Beauty of the Land of Israel (Photos)

Here are two travel shots of Tiberias and the valley in northern Israel, near Kiryat Shmona and the Golan Heights (the latter taken with the camera held out a car window traveling at least, oh, 500 kilometers per hour. Going steeply downhill - lotsa Photoshop 'n' crop there...), to enjoy before you scroll down to the next entry, about aiding terror victims in the north.

Watercraft docked at bustling Sea of Galilee tourist promenade, Tiberias.
(Photo: Dave Bender)


Hula Valley, just south of Kiryat Shmona, overlooking rich
farmland, and Mt. Hermon (left, in distance). (Photo: Dave Bender)

Shabbat Shalom, and have a great weekend.

Comforting terror victims in the north (Photos) (UPDATED)

Kiryat Shmona resident, wounded in Katyusha attack
and daughter (Photo: Dave Bender)

Sorry for being away for several days without an update, so here 'tis:

I joined Chabad emissaries, who provided aid and assistance to scores of families afflicted by terrorism, whether in lethal Katyusha rocket attacks or loved ones, sons, brothers and fathers killed and wounded in fighting against Hizbullah in Lebanon.

40,000 ball bearings in a Katyusha slamming down
in the streets of Acco (background pavement),
did this to a street sign pole... (Photo: Dave Bender)

Making this woman a widow, and her son,
fatherless (Photo: Dave Bender)

By killing her husband, along with six others in three families,
and wounding dozens... (Photo: Dave Bender)


By hammering into residents on the lawn of this building,
as they came out of the bomb shelter for relief, moments
after a previous barrage. (Photo: Dave Bender)

There are many more photos (and a donation page) here: www.TheIsraelHomeFrontFund.org.

I will try to post moving (it was quite wrenching just to photograph this series of stills and video...) video clips as well, on Saturday night (IST), both here and there so please check back.

Meanwhile, here's a related article from The Jerusalem Post:

"There is pain, but it's getting better," said Siyani, who lives in Rishon Lezion and is one of some 400 soldiers wounded in Lebanon, the majority of whom were brought to Rambam.

Though currently he can't use either arm, and has to be fed and otherwise cared for, Siyani was in a good mood. The fact that his comrades come to visit him every day helps motivate him to heal faster. And despite his wounds, there seem to be no regrets and no doubt in his mind about where he'd rather be right now.

"I love serving in the army," he says. "I hope to return as soon as I am better. I protected my land and my birthplace, and even with the injury, I'd do it all over again."

Menachem Kutner, Director of Chabad Terror Victims Project at
Tel Hashomer Hospital with first Israeli civilian wounded
in Katyusha attack. (Photo: Dave Bender)