I am back to Israel! It is a strange thing to "visit" the U.S and to come "home" to Israel. The contrast could not be greater at the moment. My family celebrated Christmas in the mountains of Virginia and we had over a foot of snow! Now, back in Israel we are experiencing one of the warmest winters in a very long time.

The other day I had a short-sleeve shirt on and I was still hot. It was around 28 degrees Celsius! I really can't tell you what that means in Fahrenheit because I am still stuck in the US colonial system of measurement where we speak in terms of hands, feet, pinches, cups, quarts, gallons, etc. Everything needs its own explanation. I can say that in terms of measurement systems, I think the other system based on units of ten makes infinitely more sense. In this area, the US could use an upgrade =)

I still can't believe it is 2010! Twenty-ten! It feels like such a futuristic date and a time period where I don't belong. I feel that even more keenly working in the ancient city of Jerusalem. Starting from the beginning of January, I am working on Mondays and Tuesdays in Jerusalem in the Grafted department of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). I really love this city and have missed it since we moved to Ra'anana.

Where else in the world is there a city where every building is from the same stone (beautiful Jerusalem stone). The whole city glows at sunrise and sunset and really gives it the appearance of being a city of gold. There are ancient historical and biblical sights just steps away from where I work and there is always the bustle of people from all over the world going here and there.

But I confess, it is the less glorious side of Jerusalem that finds a peculiar warm spot in my heart. The streets are so crowded and drivers so impatient that it is not unusual to hear horns blaring at a red light. Jerusalem pedestrians also feel they have the right to walk in the middle of the road anytime they please, and the strangest people seem almost normal here. Take for instance the taxi driver I saw yesterday who was standing beside his car, talking on the cell phone and emptying his bladder all at the same moment and with no cover and no shame. Ok, so that is not so endearing. But I guess I just find this city incredibly fascinating.

I had a little break from blogging in December, but working in Jerusalem is giving me plenty of fodder for the fires of creativity. I want to thank all of you who make comments on my blog. I really enjoy the interaction and look forward to sharing my Israel moments with you in 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 It is the smallest things that turn my thoughts toward home - my mom's measuring cups are one of the strongest transporters. I just made a batch of cookies, and as I opened my kitchen cabinet to grab the measuring cups, it was like opening a door to a place in my heart where hundreds of happy memories are stored. These measuring cups were the ones I used since childhood.

I remember how my mother taught me how to pack the brown sugar deep inside, and how to shake the flour down and carefully scrape a knife across the surface to take the hump off in order to get a perfect measurement. I remember the frustration of learning to wash them properly and not leave remnants of sticky, wet flour in the interior. The sweetest memory, of course, was sharing the first tray of hot cookies with a glass of cold milk.

Cookies were a part of every Christmas, of snow days, and movie nights. They brought joy to holidays and helped dry tears on days when I was sad. Cookies meant time together!

As I was packing my things to move with my husband to Israel, my mom came into my room and handed me a set of measuring cups, not just any measuring cups, THE measuring cups. I looked at them in her hand, and in an instant a flood of memories came into my mind. I looked up into her misty eyes, and I could see the days gone by were fresh in her mind as well. She held them out and said, "Here, I want you to take these with you."

We couldn't speak words, our emotions were too deep. But the cups communicated what was unspoken with a wave of joy and sadness that we could not express. Tears filled my eyes as I reached out for them, knowing that I was taking more than measuring cups, but a precious heirloom worth nothing to anyone else, but holding a value beyond measure to us. We embraced and held one another close.

The hardest part of living in Israel is being so far from the family that I love. I came because I believe God called me to be here. It was going to be just two years volunteering at the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, but God had other plans. He introduced me to my husband during my time in Jerusalem, an Israeli who loves God as dearly as I do and wants to serve Him too.

Leaving for Israel wasn't easy for me or for my family. In fact it was the most difficult thing I think I have ever had to do. But following God isn't about taking the easy path. It was my mother who taught me that as well. She raised me, and my sisters, to follow hard after God no matter what the cost. I am so grateful for a mother who imparted to me faith, courage and devotion. I love her so deeply and know that I am so deeply loved by her.

A blog about life in Israel would be incomplete without sharing some of the feelings I experience - the difficulty in the extreme distance from all that I knew and loved. I am far from home, but my mother's love is near and even tangible. I feel it in so many ways and today I can taste it in my batch of freshly baked cookies.

A picture from when my mom came to visit Israel! Hoping the next visit will be soon!

I love the Tel Aviv Airport and the large bust of Ben Gurion as you enter the duty free. Do you think they named the airport after him because the sides of his hair look like wings on a plane? Yuval, my husband thinks it might be more likely that it was named after him since he was the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Who knows?

I love flying, especially from Ben Gurion. The duty free is so spacious and comfortable and has one of my favorite coffee shops - Arcaffe. I thought I would take the time to share the moment with the blogger world (strawberry smoothy in hand!)

I shared before about the great free wireless in Israel. And it's free here. I wouldn't be blogging if it weren't! I am pretty cheap about those things! But I have to share with you something that I recently learned about Israeli technology and airports that freaks me out just a little, which has me even more worried at the moment - which you will understand as I explain.

There is this new innovation called "WeCu." Doesn't the name psych you out just a little! Well that is kind of what it is supposed to do. You see it is a screening technique that is creating a rather big stir in Airport Security circles here in Israel and around the world - more particularly the US where I am from. In truth,  it will probably be in every airport in the near future.

It uses flashing images to screen for suspected terrorists. Compiled in the mixture are some trigger photos (such as the picture of a family member of a suspected terrorist, or the leader of a cell, or who knows what else). Then somehow, they don't say how, they measure the biometrics of everyone in the area (at least heart rate and temperature). The creator of the technology, an Israeli, Ehud Givon, says that people connected with photos will have an involuntary response that is measurable. Those with elevated biometric readings would then be pulled aside for additional questions and possible searches.

The system has a success rate of 95%, which is far better than the security screening in airports at the moment. The whole process is done without passengers even knowing and in under one minute. It could take place at the ticket counter, or the security check or even possibly in places where I am sitting right now!

The US is considering putting the system in all of it's airports, which makes me think it must already be in Ben Gurion. Now you might understand why I am feeling just a little freaked out! You see, just because I know about the technology out there, I might be looking for something strange and if something seems strange I just might have an elevated heart-beat or temperature! I have the peresonality that makes me feel guilty just becuse someone might think I am (It must be my protestant, Evangelical upbrining).  And now that could put in line next to suspected....ter.... I don't to even type the word. Maybe it will raise my heart rate or body temp!

Ok, I know I am being a little bit dramatic for some laughs, but as a student of history and human nature, it feels a little Orwellian to me! Maybe monitoring everyone's body functions is just a little too intrusive. But it could save lives and since I am about to board a flight, that seems like a pretty good aim. Israeli's are known throughout the world for the best security ever! And somehow they manage to ballance that with personal freedom.

I read that it could in fact be less intrusive because they do not store the readings and it would be completely neutral. The technology doesn't care who you are, where you are from, where you are going, what you believe or what you look like. It just reads reactions to specific stimuli.

Did you know Israelis have more patents per capita than any other nation? And they are only second to the US in actual patents filed. It is amazing the innovation coming out of this country. But what do you guys think of this one?

Ok...gotta check my email while I still have free wifi!

This time is different from the others. I've been to Israel several times since my first experience in 2003. I even worked in Jerusalem for two years with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ).  But when I flew back to Israel in April of 2009, I came back to actually immigrate to the Holy Land. My husband is Israeli. We married just over two years ago and after living for a season in my home country, the US,  we both decided to return to Israel and embrace the incredible life that this place has to offer. And let me tell you, there are far more than deserts, donkeys and dangers here.

If most of your information comes from the mainstream media, I suggest getting better acquainted with Travelujah. Israel is one of the greatest most diverse places in the world to visit. Though it is about the size of the state of New Jersey, it is possible to ski Mt. Hermon one day and drive a few hours and arrive at the lowest point on earth to have a little float in the Dead Sea. There are beautiful desert scenes here, but also fertile fields and beautiful vineyards. Then of course, there are the many extraordinary people with incredible stories just waiting to be discovered and told. But still the most significant thing to me about Israel is that it is God's own land.

Sure, God created the world and it all belongs to Him, but Israel is something special because God made it his own home and chose to reveal himself to the world through this little piece of land. God said through the prophet Isaiah:

I will make you [Israel] as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6

The apostle Paul wrote: 

They are the Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah who is God over all. Romans 9:4-5

Israel is the foundation and home of all that I believe and hold dear.  Now it has become my home too. It is an extraordinary situation because I am neither Jewish nor native born. It is only through my marriage that I am able to obtain citizenship. I did not expect to stay in Israel for more than a few years when I came to volunteer, but I guess God had other plans. It was in this amazing country that I met and married the man I so dearly call my husband.

There is much to share with you about this country. On one hand it is an immensely spiritual experience and on the other hand life is very ordinary, though usually quite entertaining and full of color. I look forward to bringing you all the different aspects of what life is truly like living in the Holy Land. 

Today at sunset it will be the eve of Tisha B'Av. It is a day which marks great tragedy in the Jewish Calendar. Both the first and second temples were destroyed on Tisha B'Av. The first was in 586 BC when the Babylonians conquered and the second was when the Romans demolished the temple in 70 A.D. Since the second temple fell the Jewish people have mourned for its rebuilding.

Though it may seem strange at first, this day reminds me of my wedding. I married a Jewish man and we had a Jewish wedding complete with the breaking of the glass when the groom recites the words of Psalm 137 verse 5:

 
If I forget you Jerusalem
May I forget my right hand
May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
If I ever don't think of you
If I don't raise up Jerusalem above my highest joy

Though there are many interpretations of what the broken glass symbolizes, many see it as a memorial to the destruction of the temple. My husband explained that the broken glass is to remind us that even in moments of our greatest joy we must not forget the loss of the temple and the importance of Jerusalem.

Our ceremony was one of the most treasured memories of my life and when my husband broke the glass I thought about the temple and Jerusalem. I felt grateful that even during one of the happiest events of my life, I was reminded that God's glory is above mine. I really treasure the Jewish symbolism that speaks to us of a narrative that is far greater than our own.

This year I won't make it to Jerusalem, but I remember spending Tisha B'Av in Israel's capitol city in the past. Thousands of Jews from around the world come to Jerusalem to walk around the Old City Walls. I went with one of my Jewish friends, Sara Rebi, and and other Christian friends who also wanted to participate. Sara took us to a large center square on Jaffa Street. We joined the enormous crowd in sitting on the floor as a Rabbi read from the Book of Lamentations:

The elders of the daughter of Zion
Sit on the ground and keep silence;
They throw dust on their heads
And gird themselves with sackcloth.
The virgins of Jerusalem Bow their heads to the ground.
Lamentations 2:10

After the entire book was read the crowd filed out to walk around the walls. During this time I could hear both joyful signing from those who were focused on the hope of a brighter future as well as mournful tunes accompanied by tears from those who were weeping for what had happened in the past. I saw a few men wearing sackcloth and ashes. It was really amazing to me because it was something I had only read about in my Bible and there it was right in front of me.

Finally everyone ended up at the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. It is the only remnant of what is left of the Holy Temple. Thousands and thousands of Jewish mourners have visited this place. They come weeping over the loss of the temple and yearning for the day it will be made new. The wall is a symbol of sorrow but also of great promise and redemption.

Tisha B'Av is a somber day and yet there is undeniable beauty in it. As I recall seeing so many people in Jerusalem gathered together, longing for God's presence in their lives and in their land I am humbled. It is a sight I recall with deep emotion. As I remember my wedding day and the broken glass reminding us of the loss of the temple, I am humbled. This day has taught me something of great worth. Despite how busy life becomes and no matter if I am thrilled by happy occasions or discouraged by hard times one thing transcends it all - one thing. King David expressed such a sentiment in the 27th Psalm:

One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in His temple.'
Psalm 27:4

The "one" thing is not simply a building of great worth, power and beauty, but the one thing is to be near the great worth, power and beauty of the "One" who inhabits the temple. Tisha B'Av is about the great and awesome glory of God. His presence once dwelt physically in the temple and on Tisha B'Av we as Jews and Christians mourn that loss, yet we look forward to and long for the day when we will behold Him in His temple. The day when His Kingdom will be on earth as it is in heaven.

 ~

The Passover Seder was just a few days ago and Easter just a few days ahead. I feel a little like this moment in time...caught between the two holidays.  I understand all the logic behind celebrating the Passover as Christians and I am always eager to learn about Jewish traditions and how much they help me understand the Jewishness of Jesus - Yeshua. His message is much stronger and clearer when seen through the lens of Judaism.

The first Seder I attended with Jewish friends was such an eye-opener. Yes, the Passover reminds us of the miraculous way God saved the Israelites from Egypt but Christians see it as a powerful forshadowing of the crucifixion. A lamb was slaughtered and the blood placed on the door post to signal to the angel of death to passover and spare that household from the curse of death.  It doesn't take much imagination to see Yeshua in every aspect of the Biblical Feast. I can't count the amount of sermons I have heard that draw comparisons between the Israelites slavery to Egypt and a nonbelievers slavery to sin. Jesus is referred to time and time again as the Lamb of God. His is the "pure and spotless lamb" who took away the sins of the world. The Lamb of God that has saved us from the curse of death.

I find celebrating Passover gives me a much more appreciative understanding of Christ's sacrifice. The elements of the Seder sensually convey the story with great power as I look upon the white table setting, the red wine, and the lamb shank; taste of the bitter herbs and salt water; and break the pierced and striped matzo in my hand. If Christians think communion is a moving experience, a Passover Seder is earth shaking. Yeshua, the Jewish Rabbi seems to jump from the pages of scripture like an image in a 3-D book that finally pops after glaring at the two dimensional seemingly random patterns on the page. I suggest researching more about "Christ in the Passover".

Having said the above, I would still feel very incomplete without celebrating Easter. I understand the historical fact the name "Easter" comes from "Ishtar" a pagan goddess, but I think we can miss the point if we leave the argument there. Many Christians do not refer to Easter as such, but rather as "Resurrection Sunday". I know someone out there will argue with me that some historical fact proves that the resurrection was not on Sunday. It probably wasn't, just as Jesus was probably not born on December 25th. But does that negate the fact that Jesus was born, died and did rise? Hundreds, possibly thousands, have died on a cross but none rose from the dead. If we as Christians stop with the Passover and neglect the Resurrection we have lost the power of our faith and the truth that Jesus Christ had defeated death and holds the keys of life and death in his hands.

I feel no shame in admitting that I find great happiness in traditional Easter egg coloring and egg hunts with my nieces and nephew- activities which many churches in the US plan for the Sunday school kids. I remember going to Resurrection sunrise services with family, competing with kids to fill my basket with the most eggs, and then heading to my grandparents home for a huge family meal. My grandma would cook a huge meal of mashed potatoes, fresh homemade "yeast" roles, "deviled eggs" and (Lord have mercy) a great big honey roasted "ham"!

 I don't think you can get any less kosher than that. But, as our family sat to share our meal together and did all the "wrong" things, someone around the table would cry out, "Christ is risen!" to which everyone would reply with great zeal, "He is risen indeed!".  Thy cry and group response would continue spontaneously throughout the meal and into the evening. Finally, with baskets in our laps, chocolate eggs between our hands and mouths, my siblings and I were always reminded again about the death of Christ to pay for our sins and the glorious Resurrection which defeated death and gave hope to the world.

I understand those who do not wish to paint eggs and refer to the day Christ rose as Easter, but I would challenge those Christians who feel Passover can completely replace celebrating the death, burial and RESURRECTION of Jesus.  Because without the Resurrection, what is our hope?

I will always be between the two, observing Passover and rejoicing in the Resurrection.

"Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading." I Peter 1:3-4

It is something I can't describe. It must be experienced to understand the weight of it. At 10:00 am today, April 12th, a siren sounded all across the country to commemorate Israel's day of remembrance for the Holocaust vicitims and survivors. For two minutes the entire country comes to an abrupt halt - people on the sidewalks stop suddenly and stand at attention, the fast paced traffic on Israel's streets and highways slows and roads become parking lots as drivers quickly exit and stand in reverence. For a moment in time we are cut off from our individual lives, pursuits and self interests. Nothing matters, nothing moves and all is silent as the ominous air raid alert blasts through the country.

Blessed to have grown up in such a sheltered, prosperous country, I had never heard such a siren until I came to Israel. If the landscape of people - suddenly frozen in their tracks - and the lifeless still frame where just moments before the pulse of activity was strong, were not enough to unnerve me, the screaming siren always thrusts a terrible stab of dread through my whole being and I think I must have just glimpsed a fleeting insight into the horrors of those who lived during those murderous years of World War II and the Final Solution.

Today I and my colleagues from the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) attended the memorial services at Israel's Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem. An Israeli friend of ICEJ who works there, told us that there were thriving communities of Jews that were invaded and evacuated in a single day with no trace of the lives that once filled the neighborhood just hours before- all the people gone in one ghastly moment. How fragile life is.

(a picture of one of the Holocaust Survivors who laid a wreath today)

Hearing this made me understand with greater keenness the impact of the two minute death in Israel when the siren sounds. What a formidable warning it cries. The Holocaust suddenly becomes personal to me and for a time I am no longer a passive observer to history but I'm standing in the story along side those snatched away from all the human and decent things we take for granted. I realize, with all my love for the Jewish people and desire to understand the past, how little I actually comprehend of the horrors of what happend and the potential dangers of the future. Lavished by the peace and prosperity bought by the blood of heroic soldiers who understood the delicate nature of freedom, I fear my generation has lost the ability to face the reality of evil. Evil is not gone; it was just sleeping for a time and coaxing us to slumber as it slinked out again to new actions.

Of course the most obvious threat is Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the opening ceremony for the memorial day, chided the world for weak and passive responses to Iran's repeated threats to erase the Jewish state from the face of the earth. "We see at best mild protests, and these too seem to be fading." President Shimon Perez declared, "It is our right and duty to demand of the nations of the world not to repeat their indifference, which has cost millions of human lives, including theirs."

(picture I took at Yad Vashem today of Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Perez.)

The state of Iran and her leadership is frightening, but I found something to be far more disconcerting in the headlines of today's Jerusalem Post, "Anti-Semitic violent attacks across the globe more than doubled in 2009." The Stephens Roth Institute for the study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism at Tel Aviv University released a study demonstrating a 102% rise in documented cases of anti-Jewish violence. The numbers do not even include threats, insults and graffiti with anti-Jewish content.

The threat to Israel is not isolated in one country, it is growing in nations around the world. News like this makes me feel frightened for where the world is headed, desperate to join the efforts to reverse the course, and angry that the world has so quickly forgotten the lessons we thought were carved in stone, "Never Again." The words taunt us, I think. And I begin to feel overwhelmed that we will fail in our promises.

After the wreath laying at Yad Vashem and before the name reading ceremony, Our dear friend Susanna Kokkonen, Director of the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, walked us through the gardens where trees are planted to represent non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust. They are called the "Righteous Among the Nations." Yad Vashem has planted 2000 trees in their honor but there are far more than 2000 who saved lives so the museum erected large plaques with thousands of names of the "Righteous" who risked all they had to protect Jews.

(Me and my Christian friends reading the names of the "Righteous Among the Nations")

Susanna asked if we could all sit and pray together in the spot. It was a beautiful moment but suddenly I felt a pang of terror. Sharing that moment with my friends and hearing their earnest prayers for the survivors of the Holocaust, the church today and for Israel was powerful and moving, but a dread came over me. I was surrounded by thousands of names representing an even greater number of families and communities whose resolve had been like ours - only tested and proven. Those people gave everything... yet it was not enough. Why?

They stood like boulders in a way that many of us can only hope to emulate. Many lost family, possessions and even life as a result. Why was it not enough? Did they wait to long to speak out? Or maybe they did everything possible but the tide was too strong and there were too few of them. Are we any different today? With all of our resolve is there enough of us to ensure, "never again." 

Of course this in no way means that I want to do less, but I guess in a strange way it toughens my spirit in such a way that I can say, even if we cannot change the tide, we can cast a life line and even jump into the swells to save those being tossed about and driven under - even if it means we lose everything. Even if all hopes seems to be gone, I want to live like those in World War II who did not give way to hopelessness but did all they could do to safeguard the future.

As we finished praying I looked around and saw something new. For all the terror and death of the Holocaust, evil did not win. Yes, those names that surrounded us in the garden of the "Righteous Among the Nations" fought and won - even if they did not live to see the victory. The war was long and many battles were lost, but "righteousness" triumphed in the end.

I hope the promise of "never again" will hold fast, but today I realized that, though none of us can single handedly change the course of history, we can determine what course we will take. Should a terrible night fall again on this world, I would want to be counted among the "righteous." Those people of honor and faith who lived in the darkest of times and yet never yielded to its power. They did not cave to the belief that day would never come and everyone should fall into step with the powers of the moment. No, they believed in more and today millions of Jews are alive and flourishing as a result.

We, each of us, have been placed upon the earth, as was Queen Esther, for such a time as this. How will we answer our call? May we be as the faithful as those who stood against Hitler, against authorities, against communities and even against their own families for the sake of others. 

As we remember the victims and survivors today, let us also pause to honor, and strive to emulate, those non-Jews who abandoned safety for righteousness. If ever tested, may we be found as faithful. 

Kasey Bar is a frequent contributor on Travelujah, the leading Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land. People can learn, plan and share their Holy Land tour and travel experiences on Travelujah.

During the holiday of Lag BaOmer in Israel every open space is filled with enormous bonfires, boisterous kids, sizzling food, and energetic conversation and laughter. My apartment, or flat as they call it here, is right on the border of civilization and acres of sprawling farmland. I enjoy having the option of going out of my parking lot and choosing either coffee to the left or fresh orange pickings from the orchards to the right.

Last night it seemed that all of Ra'anana decided to camp to the right of my flat. I never cease to be amazed at how holidays seems to pop-up around every corner of the calendar here in Israel. I still don't really understand Lag BaOmer, but it is rather impressive to see massive camp fires throughout densely populated areas. When I say "massive camp-fires" I don't think you can really appreciate it without seeing it. (photos below)

For a few weeks before the holiday school kids are strolling around local grocery store carts on a scavenger hunt for anything that will burn. They dumpster dive for old picture frames and doors, limbs cut from trees to clear roadways and large card board boxes cast off from newly purchased appliances.

After the sun sets on Lag Ba'Omer kids, teachers and parents fill open lots around the city and kindle the fires. I read that during the Middle Ages, Lag BaOmer was called the "scholar's festival" and it became customary to rejoice on this day through various kinds of merrymaking.

In the Talmud it says that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died from a plague sent by God to punish them for not showing proper respect to one another. Lag BaOmer was supposedly the day the plague ended.

I think for most Israeli's it is simply a chance to celebrate, and in this highly pressurized country it seems everyone is always ready for another reason to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow is always uncertain.

Israeli's live with a lot of gusto! It seems almost everything is done to the extreme. I laugh with my husband, Yuval, about the crowded stores when Shabbat comes to a close. On Saturday night, I think every Israeli rejoices in the end of the 24-hour Sabbath rest. I think the fourth commandment is kept through gritted teeth for many Israelis.

Yuval joked that every Saturday night, after the end of Shabbat, is like Black Friday in the U.S. Black Friday being the day after Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping day in the entire year. It's true, there are literally huge lines outside of grocery stores, malls, cinemas and restaurants. How do I know? Well, we usually find ourselves right in the middle of it.

I do things here in Israel that I would never do in the U.S. It just somehow comes naturally to stand in crowded lines, talk to strangers and rush out get a glimpse at any new attraction no matter how many people have the same inclination. Israel's live out the adage well: "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

Back to BaOmer - besides the rowdy teens singing and yelling outside our window till around 3am, I found it a really neat expression of life, community and joy. I still don't know how all the cities in Israel don't go up in flames, but the holiday is truly bigger than life and I can only imagine the magic of the evening in the eyes of children. I love the family-oriented culture here in Israel and the effervescent holiday spirit that seems to permeate every month of the Jewish calendar.

My husband and I attended the festivities at Park Ra'anana this week as Israel celebrated her Day of Independence or Yom Haatzmaut. It is preceded by somber days of remembrance - for the Holocaust and for the fallen soldiers. The celebrations of Independence are always festive, boisterous and joyful - not despite the days leading up to the birthday of the nation, but because of it. The whole country remembers the sacrifice and goes through a process of reflection that leads the people of Israel, especially the younger generation, to remember what this freedom and national holiday cost.

There seemed to be a million and one families at the park with children everywhere. Energetic music pumped through the park and a smorgasbord of food stands filled the air with the aroma of flame grilled meats that seems to accompany every event worth attending. The Mayor of Ra'anana, whom I like very much for his frequent visits to programs at the Absorption Center where I took ulpan, opened the evening with a moving prayer and then the residents of Ra'anana were treated to a ten-minute display of fireworks.

I caught something out of the corner of my eye that made me regret leaving my camera at home. In the swarm of Israeli flags and patriotic anthems sat a small group of Muslims. It isn't strange to see Muslims in Park Ra'anana, but it was interesting to see a family at an Independence celebration. The women wore headdresses and one of the men pulled out a rug and began praying - toward Mecca I imagine since it is not Jerusalem they consider their most sacred location.

My husband and I had a brief conversation about whether the Muslim man was thanking Allah he was in Israeli territory where his wives and daughters had more freedom and protection and where he has more opportunities and government services, or whether he was he pleading with Allah to cast the infidel nation into the sea? Who knows. We didn't try to ask. But we did take an additional moment to marvel at the nation we were celebrating.

Thousands of Israelis were commemorating the birth of their nation after 2,000 years of exile. Each Israeli is evidence of prophecy fulfilled, hopes realized and freedom found. There, in the middle of it all sat a group of religious people that, for the most part, feel Israel has no right to exist. Still, they are welcomed, they are undisturbed and they have the same freedom to dance, eat, buy and even cast down their prayer mats and ask Allah for who knows what. I find it extraordinary and exceptional here in Israel where there are daily threats of terrorist attacks monitored by the Israeli military. A few weeks ago a Palestinian sniper shot at a car on road number 443. Still the Muslims are welcome to attend Israeli Independence Day celebrations.

The international news focuses mainly on the fact that Netanyahu's government will not stop construction in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem while ignoring the fact that the Palestinian leadership of Hamas and hostile neighbors like Hezbollah still refuse to acknowledge that Israel has a right to exist. My home country, under the leadership of Obama, is now pushing to move Israel behind the 67 cease-fire lines and insisting on the establishment of a tolerant Palestinian state free of any Jewish presence and most likely bound for a government built upon Sharia law.

All this while Israel, inside the 67 borders has multiple thriving Muslim villages and allows freedom of worship, benefits and employment. There are Arabs in Israel's government and High Court.The narrative on Israel around the world is skewed and unjust. I love this country and am proud that one day I will have dual citizenship for two of the greatest nations in the world. Israel and America have been shining beacons of hope and strong bastions of freedom for immigrants around the world.

U.S. Presidents of both parties have expressed the deep convictions that bind the nations together. John F. Kennedy stated, "Israel was not created in order to disappear-Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and home of the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy and it honors the sword of freedom."

Ronald Reagan conveyed with conviction that "the people of Israel and America are historic partners in the global quest for human dignity and freedom [and] will always remain at each other's side."

William Clinton declared, "America and Israel share a special bond. Our relations are unique among all nations. Like America, Israel is a strong democracy, as a symbol of freedom, and an oasis of liberty, a home to the oppressed and persecuted."

And George W. Bush, while visiting Israel stated, "Our two nations both faced great challenges when they were founded, and our two nations have both relied on the same principles to help us succeed. We've built strong democracies to protect the freedoms given to us by an Almighty God. We've welcomed immigrants, who have helped us thrive. We've built prosperous economies by rewarding innovation and risk-taking and trade. And we've built an enduring alliance to confront terrorists and tyrants."

The affinity for and fraternity with the Jewish nation was felt not only by recent presidents but by those who served before the state of Israel had yet to be reborn.

Calvin Coolidge expressed his "sympathy with the deep and intense longing which finds such fine expression in the Jewish National Homeland in Palestine."

And in a letter to Mordecai Manuel Noah in 1819, The second president of the United States, John Adams wrote, "I could find it in my heart to wish that you had been at the head of a hundred thousand Israelites . . . & marching with them into Judea & making a conquest of that country & restoring your nation to the dominion of it. For I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation."

The values between the two nations are deeply shared and fiercely held in a way that made it not so very strange that many Israelis would hang the Stars and Stripes right next to their beloved flag on Israeli Independence Day. A significant number of Israeli drivers would put an Israeli flag on one window and an American flag on the other. I always appreciated it, though never quite understood it until it was conspicuously absent this year. I did not see one American flag on a car, apartment or business this year and I began to ask myself why it had been there in the past and why it was not there this year?

Without going into a list of political fall-outs between the two nations this year, I think it is obvious that America has pressured Israel in a way it has never done in the past. While Iran is threatening to "wipe Israel off the map" and Syria is allegedly sending Scud missiles to the region that can target any place in Israel, the President of the free world is scolding Israel for allowing "natural growth" in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem while Arabs in West Jerusalem have full rights to rent, buy, build and expand.

Something is awry and it is deeply disturbing. I know the decision by Israelis not to fly American flags means, in no way, that they are anti-American. I think it is more of a statement that they are prepared to go it alone if the United States fails to support the ideals and values upon which both nations were founded. They are exhibiting the same revolutionary spirit that once gripped America and every American should be proud...this one is.

Netanyahu stopped just short of making such a bold announcement. He opened the cabinet meetings this week with a quote by the founder of modern Zionism Theodore Herzl, "Don't rely on the help of foreigners, nor on benefactors. And do not expect stones to become soft because benefactors give humiliating donations. A nation that wants to stand upright must rely on itself alone"

I wish to encourage the Prime Minister for his stand and direct the nation of Israel on her 62nd birthday to this quote from one of the great American founders and voice of true classical liberalism, Benjamin Franklin: "They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

I am on my way to obtaining Israeli citizenship, but I have always considered myself and American first and Israeli second. However, thinking through this Independence Day has made me feel differently. I am a citizen of freedom first - wherever the boundary lines are drawn. I love America deeply, but I love the values that shaped her more. I hope the two nations will always stand shoulder to shoulder on the worldwide battlefront for freedom, but if not I refer again to Benjamin Franklin who wrote in a letter to Benjamin Vaughn in 1783, "Where liberty dwells, there is my country."

Here's hoping that I will always be holding the passports of both countries!

 King Solomon dedicated the Holy Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem with a prayer and a precedent that has been followed by Israeli leadership since they reunited Jerusalem in 1967 and took responsibility for the Holy places - the foreigner is welcomed.

"When a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake...when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name." (I Kings 8:41-4)

It doesn't matter if it is the media, history teachers, tour guides, religious leaders or the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, they all like to refer to the fact that Jerusalem contains holy sites for the three great monotheistic religions of the world. Just not all of those mentioned above are so quick to add that there has only been freedom of worship for every religious group when Jerusalem has been in the hands of the Jews. It isn't an opinion it is an historical fact and it means a great deal for this foreigner.

Jerusalem Day is important and meaningful for me as a Christian. Despite the atrocious history of Crusader brutality in this city, when Israel unified it in 1967 they didn't decide to even the scorecard. No, they unfastened the old latches and broke open the ancient doors to welcome everyone. It was like the Old City finally took in a gasp of fresh air after being locked up for thousands of years.

In Jerusalem, under the rule of the Israeli government, I have complete freedom to go to church, to visit the Garden Tomb, to follow the Via Dolorosa or even walk up to the Western Wall and place my own prayer note in the cracks with the peculiar and comforting knowledge that thousands of years ago King Solomon actually prayed that God would answer my prayer, the prayer of the foreigner.

I don't think most people realize the extravagant cultural and religious freedom that exists in Jerusalem. Watching the news you might think that there is a west side of Jerusalem filled with Jews and and east side filled with Arabs and a clean line of separation down the center. There doesn't seem to be a concept of the stunning, vibrant, interwovern diversity that greets me every time I amble through the well-worn cobblestone streets of this city.

I attended Hebrew classes at one ulpan where Muslim Arabs made up the majority of my class. I sat by Abba Moshe, a Greek orthodox priest, behind me were Catholic priests-in-training from Italy and Brazil, and to my left sat two very quiet sisters from a local order of nuns. Thrown in between were a few of us clad in normal street clothes. I often joke that Jerusalem is the ancient version of Manhattan.

That is just a snap shot of Jerusalem today, and this foreigner hopes it doesn't change. It is one city in the Middle East where Muslim, Christian, Jew - also many other diverse faiths - can mingle in the streets freely and openly as they trot off to their individual places of worship. And this openness remained even in the face of the horrific terrorist acts during the Intifada years. Israelis have paid a great price for the freedom of the foreigner.

For reasons I do not understand, the human rights of cultural and religious freedom that took root and began flourishing in 1967 are the subject of little conversation when the eyes of the world focus on Jerusalem. In fact, it seems the reverse is happening.

Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat recently met with U.S. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Rep. Peter Roskan (R-Ill). He responded to the Obama administrations request to freeze construction in East Jerusalem. He came to America, the bastion of freedom, to express his "shock" and "surprise" at what he referenced as Obama's request for discriminatory practices in Jerusalem's city zoning.

"I think in Washington or anywhere in the states its illegal, it's anti constitutional, to ask who's the owner, if he's Jewish or Muslim," Barkat stated. "You're not allowed to discriminate, by race, by color, or by religion. And I'm surprised at the demand and the request to hint to us that we must discriminate...It's against the law."

Does the the US Administration really want to impose segregation? If Jerusalem is divided and east Jerusalem zoned to exlude Jews, would it not be important to have such a zoning law in west Jerusalem to exclude Arabs from building, buying and renting? Why unequal measures for the east and west parts of the city? Is this really 2010? A zone of Arabs and a zone of Jews? It seems common sense has been restricted to the Twilight Zone.

It is especially flabbergasting in the light of what I see today in Jerusalem. The city is such an expression of diversity that is should be a model city for the region. Sure there is room for improvement but maybe we should look to Mecca where the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has barred all non-Muslims from even entering the city if we want to start improving the Middle East.

In any case, celebrating the reunification of the ancient city of Jerusalem has gotten a bit more audacious. Should we really commemorate an event that most world-powers, including some Jewish, would like to reverse?

U.S. President Obama has not helped the cause by entering into the Middle East peace process intent on making the status of Jerusalem a starter at the Mid-East Convivium. So far Israelis seated at the negotiating table have recoiled at the rare-cooked, heavy laden hors d'oeuvres set by the US Administration that must leave them wondering what kind of entrée is to follow. The Palestinians, well they haven't yet made it to the table. But that hasn't stopped Obama from dishing out heaping portions to the Israelis. What was once non-negotiable, Jerusalem, lies poised on the chopping block and it has instigated a bit of a family rumpus in the world-wide Jewish community, especially in the US.

One Jewish leftist organization issued an ad pleading with Obama to "save us from ourselves". And the iconic Eli Wiesel, who stands as the keeper of Holocaust memory, challenged Obama's approach to Jerusalem in an ad so strong it earned him a lunch invitation at the White House. I love the healthy arena of social engagement that democratic republics facilitate and even require. But I think it will take a little more then Obama's beer diplomacy to reduce the growing tension over Jerusalem.

I hope Jerusalem remains united, but Israel is a democracy, and her people will have to decide the future of their capital. They are the ones paying the price and living the reality. However, I think all of us, especially those in places of influence, should ask ourselves a simple question. If Jerusalem, as it exists today, is a barrier to peace in the Middle East then what kind of peace are we asking Israel to seek?

Kasey Barr is a frequent blogger for http://www.Travelujah.com, the only Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land. Travelujah is a vibrant online community offering high quality Christian content, user and expert blogs, travel tours and planning services for people interested in connecting with or traveling to the Holy Land.

Autumn has always held a special charm for me - the changing leaves, brisk breezes and warm drinks! It induces a rather festive feeling that excites the senses and makes one feel like a child again. Here in Israel it is slightly different being that there is no real feel to the change is season, but there is a difference in the air. And the fruits of the harvest are very much part of the celebration - though it will take some getting used to, substituting pomegranates for pumpkins!

Last year in my Hebrew class I learned songs for the holidays, and just yesterday as I was shopping for groceries I heard them being played throughout the store. I noticed that I was actually singing along to them and that my pace was much livelier and my shopping much happier. It was then that I realized that this year I really feet part of the holidays in a very keen way.

We are entering the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. It is a beautiful time of year when families come together for feasting and fasting. I appreciate how Rosh Hashanah is celebrated with apples and honey to bring in a sweet new year (as it is the beginning of the Jewish New Year) and how it is then followed by 10 days of repentance leading into the Day of Atonement of Yom Kippur when most of Israel spends a day of fasting and prayer. Then comes Sukkot which is a week where God commands celebration and joy. It is also a very international celebration as the prophet Zechariah speaks of a day when ALL nations will come up to Jerusalem and worship the God of Israel.

All through Jerusalem you can see people of different nations and tribes coming to the city in anticipation of that day. One year I was at the Garden Tomb with a group and we were singing a worship song in English. We were soon joined by people singing in many different languages the same song, the same tune, in multiple languages. It was a moment when I really felt the power of God's word to transcend and envelop every culture and creed. It was stunning and I really felt that it was a small glimpse of the Kingdom to come.

I love the Holy Days and am reminded yet again of the privilege of living here in Israel and in sharing such rich traditions that strengthen my own Christian faith.

There is much being said about Jerusalem in the news these days. It is Israel's capitol city, though most of the world does not recognize it as so. I lived in the city for a few years and though I now live in Ra'anana (a city north of Tel Aviv), I still make it to Jerusalem about once a week. It is a weighty city with a beautiful yet violent history. I like to walk the ancient streets and try to imagine the many events that occurred there. It takes a bit of imagination because the reality today is quite different.

In Jerusalem there is tension between the vast varieties of people, yet it is a product of the openness of the city. Only under Jewish control of Jerusalem has there been religious freedom for all people. And it comes at great risk and a high price as Jerusalem has been one of the hot spots for terrorism. There is no other place in the world where I can walk the streets and find myself brushing shoulders with not only multiple sects of Judaism, but also the Eastern Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Armenians, even the Mormons have their spot here. The list could go on and on. Sometimes I feel like I am walking around the ancient version of Manhattan! Walking through the old stone streets of Jerusalem are monks, Imams, and my personal favorite, the evangelical tour groups who are occasionally found singing hymns.

Within the ancient walls of Jerusalem's Old City lie four ancient and distinctive cultures. The Old City is divided into four quarters--The Jewish Quarter, Muslim, Quarter, Armenian Quarter and Christian Quarter. 

Constant streams of pilgrims visit the most holy site to the Jewish nation, the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. Five times daily, one can hear the Muslim call to prayer being sounded from the El Aksa mosque located right above the Western Wall. Armenians fulfill their daily ritual prayers in the Church of the Holy Archangels--a structure dating back to the medieval period. And throughout the year, Christians retrace the steps of Jesus, visiting the temple ruins, Gethsemane, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Garden Tomb.

The diversity of the ancient city of Jerusalem rarely, if ever, makes headline news, but it should. While Israel's so called "intolerance" toward its Arab citizens dominates the mainstream media focus, individuals of every race and creed are granted cultural and religious freedom throughout Israel and most visibly in Jerusalem -- the most holy city of the Jewish faith. This can hardly be said of any other country in the region and certainly not Saudi Arabia which will not even permit a Jewish person entrance into their country or any non-Muslim/ infidel in Mecca.

Jerusalem is a shining example of religious and cultural freedom in an area of the world where religious persecution is practiced regularly and quite brutally. Jerusalem has seen much bloodshed in the past from religious conquests to dominate the region and the minds of her citizens. Thankfully today, there is freedom of conscience for all peoples. I am thankful to Israel and the Jewish people that I, as a Christian, can come here and celebrate the life of Jesus and worship freely without fear of intimidation or persecution.

I should probably say especially in Israel! After two years of jumping back and forth from the US to Israel, my husband and I have finally decided to settle down in Israel and set up house. I've spent the last two weeks shopping for appliances, furniture, paint, shower curtains... if you need it for your house I probably recently purchased it. I may have to start my own "Do it yourself in Israel" blog. Well, maybe just surviving the process doesn't make me an expert, but it sure has been a lot of fun!

On my first tour to Israel I really thought that outdoor markets, like the "shuk", were the only places to buy things. I never saw a mall or department store. In fact, my first experience shopping for groceries at Shuk Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem was so overwhelming that I came away with only two bananas and a mango. My refrigerator was empty! Thank God I found a real grocery store within a few days or I think I would have met an untimely end. I am not one to fight for a good deal. The whole process makes me feel really stressful.

I am the typical Western shopper that owners love to see walk in their stores or by their little booths. I have two faults, I can't easily say no and I don't like arguing over prices. There is a famous shuk in old Yaffo called Shuk ha Pishpishim (it actually deserves and entry in and of itself for those who love flea markets). Friends told us that we had to go there and buy furniture for our house. I tried it and I'm sure if I needed one or two things I could have managed, but when it comes to setting up an entire house the crowded streets and endless shops were just a tad too overwhelming for me. I was so happy to find a few familiar names like ACE and IKEA! I know I probably spend much more money in those places but seeing a price tag on an item and knowing it is the final price gives me a strange peace of mind.

Ace Hardware needs little description. It's great, the people are friendly and you can buy all types of paint including the "wash" to make fresco walls that I love. With my limited Hebrew it was challenging to buy the right stuff but in the end, with the help of very patient Ace employees opening all sorts of paints for me to touch, I came away with just what I needed.

IKEA, well it is an event none should miss. If you want to experience it to its fullest go on Friday just before it closes for Shabbat around 2pm or when it opens after Shabbat on Saturday at 7:30pm.  My husband and I generally end up going at one of those times because of our schedule...so do most Israelis. Last Saturday, on our way home from visiting family in Haifa, Yuval and I thought we would stop at the only IKEA in Israel located in Natanya. For some reason the store delayed opening for another 30 minutes. When we pulled up a crowd of literally hundreds were waiting for the doors to be open. Until that point I had only seen things like that for grand openings. It was so bizarre to me, and yet we didn't really think twice about parking the car and waiting along side everyone else.

When the doors finally opened people filed in and up the escalators to the first floor starting point. I felt like I was at the beginning of the Tel Aviv Marathon! I've learned a few things since coming to Israel about lines. Actually the word "line" needs its own definition in Israel, especially for lines at the airport and IKEA.  It really isn't about who was there first, it is about who is best at navigating space. It took me about 30 minutes to learn this after my first flight to Israel.

My friend and I were coming to the ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles, a particularly busy time of year with thousands of tourists flooding the airport. It was our first Israel experience and once we filed out of the plane and into the customs line we literally didn't move for 30 minutes while a steady flow of people navigated around us like a rushing stream around a river rock. It wasn't that we didn't want to move, we were just trying to maintain our personal space. Once we learned the "heal to toe shuffle step" we progressed quite nicely. Well, this is the kind of line you have in IKEA as well.

Israelis may sound really rude to some westerners but in most cases it just isn't the case - it is simply cultural. The fact is, most Israelis are quite friendly and will be happy to have lively conversations with you as you stake your claim in line. And if you can build a quick friendship, your new ally will probably yell at the person trying to squeeze by you much better than you ever could.  And if anyone gets hurt, everyone clears out immediately to make sure that person is ok. I really don't want to tell you why I know this, as it will deeply affect my pride, but it may find its way into a future blog entry at some point.

Needless to say, setting up house is an adventure in Israel, but the process has made me feel much more independent! My husband says I am becoming a true Israeli because I can hold my place in line, sometimes haggle with prices, and, what is especially exciting for me, navigate the Hebrew version of Craigslist called Yad2, which means second-hand in Hebrew. Yad2, found at www.yad2.co.il is a great website with used furniture and all sorts of second-hand goods. Because there are so many transient people here, such as foreign government workers, students and short-term business investors, it is possible to find some great, lightly used, items.

Well, I can breathe a deep sigh of relief as most of my walls are painted and furniture in place thanks to a variety of outlets. While I hope to get better at shuk shopping, I am thankful for department stores such as Ace and IKEA.  What I love about Israel is that you can go to several department stores and feel like you are in any other modern country, and within moments head to an outdoor shuk where you know there is no place like this outside the Middle East.  

Before leaving the U.S. to move with my Israeli husband to Israel in April of this year, my mom asked, with a twinkle in her eye, if I were going to take my riding boots. I heard there were some places to ride in Israel and wondered if one day I might be able to saddle-up again. Since the age of about ten I have loved horses. When I owned my first horse at 13, I spent all my spare time riding, grooming and just being near my furry friend with whom I would regularly share my carrots and an earful of secrets.

I never grew out of the "horse phase". In fact I took two years off from my University studies to compete full-time in the sport of Eventing, which includes Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping. But in 2002 I graduated from University and began working professionally in the D.C. office of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). Riding and horses were put away as real-life issues came into focus and left little time and money for hobbies. Soon I found myself volunteering in Israel where I met, fell in love with and married my best friend - and in case you were wondering, he doesn't have four legs this time.

I've never been sorry with my decision to put horses on the back burner and focus on issues larger than myself. God has a way of blessing us as we strive to live for his purposes. Still, I have missed riding and always hoped that God would someday bring horses across my trail once more.

Well, as I was saying, my husband and I decided to move to Israel in April. Packing up your life and transferring it to another country is no small feat and requires weighing the worth of each and every possession. I weighed our suitcases again and again, constantly adjusting the contents to meet the weight limits. Throughout the process my mom kept nudging me about my riding boots. My family has always been my biggest supporter taking me from this competition to that testing and caring for my horse when I was sick or away. After my mom's encouragement, I decided to at least try and squeeze in my boots, gloves and helmet. After some finagling, shoving and sitting on the suitcase in order to zip in all the chaos, my horse equipment was packed. I mean who needs so many pairs of pants, purses and high heels when you can stuff a dream into your suitcase?

A few years back, when volunteering in Israel, I passed a riding stable on a road number 2 and wondered at the possibility of one day again finding myself on the back of one of God's most majestic animals, looking at Israel from about 5 feet off the ground.

Well, just a couple weeks ago my sweet husband planned a surprise birthday gift for me, a horseback ride along the Mediterranean Sea- something I always dreamed of doing. Just outside of Zichon Yacov, is a small Kibbutz that offers just that. It was lovely and I highly recommend it for riders and non-riders alike. There are several options I have listed below:

Ramot Ranch - Moshav Ramot...(North)
Nimrod Ranch - Kibbutz Kfar Giladi...(North)
Vered Hagalil Ranch ...(North)
Dubi's Ranch - Kibbutz Ramot Menashe...(North)
Bat Yaar Ranch - Mitzpe Amoka...(North)
Golan Riders - Kibbutz Ortal...(North)
Havatzelet Hasharon - Moshav Havatzelet HaSharon...(Med.Coast)
Cactus Ranch - by Michmoret...(Med.Coast)
Kalia Stables - Kibbutz Kalia...(South)

After doing a little research, I recently discovered that the very riding stable I saw a few years back on road number 2 is actually located just minutes from our home in Ra'anana. It is called the Jockey Club, http://www.jockeyclub.co.il, and it is one of the nicest riding stables in Israel. The owner is Franke de Leede who helped me to acquire a special certification from the Israeli Equestrian Federation and the Israel Ministry of Sport to teach riding lessons here in Israel based on my US Certification.

As exciting as getting that approval was, it still did not afford me the opportunity to actually ride. However, last week as my husband and I were jogging we ran across another small farm. Just a 10 minute walk from our home is another small stable called Chavat Chaim, Or "Life Farm" http://www.life-farm.co.il/. They offer dressage lessons as well as Therapeutic riding for people with disabilities.

The owners are Shlomi and Freida and they are the kindest of people, who have also provided a horse for me to ride in exchange for his training. His name is "Boco" and he is also quite ready to share my carrots and hear my secrets. It is quite amazing for me to see how God brought horses back to me in a very unexpected way and in a practically unthinkable place. I am also very thankful for my mom who kept encouraging me to bring those riding boots!

In just about a month the competition season will begin here in Israel and I am looking forward to checking it out. If you are interested in this season's competition schedule and would like to check out one or two of the shows, feel free to email my Travelujah account with any questions.

If you are planning a trip to Israel, I highly recommend viewing the Mediterranean coast from horseback!

Happy Trails!

Here I sit in the Aroma Coffee shop at Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital of Jerusalem blogging away. I thought I would share with you about the modern convenience I enjoy in almost every hospital, shopping mall, coffee shop and airport in Israel - free WiFi. I forget that it isn't standard in other countries, especially in the US, until I return to the frustration of being asked for eight dollars in the airport for an hour on the net. I walk to the Starbucks in JFK to find only the same. I have to pay five dollars for a coffee and another eight just to check a few emails and update my social networking sites to let everyone know my flight has safely landed. For that price I usually forgo the luxury that has become such a given to me in Israel.

Israel has hundreds of "hotspots" or Wi-Fi wireless Internet network connections which allow you to surf the net through your own computer or WiFi mobile phone. If you are planning a trip to Israel and wondering whether or not to take your computers and WiFi phones, the answer is clear. You will most likely find them far more useful here in Israel than you would in, say NYC or most urban centers in the US where you have to pay in each location where you want to hoop-up to the net.

The easy, free access to the net allows you to capture all your moments here in Israel and almost instantaneously share them with your friends and family anywhere in the world. If you have a phone with WiFi access you will find it helpful in all urban areas of Israel and even in remote areas as long as there is a coffee shop and hotel near by.

I doubt that you will have any trouble finding a "hotspot" but if you are the type of person who likes to plan out every step of your travels, then you may find the links below helpful. They will direct you to the major wireless hotspots in the various regions in Israel.

The South (HaDarom)

The Center (HaMerkaz)

The North (HaZafon)

Haifa

Tel Aviv

Jerualem (Yerushalyim)

I suggest hooking up to the net in my favorite coffee shop, Aroma Cafe. It is the "Starbucks" of Israel in terms of popularity, but the coffee, menu and free net make it a far superior choice. I never drank coffee until coming to Israel. But the coffee is excellent - bold, not bitter, with a robust flavor that is almost silky. Nearly every coffee shop in Israel has a full menu of fresh salads, soups, sandwiches and even breakfast omelets. The pastries are made made fresh right in the cafe. You can't visit Israel without sinking your teeth into the warm Aroma chocolate croissant. And you can enjoy all these delights while surfing the Travelujah site for your next adventure in Israel, keeping up-to-date with everyone back at home and adding pictures from your dip in the Dead Sea or trek in the Golan Heights.

Thanks to Israel's nationwide Internet access, you can be a world away and still feel like you are connected to everyone and everything you need. I am still amazed at how technologically advanced this nation is. There is certainly a clash of ancient and modern here. Maybe it is best to describe it as a co-existence. It is fascinating to see how Israel can preserve the ancient while keeping pace with the modern. If you are fortunate enough to visit Jerusalem, be sure to walk down Ben Yehuda street and keep an eye out for the Franciscan monk, clad in a long brown robe, with a rope belt and leather sandels, who likes to frequent a stone bench where he is often seen surfing the net on his portable PC. I love this city! 

I just went grocery shopping and I don't know whether to be proud of myself or ashamed. You see, I've learned how to be more assertive here in Israel and today I made use of that education. I've explained in earlier entries that waiting in lines follows the, "survival of the fittest" rule here in Israel. I am not one to try and push past another, but most assuredly I will not be pushed upon either.I don't know into which category today's grocery store experience fits.

It was actually a quiet evening and few shoppers filled my local Mega grocery store. I grabbed a basket, foregoing the cart to make sure I get just the few things that I need. As usual, it was a mistake. My basket became very heavy with a 2 litter bottle of orange juice and some other heavy items.   I came to the check-out line for 20 items or less. Even though the majority of people here see that sign as a suggestion rather than a rule, I was pretty sure I was in no danger of violating the law of the line. 

There was one man in font of me, but the last of his items were being scanned and he was getting out his wallet to pay. I glanced down at a basket full of food sitting on the floor. I surveyed the area to see if there was a person nearby to whom the basket belonged. I consider this almost obsessively thoughtful according to what is acceptable in the push and shove of Israeli lines. Not seeing anyone, and having a heavy basket in hand and an open conveyor belt in front of me, I stepped passed the lone basket and began emptying my items onto the belt.

By the time my goodies were on the belt and the cashier was beginning to make eye contact with me to ask for my membership card, a lady appeared and gave me a glare that let me know I had deeply offended her sense of justice.   She asked in broken Hebrew if I had "passed" her. Hearing her obvious American accent I answered in English and explained that no one was here and therefore I could not have "passed" anyone. What did she expect at that point anyway? The cashier smiled and continued checking my items. The lady behind me said in a low but superior voice that she was there just minutes ago. I shrugged my shoulders and began packing my bags, as I thought in my head all the things I could say to put her in her proper place but of course said nothing.

Now to be honest, I think that even if I had been living in the US, I would not have waited at an open checkout line for a self-centered someone who is running around to find a last minute item expecting everyone else, including the cashier to wait on her. But here in Israel, the notion is preposterous. It isn't even a question, it's a joke.

Two thoughts came into my mind. First, I thought where is this lady from and when did she stumble off the plane? The second, was the extreme difference in the way Americans and Israelis argue. Both the American woman behind me, and myself made our points with subtle body language and few words quietly, yet pointedly spoken. Our stiffened posture and occasional piercing glances conveyed how miffed we were at one another. Had we been true Israelis there would have probably been a moment of raised voices and expressive hand gestures. Israelis seem to be able to state their points bluntly and somehow end up better friends for it.  

In fact, had the person behind me been Israeli, he would have respected me more because I didn't let him walk over me. Once, while I was shopping in Jerusalem, I decided to move from the back of one line to the back of another line that seemed to be moving faster. I was not the only one to notice and soon the man who had been in front of me in the other line jumped to my new line.

He tapped my shoulder and tried to tell me that he was in front of me. I was a little shocked and needed a few second to answer, which felt more like a minute as I tried to shift through the logic in my head. After coming to the conclusion that this man was completely out of line (pun intended), I looked him straight in the eye and said, "ha! in that line, but now you're behind me." He smiles and laughed a little. I guess you can't blame him for trying.

I may be obviously western but I am becoming less naive to the realities of life in Israel.   The poor woman behind me in the grocery store needs a few lessons of her own and I wouldn't mind witnessing a few of them. She seems like a first-class traveler who is having a shocking time not having the red carpet status on the ground here in Israel. She will have to learn soon enough that on the streets and in the stores of Israel, there is no first-class line - just one line and you better not leave an empty space. 

Still, I can't decide if to celebrate my boldness or do penitence for my brass behevior. This coming into your own in a diffirent culture can be complicated. I don't know, what do you say?

Just off of road 65, outside the town of Afula, is a beautiful reserve of wildflowers beside the Megido Airport. In Hebrew the flowers are called kalaniot, the English word is anemone. I am not a specialist on flowers and have never heard of anemone before yesterday but that didn't keep me from enjoying the  beauty of these flowers found in northern Israel during the winter months of the year.

In general winter is my least favorite time of the year. I enjoy the season through Christmas and the new year but find the months from January to March something to tolerate rather than enjoy. I moved to Israel from northern, VA, just outside of D.C. where the winters there are cold, gray, and more often than not, muddy rather than snowy.

Winter in Israel is vastly different. It is the most green and lush time of year. As my husband, Yuval, and I drove to the North yesterday, I was astonished that the countryside was so alive. The fields were almost fluorescent as the sun shone down on them. Our target was the Galilee, but as we drove through Afula Yuval asked if I would like to stop and see some flowers. I'm ashamed to say that at first I just wanted to keep driving but the little saying "you should stop to smell the roses" came to mind and I quickly took his offer.

I was so thankful that I did. We drove down a gravel road into a wooded area with cars parked in every imaginable spot, as is usual in Israel. We managed to get a parking place for our car and found our way to a place where the wooded area gave way to an open field carpeted with delicate flowers of multiple colors. The area was packed with local tourists.

I was happy that so many people were out enjoying God's creations. I also laughed a little as I thought to myself, this is so typical Israeli. Israelis love to be "out" and "doing" but once they get to their destination they don't seem to want to spread out and explore. I am sure many of these Israelis drove quite far to see the flowers but only few of them ventured down the other wooded paths surrounding the open field of flowers. Americans feel intensely uncomfortable being "too close" to one another whereas Israelis seem to thrive on the community aspect of life. I don't think they have ever met a stranger, especially not while in their own land of Israel. I am learning to appreciate both ways of life.

Yuval and I decided to go farther into the woods. As we drifted further away from the crowd it was almost magical. The sun rays danced through the branches of the trees and we were met by a gentle, fregrant breeze. The anemone or kalaniot decorated the entire wooded area with a quiet beauty and I felt for a moment like I was in J.R.R. Tolkein's "Shire" - The little green village of hobbits in Middle Earth.

The experience has inspired me to come home to Ra'anana and manage my patch of earth on my balcony a bit better. Yuval and I continued on to our destination, but looking back I think that stop was the highlight of my day as we took the time to revel in God's artwork. Yesterday was an object lessons. It is true that we should live life as if the journey is the destination. 

If you are planning a trip to Israel, you may want to consider winter months - especially if you are a nature lover. The weather can be a little unpredictable with some cool temperatures and possible rain, but if that doesn't bother you, you will see an entirely different Israel than that of the summer months. And if you are from a cold climate, it could be a perfect break from the snow and ice.

If you do come in the winter, be sure to stop and experience the anemone!

"Sof, Sof" or "finally" I finished my five month course in modern Hebrew. Along with hundred of other new immigrants, I studied at the Absorption Center here in Ra'anana. To me, the best part was the social interaction. I have made friendships that I think will last a lifetime. It is so helpful to meet people who have also left their countries and families and lifestyle. We share so much in common. The one thing that is different is that I think I am the only Christian.

Because it is an absorption center, about 99.9% of the people there are new Jewish immigrants. I wouldn't suspect otherwise in the Jewish nation of Israel. But my friends have made me feel quite welcome and we have very interesting cultural and religious conversations. Nicole is from Columbia, Lee is from England, Chaim is from France, Tsipi is from Venezuela, Florence is from France, Alona is from the Ukrain and Audry is from the States. And there are even more nations represented in the center which make the whole experience quite enriching on so many levels.

Israel is a phenomenal example of successful assimilation of immigrants. It is a multi-cultural nation with floods of immigrants coming from every corner of the world and speaking dozens of languages with differing symbols and dialects. The daunting task was accomplished through the system of ulpans created to educate new arrivals in Hebrew and thus create, through language, a common bond and identity.

An ulpan is an educational institution run designed specifically for learning Hebrew. Some ulpans are funded by municipalities, others by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, or the Jewish Agency. 

Today in Israel over 6,000,000 Israelis speak, read and write modern Hebrew fluently, but for centuries the language was used only by academics and religious leaders. In fact, the notion of speaking Hebrew on the street was even offensive to some as it was considered a holy, consecrated language not to be reduced to idle talk on the streets.

In 1901, when the ideals of the modern Zionist movement were developing, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda made his way to Israel with the ambition to revive the Hebrew language. He published articles in newspapers and began the Ben Yehuda Dictionary program. His motto was "Hebrew in the homes and schools" as well as "talk and talk."  He worked zealously and fought against aggressive opposition to raise support for his cause - a Jewish nation with Hebrew as the national language.

In 1948 the state of Israel was officially declared and recognized. Among the first actions of Israel's new parliament was the declaration that Hebrew would replace English as the language of the nation. In 1949 the first ulpan in Jerusalem was founded and since then, it is estimated that two million people have learned Hebrew at ulpans throughout Israel.

Israel's success at making Hebrew the common language is due in large part to the ulpan system. In recognition of the innovative, culture-enriched method of teaching the language, many nations have adopted the ulpan framework in attempts to revive their dying languages. Wales, Azerbaijan, Brittany, Catalonia and New Zealand have all duplicated the Israeli ulpan model of instruction. Wales even decided to keep the Hebrew name "ulpan" or "Wlpan" as it is pronounced in Welsh. The actions of these nations demonstrate that Israel's epic achievement in reviving their ancient language is yet further evidence of the powerful influence this little nation wields.

I am privileged to have been a part of this system. Though I have to say, I am happy to put the grammar exercises behind me and put some practical conversation into practice!

Archaeology has always seemed about as interesting as "watching cement set". The only difference being that the building materials were a bit different and much older. My first visit to an excavation site here in Israel has changed my ignorant prejudice. To be honest, the interest didn't happen as soon as I saw the site which looked to me like almost every other uninhabited hill in Israel. It came after I interviewed the leader of the excavation and went home to do some reading. Knowledge is a powerful thing.

I wouldn't have chosen to visit an archaeological site for the fun of it. In fact, I've had the opportunity in the past to visit archaeological digs and never felt the urge to join. I was assigned to cover the story. The interest grew when I realized it was located at an outpost in the West Bank just 3.8 kilometers from Ramallah. "Now there's a story," I thought to myself. Being more in touch with the events of today than those from the Bronze Age, a trip deep inside the West Bank would at least offer some excitement for the day - especially since it was the day after the Gaza Flotilla fiasco and the US Embassy issued a travel alert for Americans to stay away from these areas in case of riots.

I'm very glad to say I was completely mistaken about Biblical archeology - it is fascinating on so many levels. I learned so much from the excursion and I plan to start following archeology here in Israel. I learned that it isn't simply about identifying an old ruin, it is about authenticating the Bible and even the existence of Israel in a world more and more hostile to the idea of both. Now that's enough right there to get my blood pumping!

Dr. Bryant Woods is an archaeologist and research director with Associates for Biblical Research (ABR). He has dedicated his career to the study of archaeological and historical accounts of the conquest period of Israel. He believes he has found the Biblical site of Ai as recorded in Joshua chapter 7 and 8. What makes his discovery even more interesting and vital is that the mainstream archaeological community believes that Ai has already been uncovered at a different location. And that location has led many archaeologists to reject the Biblical account in Joshua because of conflicting evidence.

Dr. Woods is an Evangelical Christian working for ABR and is guided by the same mission and principles articulated by the archaeological organization - to "demonstrate the historical reliability and accuracy of the Scriptures with the conviction that the Bible is the Word of God and, therefore, infallible, inerrant and authoritative in its original writings".

Dr. Woods believed that if the evidence contradicts the Bible, then the search for Ai must continue. In Joshua's account, Ai was a fortress that was attacked after the Israelite victory over Jericho. The first battle against Ai was lost because of sin in the camp. Once the sin was dealt with God told Joshua he would give them the victory. Joshua split the troops in order to put one brigade in front of the fortress to lure the soldiers of Ai out of the city and he stationed another brigade to the rear to take the city by surprise once the soldiers had gone out to battle. The Israelites burned the city and left it in ruins according to the Biblical narrative.

The Ai, located at et-Tell, as identified by William F. Albright in 1924 does not show any evidence of burning or any evidence of Canaanite occupation during the late Bronze Age I period when Joshua made the conquest. Dr. Woods explains that these are recognized discrepancies but explained that the Ai of Dr. Albright matches only 3-4 of more than 12 Biblical requirements for Ai. If you want a full explanation I recommend reading a paper by Dr. Woods here.

The last 20-30 years a stirring controversy has gripped the archaeological sphere surrounding the Bible. Should it be taken as an historically accurate document or simply accepted as a fictitious collection of tales and myths? As I explain in my forthcoming article, "The implications of this split in the archaeological community have yielded significantly different approaches to research and as a result differing conclusions about historical evidence, ancient sites and finally the human narrative."

The work of Dr. Woods is challenging the growing trend toward "Biblical Minimalism" - a movement of scholars who hold that archaeological evidence does not support the biblical version of history and in fact proves to undermine it. Dr. Thomas L. Thompson published a book entitled, The Mythic Past: Biblical Archeology and the Myth of Israel. In it he writes, "We can say now with considerable confidence that the Bible is not a history of anyone's past." He goes on to conclude that "the story of the chosen and rejected Israel that it presents is a philosophical metaphor" and that the Bible is not an historical document.

The unearthed pile of rocks and rubble that I stood on have taken on new significance for me as my understanding is increasing regarding the importance of such a find. Just as specified in Joshua chapters 7 and 8, there was evidence of a fortified wall, a northern gate, pottery from the Canaanite period and a host of reddened bedrock revealing a massive fire in the past. Pieces of pottery have been "re-fired" and are now as hard as cement. The geographical information also matches each specification in the Bible.

Dr. Woods said he and his team are fighting what he called the "Third Battle for Ai." This little fortified city has once again become strategic in the fight for the Israel's inheritance in the Land. If Dr. Woods can gain recognition and acceptance for his findings it will yield a great blow to the Biblical minimalists who would argue that the Bible is a myth and the people of Israel a fabrication.

Archeology rocks! I went home and read my Bible and now I can really visualize the whole battle for Ai! It is like I am standing along side Joshua surveying the situation for the second battle for Ai. The third battle is indeed raging at Ai and across the world. I guess this little blog entry is my small contribution to the battle. Archeology demonstrates once again that God and science are not opposed. Science continues to reveals the truth of God's creation and its history for those who will closely examine the evidence.

You can read more specifics in the July issue of the Jerusalem Post Christian Edition. If anyone is interesting in joining Dr. Woods on a trip to Israel to tour and help with the excavation you can find more information at the following link. A trip is already scheduled for late May and early June of next year. I highly recommend it.

Many people calling themselves Christians throughout history have taught incorrectly that God has rejected his people and that the church has replaced Israel. This theology directly contributed to egregious acts of violence against the Jewish people in the name of Christiandom. Christian anti-Semitism creates two victims. It has brought terror and death to numerous Jews, but it also attacks the very heart of Christianity and has led to persecution of many Christians such as Cory Ten-Boom and Martin Niemoller. In some cases Christians gave their lives to defend their faith and the Jewish people, as was the case for German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer who helped Jews escape Germany during the reign of Hitler. He also was advisor to a high-level assasination attempt on Hitler that eventually brought about his arrest. He was sent to prison and later to a concentration camp where he was killed just days before liberation of that camp.

Paul warns against Christian arrogance in Romans. He uses an olive tree to illustrate the relationship of the gentiles to the Jews. He refers to the roots as the Jewish covenants and promises. The natural branches are the Jews. Paul reminds us that we gentiles are not the natural branches of the olive tree but have been grafted in.

Paul says, "Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the roots but the root that supports you...so do not become proud, but stand in awe" (Romans 11:18,20).

All that we hold dear God gave to us through the Jews. Paul says again in his letter to the Romans:

"They are the Israelites and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen"(9:4).

God's word commands us that we are to stand with Israel (Gen 12:3), comfort her (Isaiah 40:1) and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (PS 122:6).

It isn't just Ahmadinijad and most of the Arab world that is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic. The world at large is growing increasingly intolerant of Israel. But why? The nations are coming against Israel because the they are against God and his redemptive plans for the world. God has established Israel as a sign to the world to testify of His glory (Isaiah 49:3,6).

This is just one of the promise upon which we stand. In Numbers 23:19, Moses wrote, "God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He prophecy and not fulfill?"

The restoration of Israel to her ancient soil is evidence that there is hope and redemption for this world and when we stand with Israel, we stand with the purposes of God.

It is easy to watch the events unfolding in the world today regarding Israel and lose hope. Just the very existence of the State and her Jewish citizens incite anger and violence. However, it is the very existence of Israel and the Jewish people that gives us hope!  For Israel points to the existence of a covenant-keeping God who has not forgotten his promises.

This morning I picked up the Jerusalem Post to read the headline, "PM expected to draw connections between Iran's nukes and Holocaust." The article goes on to quote other leaders. "Merkel to Peres in Berlin: "Teheran's time is up." Today is the official United Nations Holocaust Remembrance Day and also the anniversary of the historic liberation of Auschwitz.  I expected to see historic articles throughout the paper, but the main thrust of today's headlines is a, not so subtle, warning that a second holocaust is waiting around the corner if the world does not act in some measure, and very quickly.

I find it eerie that on this day that we remember the atrocities of the past, we are confronted with a present day threat that could potentially kill more people in a few minutes then Hitler and his SS guards did in several years.  On Tuesday, at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu wrote in the guestbook, "The people of Israel have learned their lesson." I do not doubt his words, but I question whether the world has learned its lesson as well.

This past summer I visited Dachau concentration camp right outside of Munich. It was my first visit to a concentration camp memorial. There is much to say on this subject, but that is for another blog on another day. But I remember feeling like I had stepped onto the set of some horror movie. The heinous acts that were done there make the rational mind swim and finally go numb. I didn't cry as I made my way through the man-made hell. I thought that the walks through the cramped housing units, gas chambers and crematorium would be very emotional, but I found that my senses were frozen. It was not until after I was away from it all that I could sort through my feelings. Even now, I have not fully unpacked the experience.

Toward the end of the tour, my group was lead to a large stone memorial with the words "Never Again" written in English, Hebrew, French, German and Russian. "Never Again." I feel that our world is so detached from the atrocities and is so certain that the modern, educated world citizens of today could never return to such barbarism. But it was the most modern and educated people who masterminded the holocaust. Wishing hatred away has never been a successful strategy as history proves again and again.

I would like to believe the world has learned its lesson. But if it has not, have the Christians learned theirs? I often wonder what I would have done had I lived as a European Christian during the Second World War. Would I have been like Corrie Ten Boom who hid Jewish people in her home and marched bravely to a concentration camp when she and her family were caught? Could I have publically spoken against Hitler like German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose involvement in a plot to overthrow Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution in 1945.

Or would I be part of the silent mass of Christians who quietly dissented from Hitler. Those who abhorred his government, his policies and his practices but who would never scratch below the surface afraid of what they might find. Would I have been content to be dissatisfied but passive?

The answer may come more quickly than I would like. We may all have a decision to make very soon. We do live in a period in history where there is virulent hatred toward Israel and her Jewish citizens and where there is a madman spewing numerous promises to wipe Israel from the map. The scenario, while similar to WWII, is different. Our response cannot be the same. We are not Germans and the man making speeches of hatred is not our leader. How do we respond?

I wish I knew. But one thing I do know is that when we are faced with Anti-Semitism of any kind, we must speak out. When the nation of Israel is verbally attacked for the crime of existing, we must answer in defense.  And if ever called upon to shoulder the burden of the Jewish people, we must be ready.

 It was Deitrich Bonhoeffer who said, "It is the fellowship of the cross to experience the burden of the other. If one does not experience it, the fellowship he belongs to is not Christian. If any member refuses to bear that burden, he denies the law of Christ."

If any man has a right to make such a bold statement it is he. As I honor this day of rememberance, it is my earnest prayer that if confronted with the choice, we Christians will answer as strongly as the Corrie Ten Booms and Bonhoeffers who have gone before us.

 "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Proverbs 24:11-12

I was in the Old City of Jerusalem on Tuesday when the latest riots broke out. Days like these always serve as a reality check. I was interviewing Christian Arabs for an upcoming article. I was quite safe. Except for the added police force at Jaffa gate, and the abnormally quiet markets, I felt no difference in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. The focus of the riots has been around the Temple Mount and in the Muslim quarter. After Friday prayers, many young Palestinian men began throwing rocks down from the Temple Mount and Israeli security forces intervened. The situation got progressively tense as Israel closed the Temple Mount to all tourists and the mosque to worshipers under 50. On Tuesday clashes broke out. Things are now quiet again and the mosque and Temple Mount reopened to all.

On Tuesday I was close to the area, but far enough that I felt no fear. I did, however, leave the area and my interviews with a renewed realization that I am living and working in an intense conflict region. While I do have strong and well defined political views, I would like to share something much more critical to the situation in my estimation. That is, how do we Christians relate on a personal level to the people behind the conflict? Though I am no scholar or teacher of the Bible, I have a few insights as a Christian living in Israel that I would like to share with you. There are some Biblical principles that help guide me as I navigate the intense situation here that directly affects every relationship.

One of the greatest failings I see among some Christians in how they relate to the Middle East conflict is that as they begin to identify with one group, they often begin to despise the other. There are those who sympathize with the Arab Palestinians and refer to Israelis as barbarians. One friend told me that she "doesn't have a sympathetic bone in her body for any Israeli." She is a Christian friend I met in a Christian university program. She had several biblical references on "justice" that she used to fuel her palpable anger and fury at all Israeli citizen.

On the other hand there are Christians who identify with the Jewish nation but have angry undertones as they refer to Arabs in generalities and link them automatically to terrorism and thus feel justified to direct their anger toward them as a whole. I heard one person claim Arabs to be cursed of God.

I am not saying that it is wrong to have a political view on the subject and even to work hard to advance the cause you feel is just and right. I personally believe Israel has every right to the land from a secular, political perspective as well as from a Biblical point of view. I think that Arab nations are abusing their Palestinian brothers and using them as human weapons of suffering in a war of attrition against Israel. That is my view of the political situation. But every political situation is made up of individuals, many of whom have very little say or impact in what their government decides to do.

As Christians, our greatest responsibility is to love. Jesus said that you will know my disciples by their love. I Corinthians 13 lists that many gifts of the Spirit but concludes with "the greatest of these is love." Earlier in the passage is says "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." Love should not be confused with condoning unjust behavior. However, is it not possible to confront behavior without despising and hating the person?  

I am married to an Israeli and will some day become a citizen of the country as well. I love the nation of Israel for so many reasons. It is a land of religious and cultural freedom. In fact in my interview with one of the Christian Arabs in the Old City, I cannot mention his name, he told me that many Christian Palestinians are fleeing the West Bank areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority because of religious persecution. Where are they going? Would you believe Jerusalem? He told me that they are safe under Israeli rule, but their lives are endangered in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Last year a Christian Arab in Gaza was beheaded for having a Bible Study in his home. Many more are persecuted and threatened.

I also meet with other Christian Arabs who are opposed to Israel on several levels and issues. They are often even skeptical of the organization where I work, which publicly expresses support for the nation of Israel. But when they see that I can support Israel and still offer to bring a group to clean their community center or pick up trash in their neighborhood, they look at me with an incredulous smile and are willing to accept our gestures of love. One of my favorite things I help to plan - among many other projects directed to the Jews, Arabs, Sudanese refugees, etc - are day camps for Arab children in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is an amazing time to reach out and love both Christian and Muslim Arab children. (Photos below are from Grafted ICEJ outreaches in the Old City)

People do not have to give up their views in order to love. I think this is, at times, our sticking point as humans. We have a tendency to think people must agree with us in order to receive our love. Or we think we must condone all things in order to love all people. It is possible to walk as Jesus walked. He held to every standard of the law and yet there was not one person he did not love.

John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not parish but have eternal life."

God's gift through Jesus Christ is for All the world. It transcends race, culture and creed. He is the maker and sustainer of the world, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and His gift of love is for all people and not one person is beyond His touch.

I do believe God has ordained governments and leaders to establish standards of justice and even engage in wars to confront injustice when necessary. But we as individuals, we must never hate or despise, any person or group of people. I think we all know this, but we must test even our most subtle inclinations. Personally, I know I need to grow in many areas in my own life and to love beyond all boundaries. It is not easy. We must not love from our own strength, but rather let the perfect love of God flow through us. We must be God's ministers of love until the day He comes to establish His rule of peace and justice in the world as the prophet Isaiah spoke of, when "swords will be beaten into plowshares."

There are mighty forces and ideologies at work in the world, but none greater than love. I leave you with a portion of a song that has been my guide since I decided to come and live and work in Israel. It is entitled "Instruments of Peace". I often refer back to it on difficult days when the situation here seems so complicated and wearisome and I realize that what lies within me will never be enough. I am but an instrument in the hands of God. We are totally reliant on His love, His peace and His light.

Where there is hatred, we will show His love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak His peace
To the millions crying for release,
We will be His instruments of peace...

Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight
where there is darkness, we will shine His light
Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief
To the millions crying for relief,
We will be Your instruments of peace.

Today I went to the Ministry of Interior and renewed my permanent residency visa. I am still trying to figure out why something with the title "permanent" needs to be renewed, but I guess bureaucracy is the same in every country. It has been just about a year since I really "settled" in Israel. I was in and out before, but the past year was my first official, I have a Taudat Zaut (National Israeli ID), year in Israel. I thought it would be appropriate to review the past year and mention some of my most outstanding memories and invaluable lessons.

Probably the most numerous experiences were those connected with holidays. It seems there is always something to celebrate or mourn or commemorate. I think that is one of my favorite things about life in Israel. While all the Hagim or Holidays are special, I think one stands out as the most unique - the ha yoreah or "first rains". Where I come from rain is a good thing, but we often are frustrated by it when it ruins our plans. There is an abundance of rain and it is not often celebrated. This past September when the first rains fell in Israel I was in Zichon Yacov eating in a restaurant with friends. The place erupted in clapping and singing as torrential rain began pelting the windows. People love to become drenched in the rains that fall only 3-4 months of the year. After 8-9 months of no rain, those first drops are golden!

The most stunning memory would have to be my sunset horseback ride on the Mediterranean Sea. It has always been a dream of mine to ride along the shore and my husband helped make that dream come true on my birthday. What is so spectacular about the Mediterranean Sea is that the Sun sets right into the water giving the impression of a ball of fire sinking into the colorful sun kissed waters.

The funniest thing to happen to me was a "drive by fruiting". One day Yuval and I were driving on Achuza, the main street of Ra'anana, and I noticed a little yellow convertible filled with fresh fruits and vegetables coasting along beside of us. I laughed a little at the sports car turned agricultural vehicle. My amusement caught the attention of the driver who motioned for me to lower the window. For the next few traffic lights he would toss fresh strawberries, oranges and pears into our window with a huge smile. That's a memory that will last a lifetime.

My most embarrassing moment involves a tale of two horses. I have to say that immigrating to a new country is not for the faint of heart. You really start from ground zero. People have no idea of anything you accomplished prior to coming and you have to build a reputation from the ground up. This becomes even harder when a fluke accident happens that could decimate your credibility....such is the situation involving a lovely horse named Lucifer. If I had any doubts, I now know that there truly is something in a name. I was at a premier stable where I had been given a green-light to ride the school horses to give them better training. To make a long story short, before I mounted Lucifer I loosed his girth to straighten the saddle and boom! The next thing I know the saddle and I are lying on the ground and the horse is bolting to the barn. That was fun trying to explain that one to the owner of the facility. They did allow me to continue with the second horse, Shlomo or "Solomon", who, according to Biblical precedent, behaved much better than Lucifer and saved my reputation.

On the flip side of that, I would say the event I am most proud of in the past year is my bold attempt to teach riding lessons in Hebrew. I had a rather rough beginning but I persisted, giving my students full rights to correct all my mistakes. While I still lapse into a bit of Hebrish (Hebrew/English), I am now able to teach young children who do not speak any English at all. I still make many mistakes but I am quite proud of the progress.

The experiences most foreign to me are all those relating to war. Just yesterday there was a country-wide war drill involving air raid sirens. When we heard the sirens we were supposed to practice the procedures we would go through if there were a real attack. I scooped up my cat and walked to our personal bomb shelter where we have stored a few bottles of water, cans of dry food and of course the government issued gas masks. We make fun of people in the US have have these kinds of places in their homes. In Israel you're an idiot of you don't. Sadly, I think the US had better be prepared as well. It is always better to have and not need than to need and not have.

I guess a review of the past year would be incomplete without mentioning how I have learned to hold my own in lines - a subject of more than one of my previous blogs. I still have not managed to say no to those people behind me with one item who want to pass through. They hand me the exact money, ask the cashier to scan the item on my account and rush out of the store. The first time it happened I had mixed feelings. Part of me wanted defend my spot and say "What chutzpa! Stand down!". But the other part that said, "What a brilliant idea" won over. The tax is already included in the sticker price, it doesn't cost me any extra time, and the person with one item is able to pass by quickly. It works! I've almost wanted to do the same, but just can't bring myself to ask. Maybe by this time next year - but I don't think so.

The list could go on. Experiencing a new culture creates untold opportunities to laugh at oneself and to grit one's teeth at the frustration of circumstances beyond one's control and understanding . I am thankful that my experiences this past year in Israel have brought many more laughs than tears.

It is a great country! And it is beginning to feel more and more like home. Thanks to my readers who follow my blog and take the time to comment. Knowing I can share my moments with you keeps me laughing and gives me the boldness I need to try new things. Thanks for walking through this year with me!

Sometimes it isn't the ancient stones that are the most exciting news out of Israel, though the ruins from times gone by have a weighty significance. The story of Israel is as new as it is ancient. It spans human history and continues forward in ways that we can share in and impact. Today the people are living stones which communicate a unique story about what God is doing in our time.

Tomorrow's history is created by today's activity and it is ready to be molded by those who will actively pursue it. The Grafted tour of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) is the perfect event to join if you are a young adult and want to contribute to the story of Israel. Grafted was started by our director, Liesl Hedding Maas, in 2003 as a global vehicle for young adults to express their love and support for Israel through practical educational and social programs. In January I joined the team as the Jerusalem Coordinator and project manager. It has been an incredible experience and really culminated in the July Summer Hands-On Tour.

We had 24 participants representing 13 different nations. The international aspect of the tour is one of its greatest strengths, though there are many. We engaged in a variety of service projects including a house make-over for a woman rescued from human trafficking, a musical program for Holocaust survivors, a fun-filled day camp for children of Sudanese refugees that have fled persecution and war in South Sudan, a cleaning project in the Muslim quarter of East Jerusalem, and a gardening project for an orphanage in an orthodox Jewish neighborhood..

I think I will take the next few blogs to share a few more details about the projects. Below are a few pictures from the projects.

Grafted’s purpose is to connect, equip and engage Christian young adults around the world to stand with the Nation of Israel based on God’s Word. It accomplish this through multiple programs including educational tours to Israel, the Jerusalem internship, the 232 Leadership program, International speaking tours, and multiple media outlets such as their website, blog, newsletters and social networking sites..

The yearly Feast of Tabernacles tour invites the rising generation to come to Israel and explore the land of the Bible, learn from internationally renowned speakers and theologians, and discover or renew their spiritual life and calling. The tour has brought from 60 to120 people from multiple nations for the past seven years..

The annual summer “Hands-On” tour provides our groups with the opportunity to meet and interact with many aspects of Israeli society. It provides meaningful service opportunities for the group to contribute to Israeli communities through projects which include working in community centers, soup kitchens, youth villages, African Refugee villages and hospitals to name a few. One of our most celebrated outreaches is the adoption of a Holocaust survivor. Grafted members throughout the world send regular contributions so that Grafted may give a monthly contribution to help sustain and bless our adopted survivor. .

Since starting in 2003, over a thousand young adults have come and visited the Nation of Israel on Grafted tours and events to learn more about the people, the land and their responsibility as Christians to support the Nation of Israel. Grafted educates young people from all corners of the globe about Israel’s unique calling, political situation and social issues while encouraging the rising generation of young professionals to confront the challenges of their day and to be a voice of love, hope and restoration to the people of Israel..

Thousands of people flock to Israel each year to walk to Via Dolorosa, stand atop the Mt. Of Beatitudes, hike to the top of Massada and maybe partake in an archaeological dig of some ancient biblical ruin. These are all incredible experiences and I highly recommend them. But when you make it to this amazing land, I encourage you not to overlook the living stories that are happening all around you..

If you are between the ages of 18 to 30ish, consider the Grafted tour! The 2010 Feast of Tabernacles tour is still open for registration. Check it out at www.grafted.org.