Hi, Mom.
What an incredible time we are having! Our guide, Ron, is just excellent, making our time here rich with experience and enjoyable. He has an impressive depth of knowledge, and a giggle that reminds me of Andy 😉
Ron Harari, “Ron The Guide”
Ron first brought us to The Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount. Being there was particularly meaningful for me, as I have loved The Beatitudes since childhood. The site overlooks The Sea of Galilee, with beautiful grounds. There was such a sense of peace and serenity, I could have stayed there all day.
From there, we went on to the northernmost shore of The Sea of Galilee, to the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. This was again a beautifully serene site. The existing church is rather new, but the mosaic floor tiles therein date back to the fifth century church which stood on the site. The floor mosaics are in fact the earliest known examples of figurative floor mosaic Christian art in the Holy Land, and they are beautiful. (Note the loaves and fish mosaic just in front of the alter, and the rock beneath, which has been identified as the slab of limestone on which the meal was laid.)
The final stop on our first day was Capernaum, where Jesus performed more miracles than any other place. Jesus lived in Capernaum and used it as the base for his ministry. In the time of Christ, Capernaum was located on a major trading route between Damascus and Egypt, a connecting point for people of the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. It is easy to imagine how word of Jesus would have spread far and wide from there. Now an archaeological site, we could see the structure of the village, streets and walkways, houses and even what is believed to be Peter’s house.
The following day we began by heading to the mystical city of Tzfat, one of four holy cities in Israel. Sitting at an elevation of nearly 1,000 meters, Tzfat is the highest city in Israel and thus represents the element of “air.” Here we saw a vibrant community of Orthodox Jews and visited the ancient synagogue that is known for the study of the Kabbalah. We also walked the streets and made time for a street cafe.
The next day, as we were departing Tiberias for Tel Aviv, we visited The Jordan River. There has been some ongoing disagreement about the actual site of Jesus’ baptism, whether on the Jordan or the Israeli side of The Jordan River. But nonetheless, there is quite a site commemorating the baptism on the Israeli side. We witnessed a woman being baptized in the river while we were there and it was quite moving.
It has been enriching to supplement what we have learned growing up in the Christian faith with experience, and interesting to learn more about Jewish faith and tradition. I can’t wait to share some of the geopolitical and cultural details of the region with you next.
Until then, XOXO.
S.
Notes to Mom 