From Galilee to Golan

Hello! This blog is brought to you by Matthew Gross, Mikayla Miller, and Emma Tucker. You’re welcome in advance.

Today we started out the day by going to Qatzrim. While we were there we learned about insula, which is a small community that shares with each other. At the end of our tour of the insula we crammed all sixty of us into a small room of a rebuilt Jewish home while we listened and watched as the story of the paralytic from Mark 2 came alive. After that, we split up. Bus 2 (the cooler bus) embarked on a pita making excursion. We started our creations by flattening out some pre-made dough, and then tossed them on to a giant metal dish covering a fire. A docent dressed as a first-century woman cooked them and demonstrated what a perfect wife of that time looks like. After making all that deliciousness, we were told that we couldn’t eat it yet and went to a very old synagogue and listened to a talk on simplicity and community . Once we were done with that, both buses met together and ate that tasty bread. It was worth the wait because we were given goat cheese and jelly to put on the bread. It was heavenly!

We then went to a bunker in the Golan Heights called Mount Bental. It is a tourist attraction at present but could be transformed into an active military base if needed. While there, we discussed the Six Day War and toured the bunker. The bunker was cold, dark, wet, and in poor condition. However, this did help give us insight into what war can really be like and not all of the glorification it is often given. We were given time to look around the bunker on our own and then given the chance to buy coffee or treat at a gift store. Many of the students bought coffee and relaxed while talking on a park bench before heading back to the bus.

Next we went to Caesarea Philippi! This is a place that was full of pagans and worshipers of the Greek god Pan. Rich taught on Matthew 16 when Jesus led his disciples to the region and asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” We were challenged to think about this for ourselves because it is one of the most important questions to answer. It isn’t enough to just say, “We believe.” We have to live it out.

Afterwards, it was lunchtime! Those of us that wanted to hike ate quick so that we could get going on the trail towards a waterfall. It was a beautiful, green hike along the river. Before coming here I never expected Israel to be so green. Don’t get me wrong, theres plenty of desert. However, near the Sea of Galilee and in the Shephela, it’s surprisingly green! After getting to the waterfall we quickly loaded up the buses!

We then found our way to Dan and took a beautiful hike to where the city’s synagogue used to be. Jeff talked ot us about our calling to draw near to the lost. He challenged us by asking what we were doing for the lost and asked us who we knew that fit into this category. Ronen then told us about the history of Dan and the character of the people that lived there. He talked to us about the Danites and how they drifted from God and how this can happen to us if we compromise. Even small compromises can lead to being very far from your intended destination.

Over all, it was a good day. No matter what we do, being in this place is such a huge blessing. It is so surreal that many of us have to keep reminding ourselves that we are in Israel. Now we are back at our hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee getting ready for Shabat.

Shabat Shalom!