Sunday-last day in Mitzpe Ramon

We got up early this morning for a jeep ride into the crater and then back up to a location overlooking the crater on the other side, where we waited for the sun to come up.  It was a beautiful morning and the sun rose ever so slowly shedding light and creating an array of colors in the crater.  We had three jeeps for the group.  While were were watching the sunrise and taking photos, our drivers made some sweet tea and offered some cakes to go along with this.  We then got back in our jeeps for some "off roading" in the desert.  I had done this before and it was fun, however, today, I was in the back seat and got very nauseous and could not wait to return to our hotel to go to bed.

After my nap, Marty and I grabbed a quick breakfast before getting on the bus for a trip to David Ben Gurion National Park, which was created by the man before he died.  He and his wife Paula are buried in this park which overlooks the Zin Desert on the left and Avdat Canyon on the right. We then visited an artist who lives in a community that was built in this location.  She shared about her work as well as the yin and yang of living in the Negev. We left this area and headed for a hike in the Avdat Canyon when we learned that it was closed because of heavy rain last night.  I was disappointed because I had hiked there before and was looking forward to another visit and to doing this with Marty.  We were, however, able to go to a location on top of the canyon so that we could look in and we got some great photos there.

We returned early because of the change in plans and Marty and I and several other people when to a little "strip mall" area where we would get the "best falafel" in Israel.  When we arrived there, there were several bus loads of young soldiers who had stopped as well for the falafel.  (So we knew this would be a good place.)  (I had also been here previously and knew that it was good.)  We then stopped at the supermarket there to pick up a few things and check it out before returning to the hotel.  By this time, I was tired and wanted to write and take a nap.  Marty did the same, but later participated in one more visit to an artist.

We then adjourned to a study session, Genesis 12 and 13, about Abram being called to leave his home for a new location.  Following our study session, we enjoyed our last dinner in this hotel as we leave early tomorrow morning for Jerusalem.  Marty and I plan to get up early again for a final visit to the Ramon Crater for sun rise.

Shabbat-Saturday in Mizppe

Marty and I got up at 4:20 this morning to go out to the Ramon Crater to watch the sunrise. (I have been blessed to see the sunrise here several times already, but each time is as the first.)  It rained here last night, as it did the first time I was here with Alan.  It is something to see and hear the rain in the desert.  There were 5 of our group that went this morning and the sunrise took a bit longer because of the clouds overhead.  But as the sun emerged in bits of light with rays streaming from behind the clouds, we all felt such excitement at this sacred event.  It was indeed such a beautiful sight!  The crater emerged from under this light with many shades of colors.

We returned to the hotel in time for breakfast, which was another feast of delights for all the senses.  Feeling physically and spiritually sustained, we returned to our room to catch up on some sleep we missed early this morning. 

We then joined the group for a study session, Genesis 4: 1-12 about Cain and Abel and it was a very spiritual and educational session.  I spent most of the session listening and learning from the thoughtful comments of the others in the group.

Now we have a few hours of rest on Shabbat and then we will meet a local artist.

We met Tami, an artist and one whose community projects we are going to visit and view.  she described a similar activity to those that Rachel and Laurids have been involved with in Copenhagen.  In addition to talking about her work, she talked about living in Mitzpe and some of the challenges here for secular Jews with young families and well as challenges for artists in a community so far from the center of Israel.

Following our visit, we returned to the hotel for another wonderful study session, followed by dinner.  We then returned to our rooms as we were getting up early the next day.

Friday and Shabbat-to Mitzpe Ramon

This morning we got up early and packed up to leave the Dead Sea and head off to Mitzpe Ramon. Along the way we stopped at Shivta, a Nabbatean ruin.  The Nabbateans were a sect of people who began as nomads and traveled the spice route, then setting up rest stops along the way for other caravans.  This was one such rest stop, which has been preserved very well, giving us an idea of their skills in preserving water and creating buildings that kept them cool during hot summers and warm during the cold seasons.

After this we visited Kibbutz Revivim, which was the first and farthest point in the Negev (desert) during the British Mandate.  We visited the historic Kibbutz, which contains much original equipment, including two planes, and shows the set set up for the secret operations that occurred from this site during the establishment of the State of Israel.  The British were told that this location was a meteorological location where the rain fall would be measured, which enabled the people who were to develop this location,  an acceptable reason to come to begin the establishment of a community in this area that was off limits for development.

After our tour, we were offered a light lunch consisting of vegetables, cheeses and humus made on the modern kibbutz next door.

From here we continued to Mitzpe Ramon, stopping first at the crater to see what it looked like before heading to the Ramon Inn.  (This is my third time to this area and I am so grateful to be back again.)  I stayed at this inn in 2004, during my tour with Alan, and had been traveling with my dear friend Billie who died earlier this year.  Billie was very much in my heard and mind today.  We have a very nice room here and this being a Moroccan run hotel, the food is exceptional.

We checked in and then settled into our room for a bit.  Before dinner, we met as a group to light Shabbat candles and retire to a private room for a Shabbat Service and Torah study.  It is so good to have this opportunity to study together in such a setting.

We then went into the dining room for dinner.  The food plentiful and very exciting and delicious.  After dinner, we came  back to our room.  We went to sleep early as we were planning to get up at 4:30 a.m. for the sunrise at the crater.

Thursday, Dead Sea & Masada

Breakfast at Hod Hamidbar was good, but I liked the Metropolitan better (actually all around).  This is a more commercial hotel with many groups of people coming regularly to enjoy the mineral benefits of the Dead Sea.

After breakfast we left for Masada.  We had two options here, one was to take the cable car up and to the tour with Nir, the second, to hike up the Snake Path (about 1 hour hike) with Alan.  As I had done the tour a couple of times, I decided to try the hike.  I was determined to complete this, but a little less than half way, I started to lose steam.  The sun by now was very hot and strong (generally this type of hike is best in the very early part of the morning, it was now 10:00 a.m.)  and it was getting steeper as we climbed up.  Marty was having an easier time of it and kept asking me if I wanted to go back and finally I accepted his offer and turned around to climb back down, still proud of my accomplishment.  After the group gathered back together, we continued our journey to En Gedi, which is an oasis and nature reserve and also has a kibbutz, to have lunch and do a small hike in the nature reserve to see some of the sprngs this area is famous for.

From here we returned to the hotel for relaxation before dinner.  Some people has massages and treatments.  Marty and I opted for a dunk in the Dead Sea.  It was very nice, as the water was warm and the hotel had set up a railing for people to hold onto so that they could remain upright as the significance of the Dead Sea is that it is so full of minerals that nothing can live in it and nothing can sink in it.  The danger is that one cannot get these minerals in one's mouth or nose, as this could lead to aspiration and likely death.  So there are rules about not floating on one's stomach and no splashing.  Also, not staying in the water for more than 25 minutes and then having to come out and shower before re-entering again. Initially, I didn't think that we would stay too long, but found I enjoyed being in the water and stayed the 25 minutes.  After this we showered and went to the outdoor pool, which was also warm and lovely.

We returned to our room after this, showered and dressed for dinner, which was much better than last night, probably because it was the first seating and early in the evening.  After dinner, we had a study group, which started with everyone saying why they were on this trip and what they hoped to get out of it.  Then we studied Samuel 1: 1-20, which discussed David and King Saul in a cave at Ein Gedi, as they ones we had seen earlier in the day.  After this, I was exhaused and fell into bed and sleep.

Wednesday-transition day

This was a day of transition... Early this morning we had breakfast with Dov, who is an Israeli Film distributor and who provided the films for the Israeli Film Festival.  We had brought with us some Mary Meyer stuffed moose with Vermont sewn in and gave him two when we learned that he had two young daughters.  We discussed the impact the  Israeli Films had on the Brattleboro area community and the continuation of this as well as possibly developing monthly showings of films at the Hooker Dunham Theatre (he couldn't get over the name).

After leaving him we went over to say goodby to Erika, who today was wearing one of her new blouses.  (I left some spending money for her as well.)  It was sad to say goodbye, but we had a wonderful visit and I look forward to seeing her again next year.

We returned to our hotel, checked out and took a taxi to the Central Train Station in Tel Aviv, where we got the train to Haifa.  We both enjoyed the train ride immensely and it was much more pleasant and cheaper than the taxi.  We arrived at the train station, took a taxi to the hotel where the Haifa Rotary Club would be meeting and left our luggage so that we could walk around a bit.  My goal was to take Marty to the Louis Promenade (behind the HOF Hotel I stayed at last trip).  This is the location for the most beautiful and vast view of Haifa and the coast.  Despite the very smoggy day, we had a wonderful view of Haifa and the Bahia Temple.

From there we took a taxi back to Har HaCarmel hotel to be guests at the Haifa Rotary.  We were welcomed by members and had a liaison for the afternoon, Zvi.  He introduced us to the buffet, which was loaded with abundant varieties of salads, meats and dessert.  After some announcements, Marty exchanged flags with the president before the main speakers were presented.  The club has an extensive membership including the Mayor of Haifa who spoke about a recent film festival.  The main speaker was a former admiral of the Israeli Navy and while we did not get most of what he was talking about, we understood it to be about the division of Israel for the Palestinians and the pros and cons about certain boundaries.  I think it would have been very interesting, but our host did not seem inclined to share much about it.

Following the meeting we took a taxi back to the train station to catch a train for the airport where we would be meeting up with our tour group.  All of our connections went well and eventually we found our group at the airport.  After introductions and finding the tour guide, we headed off for the bus to the Dead See.  

We boarded the bus and road about 1 1/2 hours until we reached our hotel Hod Hamidbar (place in the desert) was located.  We left the bus quickly, labeled our luggage and then headed to the dining room where the buffet dinner had been held for us.  After dinner, some went off for a study session, but Marty and I wanted to write our blogs and to to sleep.  Unfortunately, the internet was not at its best in this hotel, but we checked our mail and then went to bed.

October 21st-our 29th Anniversary-continued

We returned to Tel Aviv to our hotel briefly before going to visit Erika again.  We promised to take her out for "Gliddah" (ice cream).  When we arrived, she greeted us in one of her new dresses to which she added a belt and sweater.  She looked very cute, hardly almost 80 years old.  She said that she wanted to go to Dizengoff Street and walk around, as this was a place she had spent much time with her deceased husband and later a friend.  We found a place for ice cream quickly and she enjoyed this very much.  Many of the stores were still closed for the holiday which had ended at sunset.  She wanted to walk to a particular location, which had housed a performance center where she had danced and listened to concerts.  She said that the building had been torn down but she wanted to see how the new building was progressing.  We walked quite a way, but she was very determined to find this location.  We finally reached the spot and found an unfinished building.  Erika seemed to be mourning the loss of the time she spent here with family and friends.   Following this we found a taxi and returned Erika  home, satisfied again with the day's activities, but I think sad knowing that we were leaving the next day.

After this we returned to the hotel and prepared to go to my cousin Ruth's.  She was very enthusiastic about my being here and the potential for me to see everyone in her family that evening.  It took us longer than expected to arrive there as our first taxi driver dropped us off on a street of the same name in a different town.  Once Ruth and I realized this, she called for another taxi for us to take us to her location.  

We arrived and were greeted by a clan of people including my Aunt Sara; Ruth, her husband Rafi;  three children: Micki, Cobi and Liron, now adults and their significant others.  Also, Rafi's brother and his family were there as well as some friends of his.  Ruth said that they all lived in the house or nearby except for Cobi, who lived in Tel Aviv.

Ruth had prepared a wonderful feast of Israel food and looked so in her element as the matriarch of this family.  When I saw her 28 years ago, she was a young woman with a husband and small child.  Also, I knew her mostly as a child in New Jersey before her family returned to Israel and it was fascinating seeing her now as an adult, but still seeing the child within.

It was so good to connect with this side of my family and I had a sense of missing these relationships.

Again, this evening Marty brought his computer and patiently showed photos of our family, Vermont and Rachel's artwork to entertain all.

We enjoyed our visit and left saying that I would remain in contact with Ruth and Sara and would plan to return with my family next year and spend more time together.

Before we came, I had a totally different idea of our visit in Tel Aviv and had not committed to seeing anyone but Izzy and Erika.  However, I believe this was my destiny during this visit and I am very happy that I have reconnected with these members of my family.  I look forward to our return visit, to spending more time with them and introducing them to my family as well.

Reconnecting with Family-Tuesday, Oct 21

This day was dedicated to seeing family, some I haven't seen for 28 years.  I had been trying to reach my aunt sara, spoke to her earlier after our arrival and then couldn't reach her.  After trying a variety of configurations on the phone, I reached her and arranged for us to go over to her apartment at noon.  Sara is the wife of my father's deceased brother and as I said, I haven't seen her for 28 years.  We were greeted with open arms and warm smile upon our arrival.  I thought how good it was to see her.  Marty had brought his computer to show her photos of our family and life in the states and she was very pleased about this.  She lives in Holon, which is where my family lived when I was a small child.  She has a wonderful view of Tel Aviv from her apartment.  

During our visit, my cousin Ruth, her daughter, called to invite us to her home later in the evening when her entire family would be gathering for her husband's birthday celebration.  Of course, I accepted.  We left Sara  saying that we would see her later in the evening and promising to stay in touch, now that we have reconnected.