Back to Main Page Since we live on a hilly mountain ridge it would seem appropriate to include shots that show the general lay of the land in these parts...

 
 

 It may be noted that the area surrounding our communities is 95% agricultural with the crop of choice are grape vines. Fruit orchards come in second with peach, nectarine, apple, cherries (both sweet & sour), pear, plum, walnut, pistachios grown as typical crops.  There are some olives grown in these parts, too.

The next 2 shots are typical hillsides with narrow terraces that support rows of orchard trees -- these are shots from the orchards I worked in for some 15 years.  These terraces were originally cut out of the hillsides during the Roman Period the evidence for this being that there remain sections stone walls that remain even today from that time.  The following pictures were a small part of the orchard that I worked for 15 years...

Nectarine trees on the terraces:

Walnut trees in foreground:

A bumper crop of cherries:

 
 

"Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that sows seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them." Amos 9:13-15

 
 
  And often the scenery in our area is dramatic with steep hillsides and spectacular views.  Since we live on a mountain ridge the eastern and western slopes of the Judean Heights angle sharply downwards producing deep gorges and vantage points that produce some tremendous views on really clear days. This is a shot of me on a securty patrol just adjacent to one of our orchards.

 

Just think, a few years ago Israeli Prime Minister Barak offered breathtaking concessions to the Arabs. He promised  that he would hand over half of Jerusalem as well as all the above lands, us and our home, into PLO terrorist hands.  The Arabs refused his astounding offer as it wasn't enough for them. They wanted ALL the land and Barak's offer of a mere 97% was taken as a cause for war.  Through the course of time Barak was exposed for what he really was...

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