September 26, 2011
This morning we traveled to the Golan Heights via ancient
Tzippori (biblical Sepphoris), also spelled Zippori—a site first settled by the Hasmoneans in the second century BC, which then served as the Roman capital of Galilee through the reign of Herod, and is the reputed birthplace of the Virgin Mary. Today the site boasts a plethora of spectacular ruins, including colonnaded roadways, a Roman villa with mosaic floors, a citadel, a system of underground cisterns and aqueducts,
and an ancient synagogue where rabbinic sages compiled the Mishnah, the codification of Jewish law.
The area is actually maintained as
Zippori National Park which, "encompassing the ruins of the ancient Roman- and talmudic-era city of Zippori, is located in the rolling hills of Lower Galilee, west of Nazareth."
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| Zippori: Ruins of a Roman villa |
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| Suzi, Nurit, Edith |
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| Figs |
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| Kfar Hasidim |
Ah, what a treat! Nurit took us to visit her good friend Shoshi who lives with her husband Ehud Yonay at Kfar Hasidim in Galilee. Shoshi narrated the story of their moshav, a cooperative agricultural community founded in 1925. Shoshi showed us around the farm, showin us olive tree (their main cash crop) and pomegranate trees, then taught us how to make pita bread and enjoy it with the rest of the delicious lunch she and her daughter served us. We had a wonderful time with our gracious hostess Shoshi.
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| Pomegranate tree |
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| Safed arts market |
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| Safed weaver |
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| Safed |
After lunch, we visit
Safed. A scenic hilltop city with narrow old streets winding past medieval synagogues that is set high in the mountains of Upper Galilee with views to the Golan Heights, Safed is also a center of Jewish mysticism—or Kaballah. (DK, p. 181; Armstrong, pp. 336-40)
Taking the peace of Safed with us, we visited the Church of the Beatitudes, on the site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. All of us were moved (in one way or another) by the setting, enjoying the tranquility and time for personal thought, but also wondering what Jesus would think of all the grandeur and cost.
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| Sea of Galilee, view from the Church of the Beatitudes |
We arrived at the Golan Heights in the late afternoon, and had a little time to explore
Kibbutz Kfar Haruv after we checked into our lodge (cabins) at Peace Vista, operated by Kfar Haruv. Kibbutzim have played and continue to play a very important part in the development of modern Israel, and our tour included an informative film presentation about this kibbutz, followed by a discussion with two women, one who was one of the founding members in 1973, the other a daughter of founding members. Most interesting discussion which continued over a late dinner, and which included sociology-political organization and functioning of the kibbutz as well as the relations between Israel and its neighbors. The latter is especially tense right now, as you can imagine.
This morning we traveled to the Golan Heights via ancient Tzippori (biblical Sepphoris), also spelled Zippori—a site first settled by the Hasmoneans in the second century BC, which then served as the Roman capital of Galilee through the reign of Herod, and is the reputed birthplace of the Virgin Mary. Today the site boasts a plethora of spectacular ruins, including colonnaded roadways, a Roman villa with mosaic floors, a citadel, a system of underground cisterns and aqueducts,
Taking the peace of Safed with us, we visited the Church of the Beatitudes, on the site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. All of us were moved (in one way or another) by the setting, enjoying the tranquility and time for personal thought, but also wondering what Jesus would think of all the grandeur and cost.
We arrived at the Golan Heights in the late afternoon, and had a little time to explore Kibbutz Kfar Haruv after we checked into our lodge (cabins) at Peace Vista, operated by Kfar Haruv. Kibbutzim have played and continue to play a very important part in the development of modern Israel, and our tour included an informative film presentation about this kibbutz, followed by a discussion with two women, one who was one of the founding members in 1973, the other a daughter of founding members. Most interesting discussion which continued over a late dinner, and which included sociology-political organization and functioning of the kibbutz as well as the relations between Israel and its neighbors. The latter is especially tense right now, as you can imagine.
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