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