Our Mission participants tell us that "every day is more amazing than the last!" I have to say that I believe that is true. Today we left Jerusalem early and headed for the Galilee. Our first stop was Tzippori where we had the opportunity to tour some excavated ruins and marvel, once more, at the history that has been uncovered, and that comes alive, in this country. We spent some time in the synagogue at Tzippori and learned a great deal from the large mosaic remnants that have been uncovered. It was fascinating to see the Greek influence in this Jewish house of worship and to think about the ways in which Jews have incorporated the culture of areas in which we have lived.

From Tzippori we headed to Kfar Kedem. We learned about the life of the Bedouins and were even garbed in Bedouin attire. What a stunning bunch we all were! We learned about the traditional methods of harvesting wheat, we made our own pitas and watched them cook over an open flame and then enjoyed them hot and topped with some flavored olive oil. We learned the process by which olive oil was made and wondered at the inventive ways in which people learned to use these crops. Then we shared a wonderful outdoor lunch with hummus, salad, lamb kebabs and chicken followed by fresh dates and baklava. It was delightful!

Our next stop was Nazareth and a chance to learn more about the heritage and religious sites of our Christian partners. We spent the later afternoon in Nazareth and toured the Church of the Annunciation as well as several other churches. We were all taken with the beautiful stained glass and sculptures and we even heard part of a Mass, which was a great experience to share.  Some of the walking was difficult, with stairs and some uphill climbs. Helen Werner, one of our Cedar Village residents, was determined not to miss a moment and she made this little journey with us. She told me about visiting Rome and the Vatican and we talked about how this experience complemented that one. We have all had a number of conversations about the connections between our religious heritages and we truly do see and feel the bridges that exist.

Tonight we are at Kibbutz Ginossar on the Sea of Galilee, where we shared a lovely meal and look forward to walking on the beach in the morning. This will be our base for the next three nights as we explore this region of Israel.