A day of rest...I'll go for it!
In reading a book on Jewish culture, by a very devout Rabbi, I learned the beauties of Sabbath. It is a necessary part of Jewish society to function because it holds the spiritual values and restful time with the Lord that every worshipper of God needs. It is meant to be a day of rest, a day set apart, with little distractions, no job to go to, no manual labor to be done, but peaceful rest with time in the Word and time spent praying. After reading this chapter, I looked forward so much to such a day of rest and time to study the Word.
But most Jews aren't so dedicated to their Lord anymore. The Sabbath (Shabbat) is really anything special, much like Sunday is to America. There are certain Jews that are faithful to the traditions and religious customs, but most don't make a difference.
On friday night the whole IBEX group/staff have a Kabbalat Shabbat meal (a receiving of the Sabbath) to start the Sabbath off. It was much like communion, with the bread and wine (shows us where Jesus' got the ideas for communion--Passover!). And it was a wonderful meal with some friends. Then we had chapel for the first time. It was so enjoyable to sing praises, especially in English! But how much do I miss chapel back at Master's in the States!!! On Saturday morning, the whole moshav has church (most people where I stay are Messianic Jews) and it was good to see other families living near me.
Then we got to go into the Old City of Jerusalem and spend a free day in their for a few hours. Life was normal in the city, interestingly enough. There were more traditional garbs worn, and more rabbis walking around with their little proteges. It was neat to be in the city for such a day though.
And I'm still learning the techniques of bargaining and the buisness nature of the Jews and Arabs here. Overall, people here are rude (especially their driving!), but are friendly and pleasant if you speak to them or need something from them. Anyway, I needed to buy a watch. And I hadn't really set aside the time to look for one. We had about 20 minutes left before the bus came to pick us up. So I went back into the shops and walked into the first watch shop I saw. Like most people, he kept shoving things in my face wanting me to buy them. I asked him for a cheaper watch and he gave me a basic one for 25 shekels (about $6.50). I bartered it down to 15 shekels (about $3.50) and was satisfied and put it on.
I wore it to sleep that night and the next morning when I wake up, one of the arms broke off and was barely attached by the medal piece on my wrist. So I consented to carrying a watch in my pocket with a missing arm. At one point I pulled it out of my pocket and I guess I put too much pressure on it and a little corner broke off as well! AH! But the worst came near the end of the day Monday. I looked at my watch and it said 1:30pm and I started panicking, wandering what happened. Well, I found out it was around 4pm and knew that this watch was too good to be true! So much for paying for an overpriced watch and having it break within 48 hours!
...But just so you keep your confidence in me. I got a sweet messenger bag for 80 sheckels ($20) when it was originally 120 shekels ($30), when I barely even haggled the lady for it!
My view
En Parat
En Parat means "fruitful spring." This was located partway in the hike in the Parat canyon. The contrast between the green area (supported by the spring) and the wilderness is amazing
The Ibex Whisperer
It took about 20 minutes or so of basically baiting the ibexim to come to me, but I got them eating out of the palm of my head! ...I would've gotten to pet one, but everyone started to scare them away
About Me
Hulah Valley
I'm on the slopes of Mt Hermon looking down at the Hulah Valley in the north, the right edge of the picture is just about where the border with Lebanon is.
Capernaum's Shore
...maybe where Jesus gave His parables, "he who has ears, let him hear"
Sea of Galilee!
This is the northern end of the Sea. I took the picture standing on a cliff literally 900ft tall (as in, if I took one step, I would fall 900ft). This sea is gorgeous!
Jezreel Valley
The open valley of the north, between Galilee and Samaria. It's a beautiful and rich land. It's hard to make out, but the hill in the distance in the middle is the Hill of Moreh. Nain and Shunem are located on opposite sides of the hill--Jesus and Elisha healed a widow at these towns respectively.
Caesarean Harbor
I think this was one of the best sites we went to in all Israel. It's hard to get a full shot of the place. This harbor was built by Herod from scratch. Eventually the waves destroyed it. The Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, and Turks all fought over this spot. Much of Herod's buildlings still remain...except the Temple to Zeus! haha
Wilderness of Zin
This is the deep canyon of the wilderness...you have seen arid wasteland until you come here!
Dead Sea
Nahal Parat
This is where we started on our hike and we eventually made our way to the bottom there! So cool!!!
Model of Jerusalem of AD 44
This is Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. On the very bottom left corner is the City of David, the size of Jerusalem during David's time. Right above that, in the top left area is the large Temple Mount.
Model of Jerusalem, Temple Mount
This is what Herod's Temple and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem might have looked like in the time of Jesus. The big open area is the plaza. The very middle is the court of women. And beyond is the actually temple, with the three segments: outer court, Holy Place, Holy of Holies. Sadly, there was no Ark of the Covenant because it was lost after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC).
Jerusalem
This is overlooking Jerusalem from the Jaffa Gate. The golden dome on the right is the Dome of the Rock. I can't remember if the big bell tower on the left is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or another church.
Herod's Citadel
This is inside Herod's Citadel, or what is left of it. It's been turned into a tourist musuem basically, with all kinds of rooms that you can go into with the history of Jerusalem and the different stages it's been through and ruler's it's been under.
Kiriat Jearim
This is a view from the edge of the moshav. It's amazing how close everything is! This is the place where the Ark of the Covenant rested from after it was returned by the Philistines until David moved it to Jerusalem. On the right, you can see a stone wall (actually holding up a road) going off the right of the picture--that is probably the way the ark was taken, along that ridge. And I walked it!
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