Israel's Breadbasket

Wheat, cotton, sunflowers and corn cover the plain known as Emek Yizre'el, the Jezreel Valley, but it's unusual to see it looking quite as green as it did this past Saturday. All five seats of the car were filled. With my parents and their friends on a scenic drive from Haifa to the Lower Galilee I marveled at the view of "Israel's Tuscany." We were headed to an exhibit that recently opened at the Art Museum of Kibbutz Ein Harod. On display were hundreds of paintings by Israeli artists from the private collection of Ami and Gabi Brown. But the building was the main attraction. A stunning example of the International Style by Samuel Bickels, a member of the kibbutz, it was erected in 1948, making it as old as the country. Apart from a few slender lamps on the ceiling, all of the gallery spaces were illuminated with natural light, the subtle curvature of the stark white ceiling facilitating its entry. The modest cafe was located in the most charming courtyard. A dream. And the paintings! Uri Reizman, Yosef Zaritsky, Yehiel Krize, Batia Apolo, and (my neighbor) Yigal Tumarkin were among those represented. I think Zaritsky is my favorite. There was one watercolor in particular, entitled "Jerusalem Habashim Gate" — something about the restrained, almost cube-like brushstrokes, which are usually so much freer-flowing, had me mesmerized.

We had lunch on the balcony of "Havat Ha-tavlin" (The Spice Farm), which has the most incredible view of the valley. Where else could I enjoy dining al fresco in January?!