Shalom again from Eretz Yisraeil

 Shalom again from Eretz Yisraeil,

Once again, it has been a few days since I last wrote so I will try to do some catching up.
On Sunday, we set out on a day of remembrance.  It all began at Yad Vashem, the newly renovated Holocaust museum.  Trevor Doll shared with us what the Holocaust meant to him in conjunction with what the modern state of Israel.  From there we visited the Chagall windows at Hadassah hospital and then we paid our respects at the place where almost all of the deceased prime ministers, and the visionary pioneer, of Israel are buried, Har Hertzl.  And then, we finsihed off the day with dinner at an Arab village in the town of Abu Gosh.

Monday was more of a spiritual, historical, and comfortable day.  It began at Qumran where Aaron Goldblum shared with us insights and messages about the Dead Sea Scrolls, followed by a tour and Bar Mitzvah atop Masada.  Now, that was quite a moment.  Being present as Aaron, Trevor, Sydney and Amanda read and chanted the Torah portion was truly extraordinary.  And, to top it all off, the Torah portion, Balak, actually took place just a "stone's throw" away from where we were - the mountains of Moav.   From  Masada, we relaxed and floated in the Dead Sea .  Finally finishing up back in Jerusalem as we joined together in a traditional Morroccan dinner.

So, here we are on Tuesday.  I write this note from Eilat, looking back on an  incredible day which was highlighted by an archaeological dig at the ancient Hasmonean city of Beit Guvrin.  Who knows?  Perhaps we found some pottery pieces that will truly be a contribution to academia.

More to come as many people go to the ancient Nabbattean city of Petra tomorrow while the other hike through the mountains of Eilat.

B'shalom from the land of milk and honey,

Rabi Ari Goldstein