Wednesday, February 29, 2012: Day 4

Wednesday, Feb. 29 - Another morning being woken up by the ringing of our phone, we ate breakfast and then headed out for a tour our kibbutz, Kfar Blum.  Kfar Blum got it's name from the once Prime Minister of France from 1936-37 and 1947, Leon Blum.  A Jewish fellow, Blum never lived in Israel but did send a lot of money to help start this particular Kibbutz.  Our tour guide explained to us that Kfar Blum is going through a change from a Socialist/Communist Community to a Capitalist Community (hoping my World History class knows what I am talking about).  This change is causing more younger Israelis to come or join the Kibbutz movement. After the tour, Mike (our tour guide) gave an impromptu talk about the history of Israel.  The talk took us from World War I through the 1973, Yom Kippur War.  This talk gave our group the history lesson needed to understand the situation in the Middle East, especially in Israel and the background knowledge for our later journey to the Lebanese/Syrian borders and Golan Heights.     After some rearranging due to inclement weather (the rain that we were supposed to get yesterday came today), we left the kibbutz and headed north to the Hula Nature Reserve. The Hula Nature Reserve was developed to help preserve the indigenous animal species and plants in the area of the Golan Heights and to create a safe haven for the many birds that migrate through Israel.   There we watched an interesting movie (in 3D) about these migration patterns of birds through Israel to their final destination of Africa.  Armed with umbrellas and rain jackets, we stopped at the site of a Syrian Bunker Position in the Golan Heights.  The Golan Heights, prior to the 1967 War, were controlled by Syria; now in Israeli hands. Mike then told us one of my favorite stories about Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy sent to Syria in 1965.  Cohen convinced the Syrians to plant u trees near the bunkers to provide shade to the  Syrian troops.  Once they planted the trees, Cohen radioed back to Israel to hit those spots the most.  Cohen was eventually caught and publicly executed.  Traveling from there, we stopped at another lookout.  There we could see into Syria, learn more about the Golan Heights and here about the United Nations presence in this area. Back to the safety of the bus, we made our way to Banias.  From the bus, Mike explained some fact and details about Banias (Caesarea Philippi).  Caesarea Philippi was an ancient Roman city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon. The city was located within the region known as the "Panion" (the region of the Greek god Pan). Named after the deity associated with the grotto and shrines close to the spring called "Paneas".  Some braved the weather and walked around the site. Then we headed off to Tel Dan ("from Dan to Beersheba").  Again due to bad weather, Mike allowed us to use the  bus as a dry/warm place and he explained the significance of Tel Dan.  Dan (Hebrew: דן‎), is a city mentioned in the Bible, described as the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel, belonging to the Tribe of Dan. After a long day on the bus and a day filled with what we would say is "bad" weather.  We have to remember that what may be "bad" to us may be "good" to another; like the rain.  Although it may be bad for or trip, this rain is wonderful for Israel.  After a short ride and long day, we returned to the kibbutz, Kfar Blum.  After this cold day, some of us are excited to use the spa services at the hotel which include: a foot massaging spa, sauna, and rain cave. To dinner and an evening lecture on contemporary Israel given by Mike.  Another day tomorrow in the Galilee and then off to Jerusalem.  Till then...Shalom, Ian

Sending greetings to CASHS from Israel

Making this short but wanted to make sure that I said Hello! I haven't been able to upload videos but I have posted some photos. Make sure that you check in on Thursday; my plan is to try to upload a video. We'll see if I can get it to work. Talking about work; make sure that you are doing your work, not giving any problems or causing problems and please be respectful! Hope that y'all are doing well and having fun in school! Keep in touch. Shalom, Mr. Jacobs

Tuesday, February 28, 2012: Day 3

Tuesday, Feb. 28 - After a short lecture from our friends at Nes Ammim, we set off on a drive to the Mount of Beatitudes. The Mount of the Beatitudes refers to the hill in northern Israel where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. The traditional location for the Mount of Beatitudes is on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Gennesaret. A Byzantine church was erected near the current site in the 4th century, and it was used until the 7th century. Remains of a cistern and a monastery are still visible. The current Roman Catholic Franciscan chapel was built in 1938. From there we traveled to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and loaded a boat to sail across.  The day was a bit windy and the forecasters were calling for rain.  Although it never rained, the scriptures came to life and one could imagine being on the Sea during a storm; the chaos of the storm and the calming presence of Jesus.    Stopping for lunch on the shores of the Galilee, we had a lunch of St. Peter's Fish.   St. Peter's Fish is simply Tilapia. The name "St. Peter's Fish" comes from the story in the Gospel of Matthew about the apostle Peter catching a fish that carried a coin in its mouth. After lunch, we traveled to Capernaum.  Capernaum was a fishing village in the time of the Hasmoneans. Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  The town was reported to have been the home of the apostles Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. According to Luke, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum on Sabbath. Jesus then healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter's mother-in-law. It is also the place where a Roman Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. Capernaum is also mentioned in the Gospel of Mark as the location of the famous healing of the paralytic lowered through the roof to reach Jesus. Another short bus ride took us to Bethsaida. Bethsaida ("house of fishing") is a place mentioned in the New Testament. Bethsaida is also the hometown of Philip, Nathaniel, Andrew, and Peter.   Many times people ask why I continue to Israel (this being my 10th trip to the Holyland) and I respond the same every time; first, I love the land/State of Israel and secondly, it's like your favorite movie, every time you watch it you see something new.  At Bethsaida this happened, we  were able to go to a site that I  have never been (actually that Dr. Harter had never been to either, WOW).  The site was the gate to the 9th century BC city of  Geshur mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures.  Another busy day has left us all very tired (we also may be suffering from jet  lag).  Wishing you all the best from Israel...Shalom.

Where's Flat Stanley?

Well, Flat Stanley has made it to Israel! Here he is in a little patch of flowers. Although this location is not too exciting, please check back to see where Flat Stanley shows up next. Have a wonderful day at school! Shalom, Mr. Jacobs

Monday, February 27, 2012: Day 2

Monday, Feb. 27 - Our first stop of the day is a visit to Herod's great city of Caesarea, with its Roman theater.  Caesarea Maritima (as it is also known as) was a city and harbor built by Herod the Great about 25–13 BC. Today, its ruins lie on the Mediterranean coast of Israel about halfway between the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.  According to the Acts of the Apostles, Caesarea was first introduced to Christianity when Peter the apostle baptized Cornelius the Centurion, his household, and his soldiers. This was the first time any Apostle had preached to the Gentiles and before Paul's first missionary journey.   We continued to Mt. Carmel (site of Elijah's story).  Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. In mainstream Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought, Elijah is indelibly associated with the mountain, and he is regarded as having sometimes resided in a grotto on the mountain. In the Books of Kings, Elijah challenges 450 prophets of a particular Baal to a contest at the altar on Mount Carmel to determine whose deity was genuinely in control of the Kingdom of Israel. To finish the day, we visited the Jewish catacombs of Bet She'arim.  Bet She'arim (Hebrew: בֵּית שְׁעָרִים‎‎), literally "The Strangers House", is the archeological site of a Jewish town and a large number of ancient rock-cut Jewish tombs.  After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Sanhedrin moved to Bet She'arim. Rabbi Judah HaNasi, head of the Sanhedrin and compiler of the Mishna, lived there. In the last seventeen years of his life, he moved to Sepphoris for health reasons, but planned his burial in Bet She'arim on land he received as a gift from his friend, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. The most desired burial place for Jews was the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, but in 135 CE, when Jews were barred from the area, Bet She'arim became an alternative.  We continued to our next home, Nes Ammim Guest House. Nes Ammim is a Christian community in the northern district of Israel. Close to the towns of Acre and Nahariya, in the western Galilee region.  It was founded by European Christians as a sign of solidarity with the Jewish People after the Holocaust. That was just day one!  Keep on following and commenting...Till tomorrow, Shalom!

Sunday, February 26, 2012: Day 1

Sunday, Feb.  26 - After about 12 hours of being in the air, we have finally arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel. Our first stop of the trip is Ben Gurion Airport.  There we met our Israeli staff, Robbi Ferri, and Bill Harter, whom has been here in Israel for about a week and a half.  We got our luggage, loaded the bus and after a short drive, we arrived at our home for the night, the Blue Bay Resort Hotel in Netanya.  Netanya is a favorite weekend vacation city in Israel.  Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, it is the perfect location for a good night sleep; with the sound of the sea outside the window and the smell of the salt air.  Sorry for the short post, I am sure you can understand that we are all very tired and are looking forward to good night sleep in a bed and not sitting up in a airplane seat.  Know we are all safe and will share more experiences in the coming days.  Thanks for checking in on us...for now, Shalom from Israel!

Waiting to take off

We all made it to Newark, NJ and now just waiting to board and start our journey. Talk to y'all when we get to Israel! Signing off for now. Shalom