Sketching Out Blog: Sketches of art, watercolor, photos, recipes, books, interviews, Jewish topics, and Highland Park, New Jersey

Ghost Bride of Rosh Hanikra




At many tourist attractions in Israel nowadays you can see a little “seret” or movie about the place. This is quite welcome, as the movies are shown indoors in air-conditioning, and I found each movie to be refuge from the summer heat and the emphasis on walking and walking and walking. After seeing many of these little films, however, they begin to blend together. One, however, stood out from the crowd, and this was the one at Rosh Hanikra, the one that told the story of the ghost bride.

Long, long time ago south of these tall white cliffs lived a young girl in Acre (Akko). Her father made a deal with a older businessman in Tyre, Lebanon, that she would be his bride. So she was taken in a caravan north. As the caravan passed over these cliffs, the young bride jumped out, never to be seen again. And as the movie continued the history of Rosh Hanikra (the British built a railroad through the cliffs; the Haganah blew up the tunnel in the 1940s), the young bride appeared over and over again in the background with the cliffs.

After the movie is over and we emerge back into the brilliant sunshine, my daughter (who is 6) had all these questions: why did they show that girl over and over again? what’s a ghost? what happened to her? did she die? what happens after you die? is she still here?

So I suppose we (my husband, my two sons who are older than her, and I) came up with some sort of explanations. One week later, when we were in Jerusalem, I found her making up ghost stories one evening:

Robin says

Your daughter looks like a natural! Great shot.

I like that Ghost Bride story too, but my favorite is the one they show at the Hula - you haven't lived until you've been beamed in the face by a virtual fish LOL.

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Ilana-Davita says

Thanks for sharing the story. Great photos too.

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Baila says

My kids kept asking if the story was true. Yes, I told them, and there is a Santa Claus....

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Janet says

I love how she's always doing something funny in the pictures!!!

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Leora says

Robin, we'll put Hula on the to do list.
Ilana-Davita, glad you enjoyed it.
Baila, funny response.
Janet, have I posted mostly funny ones of her? Hmmm.

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Lion of Zion says

"At many tourist attractions in Israel nowadays you can see a little “seret” or movie "

boo

interesting to read the recent posts. i've never been the coastal parts northward of tel aviv (except for akko and a druze village)

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Mike says

I love these blue skies and water. Beautiful.

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Kathiespoettree says

Well, those are some ghostly white cliffs. Your little daughter is too cute to be scary but the photo is fun!

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hihorosie says

Beautiful pix and great ghost story. Your daughter is just too cute!

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therapydoc says

Makes me so homesick.

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system operator says

Very fun that last picture, with the especially frightening little ghost. And also, happy sky watching!

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Tarolino, Finland says

Great story and wonderful pictures. The colours make them look so crisp and clean. I suppose it's really the bright light that makes it appear that way.
I know this little girl is your daughter and I can see she really must be a proper little cutie. However this setting and her pose makes her look down right frightening. If she were a little bit more etheric I would have thought that I'm actually seing a ghost. I mean ... even her eyes glows in this picture.

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