A Grain of Sand

"I will multiply you as the stars in heaven and as the sand upon the shore." - Genesis 22:17

"I can see the master's hand in every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand." - Dylan, Every Grain of Sand (on Shot of Love)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Israel Journey

An unbelievable jouney so far. Several people in the group have never before been to Israel - for them it is even more powerful. We've just spent Shabbat in Dor-Nachsholim, a beautiful beachside kibbutz. The Meditteranean is crystal blue. It was here that the blue dye techlet was made - and we are commanded to put a blue fringe on our tzitzit at the end of the parshah that we read on the Shabbat that we spent here (shalach l'cha). B'sheret.

Our guide for our Shabbat morning stroll on the archaeological mound on the coast was just the guy from reception at the hotel. He turns out to be a world famous marine archaeologist named Kurt Ravel, the guy who recovered the 2000 year old Galilee boat.

Too many beautiful moments to tell. Some highlights: meeting Avraham Dar, member of Palmach (the original military force that fought for independence) and later mossad agent. Rafting on the Jordan, meeting a peace activist with five sons who are IDF officers, celebrating Shabbat with our sister congregation in Zichron Yaakov, all of us united in literal and symbolic harmony as we sing in our ancient language.

Our pace has been crazy but we have seen so much. Masada and Jerusalem await.

What a magnificent country. So much investment in making this dream real. Ein zo aggadah, it is no legend, because of the work that people do every day.

L'hitraot
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2 comments:

  1. Mark KJune 14, 2009 at 3:14 PM

    Dear Rabbi Josh:

    It sounds like you have got a good tour guide with a interesting history to speak with. The weather in Federal Heigth is stormy with tornado warnings. You enjoyed the beach on the Mediteranean and the weather in Jerusalem and Massada have got to be better than hear. Hope you keep your company as well informed as you do us at the synagogue. May you have pleasant dreams and see the stairway to Heaven at Bethel. Have a pleasent safe trip the remainder of you journey.

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  2. R. ConradJune 14, 2009 at 6:59 PM

    Hi Rabbi Rose and all Israeli Trippers -

    Thanks for your blog update. Glad to hear you're having fun on the beach. Sounds like a blast. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your trip.

    Roxanne Conrad

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