Page 13 - Holyland Magazine - 2021 Edition

Alas, the stones cannot speak, and we are left Elias improvising... the village perform everywhere and yet, every
with the mystery and hypotheses of historians His musical pub, Saturday, you can hear the sounds of the oud,
as well as the original archive that over the Shahin Music, kanun and violin being played in the alleys by
years made its way to Austria and Germany, is where young the village youth.
where it remains today. However, today we people come to In recent years, Tarshiha has become a culinary
are mainly left with a lovely spot, in the middle play together. powerhouse, with people coming in throngs
of the enchanting splendor of the Nahal Kziv Photo: Itay Avidar to eat typical Galilean Arabic dishes, baked
nature reserve. This reserve surrounds the goods or Arab sweets. Additionally, don't
channel of Nahal Kziv, the longest of the the Tarshisha, which today is part of the mixed city forget to visit the gourmet restaurants and the
Western Galilee's streams. The water that Ma'alot-Tarshiha, was not a regular village, but fun modern pubs with a great atmosphere.
runs through it makes it possible to swim in not a city either. It was something in between. In short, a visit to Tarshiha, the nice little village,
several cool pools, with verdant growth that A center of Galilee villages that has been home opens a window to the past, where you can
offers shade to hikers and also includes a wide to a colorful and authentic market held on meet authentic craftspeople, taste fabulous
variety of animal life, including over 200 Persian Saturdays for centuries. Everybody in the area, food, listen to good music and understand
fallow deer that were released into the wild as of all faiths and speaking a variety of languages, that coexistence among the religions can be
part of an effort by the Israel Nature and Parks meet and shop there. Christians and Muslims a reality.
Authority to bring the wild animals of the Bible have lived alongside each other in Tarshiha for The tour to the Crusader castle of Montefort,
back to the Land of the Bible. centuries, and you can see lovely and well- the side streets of Tarshiha, and the stunning
tended churches and mosques in close vicinity views from Mount Adir, will give you but a small
A memorial overlooking Lebanon to each other. taste of the Galilean tapestry that includes
secrets, views and moving personal stories...
A spectacular wooden observation point was Over the generations in Tarshiha, outstanding Come visit and get a taste of the Galilee.
built on Mount Adir (3,300 ft.) of heroes of craftspeople have set up shop close to the
the Second Lebanon War, which ended ten market and have earned a reputation for The author is a tour guide who specializes in the
years ago and brought quiet to the north. The themselves throughout the entire country. Galilee area and runs private tours all over Israel.
location offers one of the most incredible views Tarshiha's blacksmiths became famous www.omri-travel.co.il, omri.avidar@gmail.com,
not only of the Galilee, but also of southern for their quality work, which included all +972-54-4957737
Lebanon. You can see Mt. Hermon on the agricultural tools used in the field, horseshoes
east, the towns on both sides of the border, and equipment, and all forms of kitchenware. While nestled in
the roads and spectacular natural landscapes, But the knife makers, who proudly engrave a highly pastoral
and even the Mediterranean to the west. Not their names on the shiny blades, surpassed all landscape, Montfort
to be missed. the others. Even today, you can watch the last Castle reminds us of
of these craftspeople plying their trade at the the stormy history.
Craftspeople, music and good ancient workshops.
food The Mount Adir
And let's not forget the carpenters, with their Observation Point
"Why can't the peoples of the Middle East furniture, doors and delicate and finely styled engages the landscapes,
get along and be friends like us?" This was windows that can still be found in many memories, beauty and
the question I was asked by Bassem the houses around the Galilee today. Among the sorrow. Photos: Omri
blacksmith, the knifemaker, at his family's carpenters, the most famous were those who Avidar
ancient workshop, which he is now restoring. made the musical instruments. As can be
His question is typical of the entire Galilee expected, musicians and singers followed,
and especially Tarshisha, which is a shining some of whom became famous. Hakhmat
example of tolerance, mutual respect and Shaheen, the composer, his son Simon, the
community living among Christians, Muslims oud and violin virtuoso, and Ibrahim Azzam,
and Jews. the fabulous singer, who became famous
throughout the entire Arab world are but a few.
Mathanes Haddad, Tarshiha boasts a music school. Bands from
blacksmith,
continues to use
the same tools

Knights and hiddenagsrtahrniedsfafaatsthhueerrrteaonsd…

MIhfeooannrttlfyoorftthaeCgasrtseotelnene, sfotocrewosuetlrdionngtYmpaorteloahkotdv.ean.u.lScbtaaWoeakontshlhcskeel.infPoffihfnvoienNistsoaitt:tihnhagel
Kziv, you can still easily imagine the Crusader
knights who came from Europe to rescue the
Holy Land, slowly leaving the gigantic castle
with the German name Starkenberg (strong
mountain) they built just 45 years earlier, while
taking their treasures and archives with them.
Mamluk Sultan Baybars and his men, who
beat and expelled the Crusaders, looked on
as the knights marched towards their capital of
Acre after formally surrendering in June 1271.

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