Israel Day 5 - May 5, 2023

 We have been so busy that I fell behind on the blog! So I will pick up where we left off!!

Today we left the desert and our hotel in Mitzpe Ramon and headed north toward Jerusalem. The high temperature in the desert today was 96 F, so our guide changed our plans to avoid being in the direct sun for too long. 

 

We began traveling toward Jerusalem and we were told that a “surprise” was in store for us. We stopped at a little neighborhood very close to the Gaza Strip and met a man named Yaron Bob. Yaron, who is also a computer teacher, lives right on the border with Gaza and Egypt, in the small moshav of Yated, where he has both his studio and home. When Kassam rockets are fired into Israel from Gaza, Yaron gathers shards of metal from the missiles and turns them into pieces of art, including Judaica, jewelry, and rose-adorned sculptures and candlesticks.

 

Yaron told us his story – his fascination with melting metal, his artistic aspirations, his desire to literally “turn swords into plowshare” – turn tools of war into instruments of peace.

We sat in his workshop as he talked about how he uses art for himself and others to try to relieve the stress of living in a place in which rockets from Gaza are a frequent occurrence. His work has been given to statespeople, diplomats, artists, museums, and people from throughout the world. His work is exquisite – and the fact that he uses his talent as an instrument of peace makes him a very unique. His studio and organization are known as Rockets into Roses. We all bought wonderful gifts and beautiful pieces that will remind us of our incredible encounter with this extraordinary man who donates so much of his time, works regularly with children with disabilities, and maintains hope that someday there will be peace.

 

We boarded the bus and drove “up” toward Jerusalem. Jerusalem is “elevated” in so many ways – physically, geographically, spiritually, and religiously. We stopped at a delicious restaurant right outside of Jerusalem owned by Arabs and experienced one of the most delicious lunches ever! We enjoyed dishes that we had never seen or heard of before but loved. We even got a couple of recipes so that, with the right spices, we could make these delightful dishes at home. 

 

After lunch, we were ready for Jerusalem! We settled into our hotel and enjoyed a bit of time before Shabbat – the cool breeze and slightly overcast skies were a relief from the desert heat.

 

We then walked together to the nearby Har El Synagogue, the first Reform synagogue in Jerusalem. We were warmly welcomed by the clergy and leaders of the synagogue, and much of the service and music felt very familiar to all of us. Reform Judaism in Israel is a “new” and growing phenomenon and each year there are more liberal congregations that emerge in the State, offering Israelis and those from outside the State a different approach to Judaism than what has been a predominantly religious and “secular” Jewish homeland. After a delicious and lively Shabbat dinner at a nearby restaurant, we headed back to the hotel – tired but excited that we were in the “Holy City.”