Israel Spring 2007. A lovely Mural in my digs Beautiful but wastes too much water – A prized commodity in Israel.

Israel Spring 2007

A lovely Mural in my digs

Beautiful but wastes too much water –A prized commodity in Israel

Yigal Alon Center & Ancient Boat

Museum Entrance

A place to teach new soldiers their A place to teach new soldiers their historyhistoryAnd why they are important!And why they are important!

History of founding of Israel in Galilee

Jesus Boat Staff

A GREAT shop!

View of the Galilee from the Museum

Beauty of Spring in Galilee

Mat 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Chorazin Archeological Dig

Ancient Structure

Row of Columns on streetRow of Columns on street

Ancient Storage buildings

Mat 23:2-3 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on

MOSES SEAT: (3) all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.

Synagogue Capital

Synagogue Columns

Beautiful Countryside

Traveling further North to -Metula, Northern Border with Lebanon

Base of Hermon in Lebanon

Blockades left from war

Military Intelligence

Deployment Base at Border

View of Mount Hermon, Northern Approach

Northern Extent of Hula Valley

Trees Burned from WarTrees Burned from War

More Beautiful Scenery

Next day – Starting down the Jordan Valley Road

The Beautiful Land

Morning Haze over the mountains

Hills of Jordan in Distance

Lush Green from Winter Rains

My Jerusalem Abode –The Gershon Agron Guest House

Great Synagogue

SuperSol Grocery

Independence

Park

Har HaBayit – The Kotel By NightThe Footstool of the Holy One

The Approach to the Southern Steps Of the Temple Mount by Night

Ben Gurion Arrivals HallMeeting our Sar El Crew

Coffee while you wait for all the NEW arrivals

Madrichot with Waiting Volunteers

On our base, getting our

epilates

Our “Tough” CommandersWith Gigi

Our “tough” commanders with Gigi and Irwin

Waiting for our First Weekend offWaiting for our First Weekend off

This is Ben Yehuda Friday before Noon This is Ben Yehuda Friday before Noon – – Should Be BUSTLINGShould Be BUSTLING

Empty Coffee Shop

One of Many Empty Shops

Poor Upkeep & ConditionsPoor Upkeep & Conditions

Not much Improved fromTwo years ago

Away from the tourist center –Some more familiar & better kept buildings

The beautiful beach

Not much Shabbat preparations here

King David’s Tower – on the beach

Mike’s Place – Bombed out But up and running

American Embassy – ReallyBelongs in Jerusalem

Amid the problems – Still GREAT architecture

City of Contrasts

Did I say – Contrasts?

City of SadnessThe Dolphinarium – One of the First

BIG Terror Attacks of this Intifada

Any Empty Memorial

At least the Shuk is closed on ShabbatAt least the Shuk is closed on Shabbat

Yesterday there was a real crowd

You CAN find anything in the Shuk!

And in the nearby shops – anyone for a “bong”?

Things are much more revealing than they used to be!

Graffiti rears its head as well

But Families and pets are still here

Some still strive for a sense of spirituality

Some for humor

Some for a relationship

As the Shabbat ends

We prepare to return to our Base and work

Home Sweet Home

The Volunteer’s Quarters

The luxurious Madrichot’s Room

The Volunteer’s concrete barracks

Our humble abode with Perry on the side

Another barracks room

The view down “main street”

Some critical players -

Like David And Peggy

And the ever popular – Avraham Benzion

AKA - Benzi

A major work area for packaging supplies

Hard working volunteers -

Margie And Daniel

The entire volunteer family

But it isn’t ALL workThere are some great day trips, Like to ammunition hill

Even grown men like to play on tanks

These are the trenches the IDF fought & died in, in 67

Aviv, our guide, narrates this heroic battle for us

We end with the memorial to those lost in battle

As we leave, a group of new inductees come

To hear the story of the miracles of God’s Land

And why what they do is of utmost importance

A sobering experience calls for a break

It is Malcha Mall for supper and R&R

Then back to weightier things

Mount Herzl Cemetery for Israel’s Great ones

Like Chaim Hertzog

Golda Meier

Yitzhak & Leah Rabin

This is but a FEW of the HOST OF HEROES interred on Mount Herzl.

These heroes have died to make it possible

For the Jewish people to return to THE LAND

THE LAND promised by God to His people

in the Torah & Prophets

Our guides for this emotional tour

We thank heaven for another weekend breakAnd a visit to Tel Aviv’s HaCarmel Shuk

The press of the crowd

Even with entertaining puppets

A Shabbat walk shows winter beauty

And the wonder of His creation

Islands of beauty in a metropolis

Vibrant Colors

Mixed with reminders of

Turbulence

Memorial of Rabin’sAssasination

Rabin Square, Tel Aviv

Set in the midst of a normal residential neighborhood

A home for anyone

But some are more creative and imaginative

As the weekend ends, so does our Sar El service

The Ulpan(Hebrew) class

Our lovely Madrichot give certificates

They say thank you and L’hitraot

I leave Sar El and return to Jerusalem

Note the

infamous wall

The wall does exist in Jerusalem

It helps keep bullets out!

Poliltics force many things On Israel

The grave of Oskar Shindler is a good reminder of that

Living in the shadow of the Mt. Of Evil CouncilWhich houses the UN Headquarters

Is a good reminder of that

Just as is looking at the graves onThe Mount of Olives

But then there is PurimA time to remember

And also forget

We remember that the Prophets said that Again the childrenWill play in the streets

And play they do

Parties are held where The scriptures are read

Men sing and danceIn joy to the Lord

Families laugh and enjoy each other

And the beautiful onesRide on abba’s shoulders

But it is in the shadow of God’s holy mountain

Where some scream

destruction

Even when you can see that there is

NONE

His people will persist at HIS HOLY PLACE

They will Pray

They will Wait

HE WILL COME