After another beautiful breakfast on the shores of Galilee we loaded the bus and said farewell to Tiberius. Our first stop was Zippori, the town where archeologists believe Mary lived as a child. They are doing an incredible job with the excavation there. It is very interesting to see the process of revealing more than 2000 years of history. They have done a wonderful job uncovering and preserving the mosaic floors discovered there. The intricacy of the floors is quite amazing.
From Zippori we went to Nazareth, to Kfar Kadem Hosha’aya, a recreation of a Galilean village from the time of Jesus. It was so much fun to spend time in this interactive village. We were greeted by Menachem Goldberg. Tea was served from a brass pot and we gathered on stone benches as he took us 2000 years back in time. We donned the 4 square robes and covered our heads with the authentic triangle wrap before we headed to the stables, threshing floor, olive press and ovens. It was great fun to milk the goat, spin wool to thread, make cheese from the goat’s milk, thresh the wheat as Ruth did, grind it to flour with a mills stone and then bake our own unleavened bread on an outdoor oven heated with palm branches and wood. It was also delicious with hyssop and olive oil. The stories Menachem told throughout our visit brought the Bible to life. After riding donkeys we gathered for lunch under a palm branch roof. It was some of the best food we have had so far in Israel. Simple food from a time that will never be forgotten.
Reluctantly we said goodbye to Menachem, He gave us a pigeon and a capsule to put a note on the bird’s leg to send back to him.
Leaving Kfar Kadem we traveled through the Valley of Kesurat, where Deborah fought her battle. Then past Mount Tabor. We drove by Endor, where Saul consulted the witch. Dropping from there to the Valley of Jezereel was like a dream. We passed the Spring of Tin Harod where Gideon tested his people, and toward the Mountains of Gilead. Finally we arrived at our next stop, Tel Bet Shaen, The ruins of an amazing city from Roman and Bisentine times. We spent time exploring the theater, the beautiful marble buildings and the remnants of homes.
Next we drove toward Samaria, and then as Jesus did 2000 years ago, we took a route that did not take us through Samaria on our way to Jerusalem.
Driving along the highway, our guide pointed out the places where terrorist attacks and war had ravaged his homeland. We saw many caves that hid attackers as they waited to ambush Israeli soldiers. It truly brought the news to life. I will write a lot more on that later.
It was dark when we arrived in Jerusalem. At our hotel, Joyce, Amber and I took our pigeon to the steps of the hotel, attached our note of thanks to Menachem and released the beautiful bird to return to Nazareth.
Our first night in the Holy city was quiet, but you can already feel God’s Presence here.
Great is the Lord, And greatly to be praised, in the City of our God, in the Mountains of His Holiness, Beautiful for situation, the Joy of the whole earth, ‘Tis Mount Zion on the sides of the North, the city of the Great King.
Shalom!
Shalom! :)
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