Israël - Reizigers online

Sdot Yam

It was in 1971/’72 when I went to Israël for the first time. In Kibbutz Sdot Yam there was place for me as a voluteer. Kibbutz Sdot Yam at the coast of the Mediterranen Sea is like paradise. The Ceasar Stone factory was situated here. In the field they grow bananas and oranges, the keep cows, etc. My goal was to give some aid by picking oranges, bananas and every kind of other work. When I had one or more days off I travelled the countryside to visit all kind of places which are mentioned in the Bible. Also the remains of Roman buildings and sites took my interest. In the kibbutz volunteers from all over the world mix and it was also interesting to meet members of the kibbutz. As Sdot Yam lies on the ruiens of Ceasarea there a lot of remains. For example coins. After a days work I walked in the dunes to look for these Roman coins. In the dunes I found olso a bomb not filled with explosives but with sand from the time the English ruled the country.

In 1976/’77 I went for a second time. I was giving work as the assistant of the kibbutz plumber Benjamin so I learned to fix all kind of this all over the kibbutz. In this period became friends with the Artsi Moyal family. Through them I got in contact with other members and my ties with the kibbutz became stronger. When I got a phonecall of my mother that my father was serious ill I had to go back home.

I went back several times with my little children, friends and I showed them the country from the Golan hights in the north till Eilat in the south. Places like Masada, Jeruzalem, Tel Aviv are a must to see.

September 2000 – Shimon Peres visites the studio of Yaël Artsi

As I mentioned before I became friends with the family of Yaël Artsi. In September 2000 I was invited at the sculpture exhibition. The guest of honour was minister of interior Shimon Peres. Together with the artist he made a walk over the grounds of the sculpture park, close to the beach of Ceasarea. Yaël explained him all about her art. I had the honour to be the only photographer and made several pictures. At the end Pauline Brenninkmeijer from ‘Beelden uit zee‘ had an interview with Shimon Peres. Minister Shimon Peres speaks about Yael Artsi’s art:“…Architecture is frozen music, but sculpture is dancing architecture or singing architecture.There is a famous poem in Hebrew, which goes: ”There are people with the heart of stone, and there are stones with a human heart”. In Yael’s art one can see stones with a human heart. Even more so – you can see stones with a twinkle in their eye. It is very difficult to make a stone speak such a delicate, indicative language. Yael succeeds.The greatness about her is that like a good chef who starts every gourmet dish with the right selection of the raw material, so does she – already sees her finished sculpture in the raw marble.Yael does not submit to norms and conventions. She makes the iron, stone or marble speak her language, which tells us of humanity, youth, couples, old-age, dialogue and disappointment. Her art is actually a full dictionary based on her own personal letters.Yael knows that less is more. She is very careful not to overdo, not to overstate, not to make a single movement or contribution, which is unnecessary for her message. A message must be clear as well as economic, strong but not powerful.When looking at this forest of sculptures, they do not resemble anything else. Yael’s art is totally original and can not be compared to any other art or sculpture.I also believe that she can command size. She does in miniature the maximum and the maximum with miniatures. I think that the great thing about her sculptures is that they do not look frozen. They look rather mobile, dancing, and from every angle they have a different movement.Yael is such a small lady and such a powerful personality. That disproportion between her size and her powers. One would never suspect that such a small body can command that sort of dimensions and proportions.”

Photos of the opening of the exhibition

15 juli 2007 – Shimon Peres became President of Israël.

In November 2006 I was in Israël to visit Yaël Artsi in kibbutz SdotYam. I travelled with her to take pictures of her sculptures. The kibbutz lies close to the ancient city Ceasarea. With Daniël Moyal the local archeolog I walk around the old city.

Ceasarea

A walk on Sabat on the old citadel is a must when you visit Israël. The excavasion is well documentated, but the best thing is to buy a guide. Take all afternoon and finish in one of the restaurants near the beach. They have good fish dishes.
Pictures

The Old Roman City with the theatre, old harbour, shops and restaurant is one of the most beautiful places in Israël. The pictures give I an impression of what you can expect.

The Beach

Just before sunset is a good time to arrive in kibbutz Sdot Yam!

Tel Aviv

Each visiter to Israël should go to Tel Aviv and stay at least half an hour at the memorial of Yitzhak Rabin. My friend Yaël Artsi (picture) made this memorial “Earthquake”. It symbolises the shock which was felt all over the world when we heard of the death of such a great man.

Pictures

Haïfa

Jeruzalem

Yad Vashem – To bear Witness

The new museum tells the tragedy of the planned extermination of the Jewish people.
The pictures show the valley of the communities which has been add to the museum. The memorial for the children is very impressive. Inside you will hear the names of children who were killed. The light of one candle reflexs in several mirrors and brings a sea of light. For the new museum you will have to take several hours. It brings you back in history as if you were there yourself. Buy the book ‘To Bear Witness’. It will be a precious souvenier.

Tel Aviv

Memorial Yitzhak Rabin