef and Ilana Mittelman of the situation in the Middle East (top photo). In the middle photo, I am standing with Avi, our guide in front of the Knesset. If you look carefully, you will see that Avi is wearing his LIBERAL hat. In the bottom photo, we are at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory with their staff who are looking after a Scops Owl.

Jerusalem

On Thursday, we had our first opportunity to visit the walled part of the City of Jerusalem which is divided into the Armenian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter and the Moslem Quarter. We entered the walled city through the Jaffa Gate. As we made our way through the streets and markets, our talented guide Avi chatted back and forth with his friends in Hebrew and Arabic and with us in English.

At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we stopped to take time at the site where it is believed Jesus was crucified (top photo). Later we visited the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites for Jews. Before descending to the Western Wall (middle photo), we stopped to admire the top of the El Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock (bottom photo). It is amazing that one city should have such places which are so important to three separate religions - Christian, Jewish and Moslem.

We were also fortunate to have the opportunity to go through the Western Wall tunnels and to have a perspective of the construction of the Western Wall under Herod. Whatever else one might say of him, he was clearly an extraordinary builder and engineer for his time.

Gomery report recommendations need to be implemented in Manitoba

Given what Manitobans' have seen with the Crocus Fund fiasco and the mess at the Workers Compensation Board, it's clear that a number of the recommendations in the final Gomery report need to be implemented in Manitoba to improve the accountability and the performance of the provincial government.

In fact, I think that if some of the Gomery recommendations had been in place in Manitoba, these NDP scandals might have been avoided in the first place.

First, it is clear that the activities and functions of Legislative Committees in Manitoba need to be improved. The Public Accounts Committee in particular needs to have its own research, legal, and administrative staff. Legislative Committees need to be provided with the mandate to review appointments to major boards of directors in Manitoba which are currently only screened by NDP politicians and their political staff.

There also needs to be significant improvements to prevent queue-jumping in the provincial civil service by NDP political appointees. We need to protect the professional integrity of the civil service from undue political interference.

Finally, there needs to be a clearer definition of what is non-partisan government advertising. In the lead-up to the last provincial election, we saw the NDP using government advertising (or more accurately, taxpayer-financed advertising) in a way that many thought was partisan. There has to be clear rules and guidelines in place to prevent governments from using taxpayer-financed advertising for partisan political purposes.