| A few years before the establishment of the State of | | | | today. Daburia is identified with the biblical Daberath |
| Israel in 1948, a group of settlers sat on a pioneer farm | | | | allotted to the Israelite tribe of Zebulun. From the Tabor |
| in Galilee bemoaning the fact that they couldn't find any | | | | Overlook, about 580 meters above sea level and |
| work. When they reached the point at which they | | | | attractively paved, there is an excellent view of Mount |
| were close to starvation the settlers sent a | | | | Tabor. There are churches way up high on the summit; |
| representative to Joseph Weitz, head of Land and | | | | Daburia is located on the lower slopes of the Tabor, |
| Forestation at the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and a | | | | on the right. On the left lies the Bedouin town of Shibli. |
| Very Important Person. | | | | April brings masses of my favorite flowers, bicolored |
| Weitz' secretary told the hapless settler that he | | | | Viper's Bugloss. Purple before they are fertilized, a |
| couldn't come in without an appointment. Fortunately, | | | | bugloss's blossoms turn red after the process is |
| Weitz heard the conversation from the other side of | | | | complete. Often one flower is fertilized before a |
| the door and received him with open arms. After | | | | second, even on the same stem. That's why the |
| touring the area near the farm, Weitz decided to plant | | | | bugloss blooms in both purple and red at the same |
| trees between Mount Tabor and the Nazareth | | | | time. |
| -Tiberias road - the first JNF forests in the lower | | | | Across from what is called the Beit Keshet Picnic |
| Galilee. Almost completely destroyed at the beginning | | | | Area stands "the Old Oak" - an ancient Tabor. A |
| of the 20th century when spectacular wild Tabor oaks, | | | | rocky circular trail about a kilometer long leads from |
| Kermes oaks and Land of Israel terebinth were | | | | the oak through the forest, passing through rocks that |
| chopped down for firewood, today the forests are | | | | look as if they are made of limestone but are actually |
| covered with trees and shrubs. | | | | dolomite sprinkled with a healthy dose of magnesium. |
| Recently the JNF completed a remarkable 15-kilometer | | | | Erosion has conferred upon them some unusual |
| scenic route within the forests. It includes a ride above | | | | shapes and in Hebrew they are called "trashim". |
| the narrow Barak Riverbed, dry most of the year and | | | | Nearby is the hill known as Tel Govel. It has been |
| awash with water in the winter. It is named for Barak | | | | identified as the biblical city of Aznot Tabor, a town |
| Ben Avinoam, an Israelite commander who fought | | | | located on the border between the tribes of Naphtali |
| Sisera at Mount Tabor under the guidance of the | | | | and Issachar. Pottery from both the Israelite period |
| biblical prophetess Deborah. [Judges 4:14]. | | | | (10th-8th centuries B.C.E.) and from the Roman era a |
| Also in the forest: a grove featuring Canary pines, tall | | | | thousand years later was uncovered here during |
| straight trees that resist forest fires. The British, who | | | | excavations. A dirt trail leads up the hill to a lookout |
| ruled Palestine at the time, planted this part of the | | | | point. |
| newly denuded forest in 1926. Declaring Beit Keshet a | | | | The Keshet Oak Overlook, with a lovely pergola, |
| Nature Reserve, they also added Jerusalem pine, | | | | offers a view of some especially beautiful Tabor oak |
| Stone pine, and several species of oak and terebinth | | | | trees. Further on, the forest offers a short and easy |
| to the natural foliage. In order to tell oak and terebinth | | | | circular trail with spectacular overlooks and attractive |
| trees apart, think of the oak as a man and the | | | | picnic areas. It includes a stop at the forester's house, |
| terebinth a woman. The oak is taller, and the terebinth | | | | where those early JNF workers stored their saplings |
| shorter and wider. The oak looks much the same all | | | | and equipment. Colorful flowers with their wonderful |
| year round while the terebinth changes color as a | | | | fragrances line the path. |
| woman changes clothes - from purple to green, yellow | | | | Beautiful jays wearing a black skullcap flap their black, |
| and brown - before it sheds its leaves. Besides, the | | | | blue and white wings as they zoom past forest |
| acorn is hard on the outside and soft underneath its | | | | visitors. Thieving little rascals, they steal anything that |
| shell. The terebinth's round red fruit, on the other hand, | | | | shines - as well as eggs and young birds. Jays |
| is soft to the touch and hard as a rock inside. | | | | perform a service to the forest by splitting open the |
| Hanging from many of the oak trees are bags that | | | | acorn's tough outer shell with their strong beaks and |
| look like old wool stockings. Actually, they are cocoons | | | | then hiding the nut in the ground. In this way they |
| made of larva fiber. In order to protect themselves | | | | contribute to the propagation of the oak tree. |
| from predators and climatic whims, these baby moths | | | | Tur'an Observation Point, the last stop on the scenic |
| spin cocoons made out of their fibers and spend their | | | | route, offers a stunning view of Mount Tur'an. A |
| days protected and warm. | | | | lookout tower tops the mountain's summit, and the |
| A magnificent mountain, the fabulous Tabor, keeps | | | | picturesque Arab village of Tur'an is spread out on its |
| popping up into view on a drive through the forest. | | | | slopes. To the right is Mount Hermon, visible only on an |
| Gloriously green in winter and spring, Mount Tabor | | | | exceptionally clear day; to the left Kibbutz Beit Rimon. |
| towers over the hills that surround it. Indeed, its beauty | | | | Long ago the slopes were covered by a Jewish |
| led a writer of Psalms to exclaim enthusiastically: "You | | | | settlement called Tir'an, filled with women who were |
| created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon | | | | renowned for their beauty. They were so remarkably |
| sing for joy at your name." [Psalms 89:12]. | | | | comely that a Jewish sage of the time amended a |
| Mount Tabor is the traditional site of the | | | | phrase in the Song of Songs to read as follows: "You |
| Transfiguration, in which Jesus, Peter, James and John | | | | are beautiful. . . as Tirza (at one time the capital of |
| climbed a high mountain. "There he was transfigured | | | | Israel) - like the women of Tir'an". Finally, the road leads |
| before them. His face shone like the sun, and his | | | | back to civilization. That's what makes this scenic route |
| clothes became as white as the light." [Mark 9:2]. The | | | | so remarkable: it is a sea of tranquility only seconds |
| other disciples waited at the foot of the mountain, | | | | from the strident tones of the city. |
| perhaps where the Arab village of Daburia stands | | | | |