It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a KITE!

May 30th 2011

Israelis are a grounded folk, not often caught with their heads in the clouds, but come August 23,  you better believe that they are going to be looking heavenward and trying to figure out how to utilize wind velocity to carry their precious kite cargo to the greatest heights possible.

Introducing Israel’s Annual Kite Flying Festival this August 23, 2011.

The Israel Museum in Jerusalem is at it again, introducing wide cultural activities to accompany you on your Israel travels. An Israel vacation without a kite being flown here and there is a lousy vacation indeed!

The festival takes place in the gorgeous Billy Rose Art Garden where the kite launching will occur.  And meet with PROFESSIONAL kite flying experts at the Museum; who knows, maybe this Israel vacation will bring you to a new career path! Kite building opportunities are available at the Museum, in case you forgot to pack your favorite, most durable kite from home. Take the opportunity to go on a guided Israel tour around the Museum when you have the chance as well.

Kite flying is nothing new, and despite your travels to the historical past of the Middle East, not even your Israeli tour guide can claim that Israel is home to the first historical kites. Rather, history dates kite flying back to 2800 years ago, when in China people utilized silk and bamboos  to make these dashing creations. Say some, of course, that the kite’s existence was way before that, in Indonesia, according to cave paintings. By the 5th century, paper kites were used to transport information for rescue missions!

And of course, we have Benjamin Franklin to thank for his decision to theorize the impact of flying a kite in a storm, thus learning some necessary scientific information on electricity that gives us the powerful life-changing light of our lives. Kids, even when those on Israel bar mitzvah tours or Israel bat mitzvah tours who have become kite-pros after this festival, please don’t try that experiment at home. Or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

So, we see that kite-flying is not just child’s play, but actually an important element to the history of the world. Go tell that to your private Israel group tour and see what they have to say. Kite flying has now become in your mind a noble activity indeed!

Advice for the wise: Keep your feet on the ground, and your head in the clouds. That will always lead you, and your kite, in the right direction : ) Enjoy your journey upward.


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