Our day started with a new adventure, riding the bus. After Rob dragged Jen out of bed we got ourselves ready and following a quick call to Egged we established that a No.74 bus would take us to the point were we had agreed to meet Bruce.

Walking into the new city we found King George Street and the bus stop.  Each bus shelter is marked with the numbers of the various buses that stop there and the buses are also clearly marked – some indicating the final destination. We were heading for Ha Khakom a new suburb . The buses are long articulated vehicles; the driver takes the fare or punchers the ticket.  People get on, put their bags down and then go and pay the driver. The other two sets of doors lets the passengers off. Everyone pays the driver, no one tries to ride for free (can you see this working back home?). The buses are clean and modern, and are the preferred method of transport for most of the public.

Climbing off the bus we met Bruce again and climbing into his “elephant” we headed back to Kfar Eldad, where he lives, next to Herodium. He showed us Tekoa and the wadi, which looks like a small grand canyon with settlements built on the top of the hills. Every settlement that is built in Judea is built on land that is not usable for farming and was not previously an Arab village. Along some of the cliffs of the wadi are caves and dwellings, in one of these Bruce revealed a Byzantine mosaic floor.  It looked good but when he poured some water on it, wow the colours came to life and Rob had an idea of what it could have looked like when it was first laid (Jen was being a “woes” and decided not to climb down any cliffs!)

  

 

Stopping along the way we saw his windmill, but one of the shafts had broken so he was unable to demonstrate it for us. The simplicity of the design and the basic concept is amazing, and we hope that it is all working soon.

Driving further south we passed many Arab villages and came to Kiryiat Arba, this is a Jewish settlement just east of Hebron. It is a thriving community with Arab houses and families interspersed between blocks of Jewish homes and families. Further in to Hebron proper we stopped ant the caves of the Patriarchs. This is where Abraham bought a field and buried Sarah. Later he, his son Isaac, Isaac’s wife Rebecca and their son Jacob and his wife Leah were buried here. The building is now both synagogue and mosque, as both religions see Abraham as their “founding father”.

We met with and talked to David Wilder, the spokesperson for the community.  He gave an new perspective to many of the broader political issues and the “peace process”, which seems to be flawed and does not benefit the ordinary people.  He has a passion for Hebron and stated that this (Hebron) is the root of the chosen people of God, it is here that the founders of the nation of Israel lie buried. His positivity and hope for the future is so real and vibrant, and his hope is that the next generation will be the ones to take the state of Israel into the nation it is to become.

Leaving Hebron central we stopped in to see Gary Cooperberg from Project Shofar, he too is passionate about being who he is, a Jew.  He speaks with fervent hope that the people of Israel will return to God and build the nation of Israel.  He too is disillusioned with the politicians.  He attributes the survival of the nation of Israel to God alone;  and that the miracles that occur time and time again fly in the face of the wickedness of those that would see the destruction of Israel.

What impressed us the most was the hope that these men had for their country, nation, communities and families and their belief in God.

Returning to Jerusalem we walked around the city as people started celebrating Independence Day. We had supper at a great restaurant, Café Dolce-Latte, Jen had a wonderful pasta and Rob had a potatoes dish with an amazing sauce. The entertainment was provided by an American family tormenting the waitress by discussing every item on the menu asking 300 questions and when the waitress asked if she should come back they kept saying they were ready to order… but still continued their discussion ….

What really seems strange is that the day starts and ends at sunset. So the celebrations started at sundown this afternoon and continue well into the night and will finish tomorrow at sundown.  Seems strange?  No, it is how God decreed it …

…and the evening and the morning were the first day. (Gen 1:5)

That is what Israel is about, living as God said!

Tomorrow … the Western Wall Tunnels and the City of David Day12