This week has been absolutely incredible. We have had such - TopicsExpress

This week has been absolutely incredible. We have had such incredible classes and discussions. Specifically yesterday we were able to look at the story of Jesus and Lazarus. I will never read the passage the same again. The act of living here in Israel makes every story of the Word so new. Seeing them through the eyes of the land and people awakens the mind to new possibilities. They are no longer just words about a far removed people, but the real lives of communities and individuals. We have discussed the state of Israel, the current situation, its right to exist, and its various peoples. This week I gazed for the second time upon this nation as they observe Tisha BAv. This is the day of mourning for the destruction of both temples and also it is the day the first trains left for the concentration camps. There is so much the world could learn from this people as they mourn for events and people that are part of their history, part of their story. It never ceases to touch me and leave me with such a profound impression. This week for the field trip day we visited two places that really impacted me. First we visited Mt. Arbel in the north, which overlooks almost the entire Galilee. In the midst of the overwhelming beauty it holds such sorrowful stories of oppression and massacre. Magnificent mountains surrounded the last stop of the day, similar to Mt. Arbel, though the very stones on the ground told the appalling story of slaughter and destruction. We stood on the foundations of a village destroyed by the Romans. Every structure was demolished to the point of anonymity. Yet, under the ground lies a system of tunnels and caves prepared for a revolution. Through I was unable to venture past the first cave due to severe claustrophobia, I sat on the stones trying to listen to the tales they held. They whispered of the innumerable stories that remain forever untold. Due to similar situations in the area, we know of women going into premature labor out of overwhelming terror, children who knew nothing but the life of oppression, and a people who fought for freedom. As I sat on top of the hill awaiting the emergence of the group from the depths of the caves, the breathing of the land silenced me. I could see Nazareth on the ridge and pictured Jesus coming down into the valley throughout His time there. I sat as the wind whirled all around me and the sun graced me with its touch. I observed the harvesting of nearby fields, the grazing of livestock, and the ancient narrative that continues to be chronicled. This land and people captures my heart in so many ways. A huge piece of my heart is home here. I am blessed. Baruch Hashem.