A Full Day

Today we took a daytrip to the Carmel region near our university - so much packed into one day! We started out the day  Zichron Ya'akov, one of the first areas to be settled by Romanian Jewish immigrants during the First Aliyah ("return to the land") in 1883. The area is now home to Carmel Winery, Israel's largest winery. A Scottish tour guide led our winery tour (great accent!). She not only told us about winemaking process, but also led us through a tasting of five wines. I learned so much! Had no idea that white wine could be made from white, red, or black grapes.

Next we went to a Carmelite Monastery near the location where the prophet Elijah was believed to have had the showdown with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). From there we could overlook the Valley of Jezreel, and in the distance we could see Mount Tabor, where Deborah led the Israelites to victory over Sisera (Judges 4). I always loved that story (Yay for strong women! But boo for guys who don't step it up.) Being here gives me a deeper appreciation for biblical stories I've heard for so many years. So cool!

We also went to a Druze village to learn about their community and do a little shopping. They are an ethnic group with a secretive religion. Some of the Druze are secular and some are religious, and most of their elders today are women. One thousand years ago they "closed" - meaning no one can convert and join their community. They are very discouraged from marrying anyone outside the Druze community or converting to another faith. I wonder how many of them have ever heard the gospel...pray for the Druze.

I also had an answer to prayer today. My research has been coming along very slowly, but our tour guide today happened to be an Orthodox Jewish woman who teaches gender and Jewish law at Bar-Ilan University. How perfect!! She invited me to join her community next Shabbat, and I can interview her and a bunch of other people over the next few weeks. I'm also hoping to interview a few people in Jerusalem, which is where I'm heading this weekend.

I might not have internet for a few days...so until next time...shalom!