Wed-Fri

Shabbat Shalom,

Here I am again with a lot to say. We have been having a wonderful time. All pics on facebook. So let's jump right in. Starting with...

Wednesday

We visited three sites around the Sea of Galilee that Thomas and I had not seen before. Bethsaida, Korazin, and Kursi.

Bethsaida was the town where at least five of the Disciples were from. This is still an on going dig site. So new things are coming to light.

Korazin where there is a partial synagogue and a the remains of an insula, house with many rooms. Families would just build on as the children would marry and several generations would live and work together.

Kursi the place of the ancient city of the Gadarenes. This is the place where the demons begged Jesus to cast them into the heard of pigs. He did and they ran into the sea.

We ate St. Peter’s fish at the kibbutz Ein Gev. Heads and all.

Thursday

Today we had a late check out from the Scot’s Hotel. Some had pool and beach time, while others slept in or went shopping in downtown Tiberius. On our way out of town we went north to the hilltop town of Safed (Zafet). The town was established by Jews that had fled Spain during the Inquisition. Now it is an Artist Colony that fills the older part of town and it is also the place that people come to study the Kabbalah, the mystic side of Judaism. It was sensory overload on color and skill. Paintings, jewelry and iced coffee! O MY!

We celebrated with a farewell dinner at the Maganda, a delicious Yemenite restaurant located in the oldest part of Tel Aviv.

Friday

Every Tuesday and Friday there is an Arts and Crafts fair beside the Carmel Market. A lady that I met in Jerusalem told me about it and I was looking forward to going. all of you people who love artistic items (leather to silver to glass) would appreciate the craftsmanship that was on display. Prices were reasonable as many of these things are one of a kind. I bought my mother a little something special here. Then one street over is the Carmel Market. It must be experienced to be understood. The first thing you notice is the crowd. Cheek to Cheek! Then the sound of shopkeepers calling out about the great deals to be had if you just step over to them. Quickly following are the smells of spices, coffee and fresh produce and flowers. It was also probably a little over 100 degrees, but I think I’m getting use to it! One lady remembered me from November of 2008, because my sister had purchased something from her. Amazing! We bought smoked cheese at one shop, bread at another and a can of pringles at another. Then came back to our lovely air cooled room and had cheese sandwiches. Tonight we are going to the Mizrahi’s for Shabbat dinner.

I am writing this addition of the beloved pilgrim’s blog while sitting on by little balcony that looks out over the Mediterranean and the plaza below. Music is blaring from across the plaza, and horns are honking.(honking your horn is The way to communicate in the Middle East).

Shabbat Shalom

the beloved pilgrim

PS Check out new pics on facebook.

I have not had access for several days, I really have a lot to say!

Friday

Started our day on the Pilgrim Steps or Southern Steps, as the are sometimes called. These are the original steps that the everyday man would have used to go up to the temple. The prayer and sharing time there was sweet. Afterwards, we had a private time of prayer and reflection at the Western Wall. Those of you who gave me your prayers, they were place in the wall and prayer was made.

We went to Rabbi Moshe’s shop and what was to be a few minutes talk turn into quite a discourse. The Rabbi sure likes to share. I set outside with Meir and caught up on his family.

At sundown we went back to the Western Wall so we could experience the bringing in of the Sabbath. Music, Dancing and Prayers! All kinds of people! Many of the athletes that are participating in the Maccabian Games were there with there wearing their country’s colors.

Saturday

Packed up and headed to Bethlehem. Our guide, Ibraham, an Arab Christian,has a masters degree in Sociology, and works with handicapped adults when he is not guiding a tour. He has only been guiding for about 3 years. We went to the Church of the Nativity and Shepherds Field. We ended our day shopping! I got to see my Friend Mary. She is doing well and was glad to see me back (as I was to see her). Michael, owner of the shop now owns a restaurant called The Crystal and we ate lunch there. It was located in a small mall and was very good.

On to the Dead Sea! As we stepped off the bus the HEAT slapped us in the face. If hell is a place of intense heat, I don’t want to go there. Everyone’s room was ready but ours, so by the time I got to our room I was beat. Thanks to whoever invented air conditioning.

Sunday

MASADA-one word says it all. I didn’t go up, but the group did beat the heat. They were back by 11:00. Made a stop by Qumran (place where the dead sea scrolls were found) and a quick over view at Bet Shean (Roman City). Arrived in Galilee, and check into the beautiful Scot’s Hotel. Lovely place!

Monday

What a way to start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee! The weather was perfect, a slight breeze and no waves. Our friends Alex and Tova were both at their shop where the Jesus Boat (Galilee Boat) is on display. They were very busy (this is good), but they took time to visit with our group. They have a new display about the beginnings if the State of Israel. The photographs are so inspiring. You could see hope and perseverance in their eyes and smiles.

Tuesday

We stayed at the hotel while the group went to Nazareth and some places along the way. Thomas and I walked around Tiberias. It really makes one appreciate the land in which we live. I went into a grocery store (security at the door) and found prices a little higher than ours and we definitely have a larger selection, well, of everthing. That being said I did find on of my favorite teas! Had some lunch, a sandwich called a Scottish Club, it had a fried egg among other things on it. Surprisingly good. There is a beautiful pool area with covered pavilions. We spent an hour and an half there.

Typing this as dinner is done and the sun is setting on another beautiful day in Galilee.

This morning after a great breakfast we walked from our hotel thru Herod’s Tomb (garden). Leave it to corrupt Herod to have a beautiful garden. The garden connects to the Artist Colony that is lined with local artisans shops. It was still to early in the day for any to be open, but now I know where they are, I will be back. Then, up the hill to the Jaffa Gate, the western entrance to the Old City.
To fulfill one of Elizabeth’s requests we found bench in the Jewish quarter and listened to God of the City”. Watching young and old, business man and school passing before us where just 40 years ago the could not move about this city do free. Little children going about by themselves yet there were unseen eyes watching out for these children of the future. The synagogue that was was bombed in 1948 and became the grave of many innocent women, children and rabbis’ is getting closer to completion. I am glad that they powers that be decided to rebuild rather than turn the site into a memorial. It will be a truly beautiful building.
We had a pleasant chat with Rabbi Moshe, then an iced coffee slushy at a new shop in the square. A walk thru the Cardo and of course a little shopping.
After returning to the hotel we had a rooftop swim and some lunch. Hot dogs! Kosher of course.

Erez and Sharon (Roby’s daughter) came to Jerusalem to drop off a few things we needed.
After dinner many of the group headed to Ben Yehuda Street and outdoor pedestrian mall. It is a very lively place at night. Let’s see there was a string quartet, a harpist, street dancers, and several artist doing portraits. Regan Doss played with the harpist. Beautiful! Doug West, Don Schwertner, and Travis Howell sang and played and drew quite audience. They sang some folk songs, even some they had wrote themselves and Avery Ling (11 years old) sang “Waltzing with Matilda”. One young man from Russia took out his recorder and played along. His English was limited but not his music.
I am writing this at 5am. Today we visit the Western Wall. So those of you that gave me your prayers, I will be placing them in the Wall today.

Shabbat Shalom,

the beloved pilgrim

“Give me Jesus, give me Jesus, you can have this whole whole world, just give me Jesus.” This was the song that I woke up singing this morning. O may this true of my heart.

Today, we walked the Via Dolorosa and once again remembered what took place here not just for me and you but humankind. What a wonderful prayer for healing at the pavement (the first station of the cross where the strips were laid upon Christ). “For by His stripes we are healed”. Take this promise as yours this very day.

Boka Tov (good morning),

Did you wonder if the pilgrim had gotten lost. My adapter broke, and we have been in search of a power source that would not burn up my computer.

We landed safely and were met my Erez and Roby. Checked in our room and had a wonderful dinner. The World Jewish Games are taking place this week in central Israel and there are banners everywhere.

After a good night’s sleep we had our favorite breakfast. Just look at the photo’s and let your mouth water. They make a chocolate croissant that is Ooo La La. I do not have a photo of it at this time because by the time I got the camera ready it had disappeared. Imagine that!

We went out on the beach and watched some really good volleyball players, then had lunch with Erez and Roby, and also looked for a new power source. We returned to the airport in time to meet the rest of our group. Meir says hello to all who know him.

We headed up to Jerusalem, and stopped on Mt Scopus to overlook the Holy City and have prayer. This was Meir’s idea and the blessing he said (and had us repeat) was a piece of beauty and inspiration. We checked into the beautiful Dan Panorama and had a lovely meal.

There are more pictures on my Facebook.

Shalom

the beloved pilgrim

Airport Adventures

Expectation produces disappointment, but expectancy opens up a world of possibilities. This was part of Thomas’s message from Saturday night. So on this trip I will try not to expect certain things, but keep my heart open to all the possibilities that God has for me. What an adventure! When I have left the choice up to God, He has never disappointed me. He chooses better for me than I chose for myself. This has been proven to me time and time again. Ok, this paragraph has more to do with life that this trip, and yet is not life a journey. This was what I was thinking about.

I am now typing this out on the airplane. We arrived in Atlanta at 5:00. We are thinking “Great! plenty of time to spare!” Then the rain came...and came...and came. And it brought its friends thunder and lightning. Our flight to Tel Aviv was to leave at 10:30 pm, it was after midnight before we left. So we are about 45 minutes late. But even with all that the plane that looked full online was somewhat empty. Yeah! 3 seats for Thomas and I! Slept some. Listened to some “Prairie Home Companion” and Norah Jones. Getting ready to eat a snack. Looks like something with spinach in it, one of my favorite veggies! See God goes beyond our expectations ( I was expecting a cold lox and bagels, which I like) and opens up a better choice. You know He did this just for me!

Heidi will appreciate all the children that were waiting to get on board. They were running and playing in the airport. Thomas and I were hoping they would run all that energy out! We have only heard one little one crying. Pressurized cabins have to hurt their little ears. One family had 5 boys (12 and under) and a little girl (about 2 yrs). I think she could hold her own with them. They were eating all sorts of junk food. I saw one of the boys carrying an empty box that had once housed at least a dozen donuts. I couldn’t get to my camera quick enough for that, but I did get some pics of them. Mom was definitely in charge while Dad was playing Suduko. Everyone was happy and if a little rambunctious. The boys ended up finding an outlet to watch a new video. I caught them on film and they willing gave me some smiles.

Closing this blog now. We will land in “The Land of the Book” in a little over an hour. Ahhh feels like home, just as it did when I first landed here 34 years ago. I cried then and I feel the tears even now blurring my eyes as I type.

Well, shalom and layla tov (good night)

the beloved pilgrim

Packing and looking ahead

This is my first attempt at blogging, so bear with me.

Less than 24 hours till I'm headed to Atlanta first , then on to Tel Aviv. My friend Erez is picking us up at the airport. There is a 7 hour time difference (they are ahead), then an 11.5 hour flight. That makes us getting in around 5:30 pm their time, 10:30 am our time, and my body will feel somewhere in between. So pray for smooth and uncrowded flights.

I have finished packing, and as always I feel like I am forgetting something. Everything fit and the poundage is under 50. I am either getting better at this or leaving something out. As you can see my melancholy comes out when I pack. Everything in labeled pouches. I think I must get my packing abilities from my Dad. Bless his heart.