Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday
We need to get up at 1 am to make our flight that leaves at 5 am. I don’t know who made these flight arrangements, oh wait, it was me. Everyone tells us that you need at least three hours to get through security. They may be close to right. In Jerusalem I learned about the 12 Stations of the Cross, well, in the Tel Aviv airport there are five stations of security.
When we get to the airport at 2 am there is a line long enough to make a retailer cry. Why aren’t they coming to my store? I wonder what I can sell them. Anyway, we get into the business line and go right to the front. However, because of the shift change we have to wait for 15 minutes. Looks like some old British celebrity is here as well. People coming up to get this autograph. He was very polite. I think a member of the Rolling Stones.
So we get to phase one and now have to go and get our boarding pass. Not easy, since we have no seat assignments. This however works out. Now we have to return our rented phone. Then next, we have to go to the passport check. Easy enough, except every time we stop we have to go through all of the same questions. You want to answer, yes, I have a weapon, and I have let everyone in the airport touch my bag and I took three packages from strangers at the airport to bring back to the US to their Middle Eastern parents.
From passport check in we now go through the normal (read US type) security line. Easy except for the woman in front of us that did not realize she would actually have to show a passport and ticket so she had to dig into a bag bigger than my dad was issued for all of his gear when he was deployed to North Africa.
The flight was easy and now we had to do all of this again in Spain. I do feel safe now as we are flying over the Atlantic.
The trip was wonderful. I did not really get to see everything I had hoped to see, but I did get to see something wonderful, perhaps even beautiful. I had hoped to see Masada and that just did not fit into our schedule. To know that there is a place, like Warsaw during World War II, that our Jewish ancestors fought the ultimate battle is very important to me. These were a people that KNEW there is only one G-d Shama Israel. They knew that they were doing the right thing and would not give in to oppressors. I would have liked to have gone to the Dead Sea and many of the other historical parts of Israel, but that will happen in another trip.
What I did get to see, my surprise, was the love that a man has for his people and the life long friendships a man can make. The glow Harry had throughout the trip is impossible to describe. Harry Kahn is a unique individual. He likes to be contrarian. He wants you to take the other point of view, just to make sure you have thought of everything. But on this trip, there was only one point of view, look at this country, look at these people and what they have accomplished. The unspoken word is that because of the sacrifice they make every day, Jews in America have the ability to practice their religion. They are the front line of our religious freedom and Harry is so proud of them.
It is a rare time in your life when you can see a man like Harry Kahn get so tied up he can’t talk. I experienced this many times in the past week. I can always go back and see the things and places I missed on this trip, but I thank G-d for the opportunity I got to see Harry Kahn.
So, this is the story of Rich and Harry’s great Israeli adventure. I hope you enjoyed it and come back to see the pictures soon.
Rich
We need to get up at 1 am to make our flight that leaves at 5 am. I don’t know who made these flight arrangements, oh wait, it was me. Everyone tells us that you need at least three hours to get through security. They may be close to right. In Jerusalem I learned about the 12 Stations of the Cross, well, in the Tel Aviv airport there are five stations of security.
When we get to the airport at 2 am there is a line long enough to make a retailer cry. Why aren’t they coming to my store? I wonder what I can sell them. Anyway, we get into the business line and go right to the front. However, because of the shift change we have to wait for 15 minutes. Looks like some old British celebrity is here as well. People coming up to get this autograph. He was very polite. I think a member of the Rolling Stones.
So we get to phase one and now have to go and get our boarding pass. Not easy, since we have no seat assignments. This however works out. Now we have to return our rented phone. Then next, we have to go to the passport check. Easy enough, except every time we stop we have to go through all of the same questions. You want to answer, yes, I have a weapon, and I have let everyone in the airport touch my bag and I took three packages from strangers at the airport to bring back to the US to their Middle Eastern parents.
From passport check in we now go through the normal (read US type) security line. Easy except for the woman in front of us that did not realize she would actually have to show a passport and ticket so she had to dig into a bag bigger than my dad was issued for all of his gear when he was deployed to North Africa.
The flight was easy and now we had to do all of this again in Spain. I do feel safe now as we are flying over the Atlantic.
The trip was wonderful. I did not really get to see everything I had hoped to see, but I did get to see something wonderful, perhaps even beautiful. I had hoped to see Masada and that just did not fit into our schedule. To know that there is a place, like Warsaw during World War II, that our Jewish ancestors fought the ultimate battle is very important to me. These were a people that KNEW there is only one G-d Shama Israel. They knew that they were doing the right thing and would not give in to oppressors. I would have liked to have gone to the Dead Sea and many of the other historical parts of Israel, but that will happen in another trip.
What I did get to see, my surprise, was the love that a man has for his people and the life long friendships a man can make. The glow Harry had throughout the trip is impossible to describe. Harry Kahn is a unique individual. He likes to be contrarian. He wants you to take the other point of view, just to make sure you have thought of everything. But on this trip, there was only one point of view, look at this country, look at these people and what they have accomplished. The unspoken word is that because of the sacrifice they make every day, Jews in America have the ability to practice their religion. They are the front line of our religious freedom and Harry is so proud of them.
It is a rare time in your life when you can see a man like Harry Kahn get so tied up he can’t talk. I experienced this many times in the past week. I can always go back and see the things and places I missed on this trip, but I thank G-d for the opportunity I got to see Harry Kahn.
So, this is the story of Rich and Harry’s great Israeli adventure. I hope you enjoyed it and come back to see the pictures soon.
Rich
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Shabbat.
Perhaps the most unusual day of our trip so far. Harry really wants us to go the wall and pray on Shabbat, and I am certainly in favor of that. We get a little late start, because I did not want to wake Harry. We get a call from Harry’s friend Ari Friedman. They knew each other from Fort Worth. I am coming to believe Harry knows everyone in Israel. One big happy family. Ari asks if he can join us and take us to the Kotel. He is from Jerusalem originally, so this is a special treat. We hear of how the war was fought and the city retaken from the Arabs. We get to the wall, Ari finds me a book with the English and the Hebrew and we have Shabbat service. There are many people reading torah, so I go and stand by one of them. It is the first reading of the year, so I know that beginning (this is a joke for those of you that know even as little torah as I do). The feeling is so special. It is like you are that much closer to G-d. Not sure if it is what I am suppose to feel because everyone told me that was what was going to happen or I just do. It is very solemn. You have time to speak. No one is rushing you or slowing you down.
There are lots of non-Jewish tourist here today. I am surprised at how some of the women are dressed. It is apparent that they have not spoken to their mothers about it. Marvin, you would OK this as proper bima attire. HA.
Ari, takes us about Jerusalem a bit more and then we are back to the hotel and meet up with Jane. We go and have a small slice of Pizza and then off to Jane’s sons house to meet their family. Besides not being able to spell, I am terrible at names, so I won’t even try here. But Jane’s daughter meets us there with her family. She has 3 children and one on the way. Jane’s son has 3 children as well and all of them play very well together. Jane is really blessed. To have so many grandchildren and all of them so bright and close. Now I don’t want you to think a theme is developing again, but it is once again time to eat. Jane’s daughter in law made a spectacular brunch. The table was over flowing with food and I was forced (I am sure there was a gun in the house somewhere) to try everything. Terri, I am still trying to come back slimmer than when I left, but I am losing the battle I think.
Harry is just beaming. He has known this family for more than 30 years. Jane used to run the community center in Fort Worth. Harry has held and healed these children (now adults) since they were infants, and not seem them since. But it is like old home week. The future of Israel after seeing the dark past yesterday at Yad Vashem. The joy in Harry’s eyes was priceless. Never said, but I am sure he would have much rather had Doris here with him instead of me, but as Harry would say, you cannot change that. What a great family.. Uav (I think the spelling is correct) is an attorney but also a reservist. He fought in both Lebanon as well as the recent Gaza conflict. This is a brave man and just like our greatest generation, he is now about the task of raising his family, learning about his new job and enjoying soccer. What a great example he is for his children and all of the rest of us. He knows that if he did not fight for his country there would be no country.
I took a picture of the family and Harry which I will post when I get back and figure out all of this high tech stuff, but it was really good. Now back to the hotel and a good night sleep. Harry and Jane have a drink in the bar and I leave them to catch up. I am so fortunate to see Israel in this way. While I might be missing some of the “things” to see in Israel, I am seeing the soul of the country, and I can tell you this soul is alive and growing. These people have a purpose, and with a purpose there is always a future. They know they must build their country, build their infrastructure and build their strength, because by doing so their will leave their children a better place than they found.
Sunday
Sunday is a work day in Israel. Harry and I have decided to take the train from Jerusalem to Haifa today. We take a cab to Modi im and then get on the train. We ask to insure we are on the right train just like Terri and I did in Paris when we went to see Mandy. Since my French is better than my Hebrew, which should tell you lots about my Hebrew, we ask a soldier, and he, in perfect English, helps us out. We get settled in for a very nice hour and a half ride. Now I have got to tell you that what happened next happened in the US there would be people ducking for cover, but here it was just routine.
In about two stops a good looking soldier got on the train (mandy, there are lots of nice looking Jewish guys over here, all fit and trim) and just as you please, laid his machine gun on his lap. And, as Harry said, he was sure it was loaded. Nothing out of the ordinary. No one thought anything of it, but there it was. A few stops later another soldier did the same thing. You have got to feel safe with all of these guns around. Did I tell you the security at all of the hotels, train stations and tourist attractions also have these same guns. They must be getting them wholesale. I guess if Davey Crocket had had all of these at the Alamo, Santana would never had stood a chance, and afterall, that is the impression that is suppose to be felt by any bad guys here.
We arrive at the train station in Haifa and get a cab. As we are driving up you see the Ba’ Hai’ gardens. I can’t tell you how magnificent it is, but think of a straightened out Lombard street in San Francisco, with steps all of the way up three times as big. I don’t know how many gardeners they have or how they cut the grass, but it is all worth the effort. I tell myself I am going to climb the steps in the morning, but who am I kidding, I am yet to be stuffed again (you remember they keep a gun to my head when food comes out) they might roll me down the steps instead.
The hotel is at the top of the mountain in Haifa and the view is magnificent. Harry wants to go to McDonalds, honestly it was his idea, and so we walked up to McDonald's. I had a Falafal Burger and it was fine. Harry has been to a McDonald's in every country he has visited except Russia, so we had to keep his streak in tack.
that evening we went to another friend of Harry's house at the top of Haifa. Noach used to live in Fort Worth more than 30 years ago. Harry has kept in touch with Noach and Naomi ever since. When i tell you one meal is larger than the next, i must tell you that this was the largest. And there was no turning down food at their house. From their balcony you could see forever. The warmth and kindness that these people showed us was heart warming. I think I will never eat again, but then there was the next day.
Monday
Jareeve picked us up at 9:30. Harry has a serious sore throat and we go looking for a doctor. Unable to find one we go to a drug store and Harry get Harry some things to suck one. Eventually he is feeling better. Jareeve takes us to a Druse village. These are not Arabs and are fully integrated into Israeli society. They are in the Army, they vote, and they work. It appears that they are thriving like the rest of productive Israel. From there we go to the monastery of Elijua. Walking up to the building i could not figure out why we were stopping here, but oh well. Once we got onto the top of the building you could see forever. While the day was a bit hazy, the view was still spectacular. Right in front of us were tremendous agricultural fields and...an F16 base. If only they had been taking off.
Our next stop was a Kibbutz. Now less than 3% of all of Israel lives on a Kibbutz, but they still have land. So to make the land work for them some of the Kibbutz have been selling off parcels of the land to either developers or to senior citizens homes.
From there we were onto Jareez's home. His wife is an architect and she designed their home. They have three wonderful sons. One is in the army and doing well. The other two are still in school. Once again we had to eat and once again it was wonderful. How do you tell a Jewish mother no. Then Jareez and his wife drove us to Tel Aviv. I must admit that i fell asleep in the car, but did wake up to hear about shopping on Diezendorf street in Tel Aviv. But, that would be for the next day. We check into the hotel. And called it a night. We are in the Renaissance here in Tel Aviv, it is so nice to be back in a Marriott property. No, Sid, I have not figured out how to get them to give me more points, but they only serve diet Coke. In the lounge it is free, cold and plentiful. In the breakfast the next morning i find out how much it cost if you have to pay...$5 US.
Tuesday
I got up and ran the boardwalk for about a mile and a half. You have got to give the Israeli army a lot of credit. You can't imagine how fit and trim all of the people here are. I think it is how you can tell a tourist from a local. Really, and all of them are out exercising this morning. I had a great run and really enjoyed all of the moving scenery as well. Marvin, you might have hurt your neck wipping back and forth to insure all were worth of your approval.
We get up and have breakfast this morning. It is the most amazing spread you have ever seen. I don't know why hotels don't do this in the US. There must be 15 different types of fish, more fruit than I knew existed, pasteries (yes, they think chocolate is a breakfast food), eggs of all types and coffee, all included in the price of the room.
After breakfast we get in a cab and go over to the Carmel market. This is great. I could live here. Meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, bread, pastries, and stuff. Since we were full, and since we cannot take food back with us (i just love customs) we focus on the stuff. I bought a couple of things and so did Harry. Had a lot of fun negotiating with the vendor. We are talking about small change, but it was fun.
When we were finished we made our way back to the hotel and took off for Diezendorff street. This was a bit disappointing as it used to be the street to shop and sit at cafe's. Not so much anymore. But we had a luncheon date with Jane and her daughter and son in law, so off we went.
In Tel Aviv they have taken a dock area and made it into a really outstanding night life area. They have restaurants and shopping. We met Jane, Emmy and her husband Tal, who is a big celebrity in Tel Avia. He has the morning drive time show. We had a great lunch and i mad the decision not to eat the rest of the day. Harry still has to go out to dinner tonight with a relative of Doris, so i have begged off.
More on the trip home later.
rich
Perhaps the most unusual day of our trip so far. Harry really wants us to go the wall and pray on Shabbat, and I am certainly in favor of that. We get a little late start, because I did not want to wake Harry. We get a call from Harry’s friend Ari Friedman. They knew each other from Fort Worth. I am coming to believe Harry knows everyone in Israel. One big happy family. Ari asks if he can join us and take us to the Kotel. He is from Jerusalem originally, so this is a special treat. We hear of how the war was fought and the city retaken from the Arabs. We get to the wall, Ari finds me a book with the English and the Hebrew and we have Shabbat service. There are many people reading torah, so I go and stand by one of them. It is the first reading of the year, so I know that beginning (this is a joke for those of you that know even as little torah as I do). The feeling is so special. It is like you are that much closer to G-d. Not sure if it is what I am suppose to feel because everyone told me that was what was going to happen or I just do. It is very solemn. You have time to speak. No one is rushing you or slowing you down.
There are lots of non-Jewish tourist here today. I am surprised at how some of the women are dressed. It is apparent that they have not spoken to their mothers about it. Marvin, you would OK this as proper bima attire. HA.
Ari, takes us about Jerusalem a bit more and then we are back to the hotel and meet up with Jane. We go and have a small slice of Pizza and then off to Jane’s sons house to meet their family. Besides not being able to spell, I am terrible at names, so I won’t even try here. But Jane’s daughter meets us there with her family. She has 3 children and one on the way. Jane’s son has 3 children as well and all of them play very well together. Jane is really blessed. To have so many grandchildren and all of them so bright and close. Now I don’t want you to think a theme is developing again, but it is once again time to eat. Jane’s daughter in law made a spectacular brunch. The table was over flowing with food and I was forced (I am sure there was a gun in the house somewhere) to try everything. Terri, I am still trying to come back slimmer than when I left, but I am losing the battle I think.
Harry is just beaming. He has known this family for more than 30 years. Jane used to run the community center in Fort Worth. Harry has held and healed these children (now adults) since they were infants, and not seem them since. But it is like old home week. The future of Israel after seeing the dark past yesterday at Yad Vashem. The joy in Harry’s eyes was priceless. Never said, but I am sure he would have much rather had Doris here with him instead of me, but as Harry would say, you cannot change that. What a great family.. Uav (I think the spelling is correct) is an attorney but also a reservist. He fought in both Lebanon as well as the recent Gaza conflict. This is a brave man and just like our greatest generation, he is now about the task of raising his family, learning about his new job and enjoying soccer. What a great example he is for his children and all of the rest of us. He knows that if he did not fight for his country there would be no country.
I took a picture of the family and Harry which I will post when I get back and figure out all of this high tech stuff, but it was really good. Now back to the hotel and a good night sleep. Harry and Jane have a drink in the bar and I leave them to catch up. I am so fortunate to see Israel in this way. While I might be missing some of the “things” to see in Israel, I am seeing the soul of the country, and I can tell you this soul is alive and growing. These people have a purpose, and with a purpose there is always a future. They know they must build their country, build their infrastructure and build their strength, because by doing so their will leave their children a better place than they found.
Sunday
Sunday is a work day in Israel. Harry and I have decided to take the train from Jerusalem to Haifa today. We take a cab to Modi im and then get on the train. We ask to insure we are on the right train just like Terri and I did in Paris when we went to see Mandy. Since my French is better than my Hebrew, which should tell you lots about my Hebrew, we ask a soldier, and he, in perfect English, helps us out. We get settled in for a very nice hour and a half ride. Now I have got to tell you that what happened next happened in the US there would be people ducking for cover, but here it was just routine.
In about two stops a good looking soldier got on the train (mandy, there are lots of nice looking Jewish guys over here, all fit and trim) and just as you please, laid his machine gun on his lap. And, as Harry said, he was sure it was loaded. Nothing out of the ordinary. No one thought anything of it, but there it was. A few stops later another soldier did the same thing. You have got to feel safe with all of these guns around. Did I tell you the security at all of the hotels, train stations and tourist attractions also have these same guns. They must be getting them wholesale. I guess if Davey Crocket had had all of these at the Alamo, Santana would never had stood a chance, and afterall, that is the impression that is suppose to be felt by any bad guys here.
We arrive at the train station in Haifa and get a cab. As we are driving up you see the Ba’ Hai’ gardens. I can’t tell you how magnificent it is, but think of a straightened out Lombard street in San Francisco, with steps all of the way up three times as big. I don’t know how many gardeners they have or how they cut the grass, but it is all worth the effort. I tell myself I am going to climb the steps in the morning, but who am I kidding, I am yet to be stuffed again (you remember they keep a gun to my head when food comes out) they might roll me down the steps instead.
The hotel is at the top of the mountain in Haifa and the view is magnificent. Harry wants to go to McDonalds, honestly it was his idea, and so we walked up to McDonald's. I had a Falafal Burger and it was fine. Harry has been to a McDonald's in every country he has visited except Russia, so we had to keep his streak in tack.
that evening we went to another friend of Harry's house at the top of Haifa. Noach used to live in Fort Worth more than 30 years ago. Harry has kept in touch with Noach and Naomi ever since. When i tell you one meal is larger than the next, i must tell you that this was the largest. And there was no turning down food at their house. From their balcony you could see forever. The warmth and kindness that these people showed us was heart warming. I think I will never eat again, but then there was the next day.
Monday
Jareeve picked us up at 9:30. Harry has a serious sore throat and we go looking for a doctor. Unable to find one we go to a drug store and Harry get Harry some things to suck one. Eventually he is feeling better. Jareeve takes us to a Druse village. These are not Arabs and are fully integrated into Israeli society. They are in the Army, they vote, and they work. It appears that they are thriving like the rest of productive Israel. From there we go to the monastery of Elijua. Walking up to the building i could not figure out why we were stopping here, but oh well. Once we got onto the top of the building you could see forever. While the day was a bit hazy, the view was still spectacular. Right in front of us were tremendous agricultural fields and...an F16 base. If only they had been taking off.
Our next stop was a Kibbutz. Now less than 3% of all of Israel lives on a Kibbutz, but they still have land. So to make the land work for them some of the Kibbutz have been selling off parcels of the land to either developers or to senior citizens homes.
From there we were onto Jareez's home. His wife is an architect and she designed their home. They have three wonderful sons. One is in the army and doing well. The other two are still in school. Once again we had to eat and once again it was wonderful. How do you tell a Jewish mother no. Then Jareez and his wife drove us to Tel Aviv. I must admit that i fell asleep in the car, but did wake up to hear about shopping on Diezendorf street in Tel Aviv. But, that would be for the next day. We check into the hotel. And called it a night. We are in the Renaissance here in Tel Aviv, it is so nice to be back in a Marriott property. No, Sid, I have not figured out how to get them to give me more points, but they only serve diet Coke. In the lounge it is free, cold and plentiful. In the breakfast the next morning i find out how much it cost if you have to pay...$5 US.
Tuesday
I got up and ran the boardwalk for about a mile and a half. You have got to give the Israeli army a lot of credit. You can't imagine how fit and trim all of the people here are. I think it is how you can tell a tourist from a local. Really, and all of them are out exercising this morning. I had a great run and really enjoyed all of the moving scenery as well. Marvin, you might have hurt your neck wipping back and forth to insure all were worth of your approval.
We get up and have breakfast this morning. It is the most amazing spread you have ever seen. I don't know why hotels don't do this in the US. There must be 15 different types of fish, more fruit than I knew existed, pasteries (yes, they think chocolate is a breakfast food), eggs of all types and coffee, all included in the price of the room.
After breakfast we get in a cab and go over to the Carmel market. This is great. I could live here. Meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, bread, pastries, and stuff. Since we were full, and since we cannot take food back with us (i just love customs) we focus on the stuff. I bought a couple of things and so did Harry. Had a lot of fun negotiating with the vendor. We are talking about small change, but it was fun.
When we were finished we made our way back to the hotel and took off for Diezendorff street. This was a bit disappointing as it used to be the street to shop and sit at cafe's. Not so much anymore. But we had a luncheon date with Jane and her daughter and son in law, so off we went.
In Tel Aviv they have taken a dock area and made it into a really outstanding night life area. They have restaurants and shopping. We met Jane, Emmy and her husband Tal, who is a big celebrity in Tel Avia. He has the morning drive time show. We had a great lunch and i mad the decision not to eat the rest of the day. Harry still has to go out to dinner tonight with a relative of Doris, so i have begged off.
More on the trip home later.
rich
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday October 16
October 16th, my birthday in the Jerusalem. Got up and Harry had eaten too many Prunes, so Celise and I went to the Church of the Rock without Harry. What a great adventure and the explanation of the way the church is run by five different sects of the Catholic Church are amazing. I thought it was just the Jews that at times don't get along with each other, not so. These five different sects own the church, and they must all agree before improvements are made, with that understanding you understand why this church, of all churches, looks so poor.
This church is built around a rock. Watching the people and they come to the church and see the amazement in their eyes and the true love they have when they touch the rock, these people are believers. I feel like an outsider just observing, but perhaps that is what I am doing. I learn about the Coptic Church and see some of their priests. So ancient in such a modern world. The Greeks own the part of the church where the rock is, so they are taking in the most money. Very strange set up, but it has been like this for several hundred years.
From here we walk back to the hotel to get Harry and walk through a new outside high dollar mall in Jerusalem. Very impressive, but I did not buy Terri the $20,000 diamond necklace, even with the discount for the tax i would not have to pay.
We continue to walk back to the hotel. I think the favorite bird of Jerusalem is the crane, because they are going up everywhere. The construction that is going on is beyond belief. And i am not talking about in expensive apartments. These are $1,000,000 and according to our guide, they are not lived in most of the year.
We get back to the hotel and Harry is doing somewhat better.
Now the fun begins. First off to the Israel museum to see the model of Jerusalem from 70 AD. It is incredible. At 50 to 1 ration, it is more than an acre in size. It was constructed the first time before Israel won the 1967 six Day war and the excavation of the Western Wall, but the correctness and details are astonishing. Then we got to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. More than 2000 years old, these scrolls have been meticulously preserved. I can't tell you how moving it was to learn how luck brought these scrolls to Jerusalem.
Now the treat of the trip so far, we went to the Jewish market right before it closed for Shabbat. The hustle and bustle of the market was contagious. the food offerings we unbelievable. We had fresh lox then we went and bought pita bread and had a sandwich. I had rugglah so fresh it was still warm...chocolate of course. Harry was with us, but very careful about what he ate so he went light. But I almost had to wipe the drool from his face when he saw the various stands of herring and olives. This was a man in heaven. I wanted to buy one each of the bread, but i kept hearing Terri's voice in the background to slow down. Guilt from 7,500 miles away, man she is really good.
We rode the bus back from the market to our hotel and said good bye to our wonderful guide. If you ever go to Israel, having a personal guide is the absolute way to do it.
Harry and I took a rest, and then his friend Jane came and picked us up to go to another friends house for Shabbat dinner. If this is how all of Israel lives, even just for Shabbat, i am just shocked they are all not 300 pounds, and they are not.
We started with prayer, and you could see this was how this family lived every Shabbat. Bringing the family together honoring what G-d has brought them and honoring our tradition. Such a close and wonderful family. the meal was something you should have every night. We started with chicken liver and onions, then had matzo ball soup, then moved to a terrific green salad and then the main course. This consisted of veal, chicken, mashed potatoes, and cauliflower. Then for the sweet course we had ice cream, sherbet, nuts, and fruit.
But the best part of the dinner was the conversation. Harry and Dave spoke about meat packing, then Dave and I shared our common gout illness and the lack of compassion we get when we have an attack. I found out that one of the side affects of the medication to take care of the attack can be irritability. Who knew that was my problem. We all spoke about politics, food, children, business, interior design, and of course, history. However, they all knew all of their biblical history much better than i ever could. Talking about Jewish and Christian history, i was just an eager listener. Their historical insights were so fun to listen to. I can't tell you when i got to listen to a better conversation.
We had to call it a night because they keep the Shabbat, and as such have programed all of their lights to shut off by 1 pm. Jane took us back to the hotel and drove home. the welcoming warmth of Harry's friends has been such a delight. The respect he has with these people is a true comment on how great a person Harry really is.
rich
This church is built around a rock. Watching the people and they come to the church and see the amazement in their eyes and the true love they have when they touch the rock, these people are believers. I feel like an outsider just observing, but perhaps that is what I am doing. I learn about the Coptic Church and see some of their priests. So ancient in such a modern world. The Greeks own the part of the church where the rock is, so they are taking in the most money. Very strange set up, but it has been like this for several hundred years.
From here we walk back to the hotel to get Harry and walk through a new outside high dollar mall in Jerusalem. Very impressive, but I did not buy Terri the $20,000 diamond necklace, even with the discount for the tax i would not have to pay.
We continue to walk back to the hotel. I think the favorite bird of Jerusalem is the crane, because they are going up everywhere. The construction that is going on is beyond belief. And i am not talking about in expensive apartments. These are $1,000,000 and according to our guide, they are not lived in most of the year.
We get back to the hotel and Harry is doing somewhat better.
Now the fun begins. First off to the Israel museum to see the model of Jerusalem from 70 AD. It is incredible. At 50 to 1 ration, it is more than an acre in size. It was constructed the first time before Israel won the 1967 six Day war and the excavation of the Western Wall, but the correctness and details are astonishing. Then we got to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. More than 2000 years old, these scrolls have been meticulously preserved. I can't tell you how moving it was to learn how luck brought these scrolls to Jerusalem.
Now the treat of the trip so far, we went to the Jewish market right before it closed for Shabbat. The hustle and bustle of the market was contagious. the food offerings we unbelievable. We had fresh lox then we went and bought pita bread and had a sandwich. I had rugglah so fresh it was still warm...chocolate of course. Harry was with us, but very careful about what he ate so he went light. But I almost had to wipe the drool from his face when he saw the various stands of herring and olives. This was a man in heaven. I wanted to buy one each of the bread, but i kept hearing Terri's voice in the background to slow down. Guilt from 7,500 miles away, man she is really good.
We rode the bus back from the market to our hotel and said good bye to our wonderful guide. If you ever go to Israel, having a personal guide is the absolute way to do it.
Harry and I took a rest, and then his friend Jane came and picked us up to go to another friends house for Shabbat dinner. If this is how all of Israel lives, even just for Shabbat, i am just shocked they are all not 300 pounds, and they are not.
We started with prayer, and you could see this was how this family lived every Shabbat. Bringing the family together honoring what G-d has brought them and honoring our tradition. Such a close and wonderful family. the meal was something you should have every night. We started with chicken liver and onions, then had matzo ball soup, then moved to a terrific green salad and then the main course. This consisted of veal, chicken, mashed potatoes, and cauliflower. Then for the sweet course we had ice cream, sherbet, nuts, and fruit.
But the best part of the dinner was the conversation. Harry and Dave spoke about meat packing, then Dave and I shared our common gout illness and the lack of compassion we get when we have an attack. I found out that one of the side affects of the medication to take care of the attack can be irritability. Who knew that was my problem. We all spoke about politics, food, children, business, interior design, and of course, history. However, they all knew all of their biblical history much better than i ever could. Talking about Jewish and Christian history, i was just an eager listener. Their historical insights were so fun to listen to. I can't tell you when i got to listen to a better conversation.
We had to call it a night because they keep the Shabbat, and as such have programed all of their lights to shut off by 1 pm. Jane took us back to the hotel and drove home. the welcoming warmth of Harry's friends has been such a delight. The respect he has with these people is a true comment on how great a person Harry really is.
rich
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)