Holiday

The view from the top of Mt. Tabor. It was a hazy day which made everything
 look a bit unreal. But you can see the farmland stretching off into the distance.

In Israel, religion and national image are deeply connected. Due to this connection, the week of the religious holiday of Passover is also a national holiday. The holiday begins with a Seder, a ritual meal including a recounting of the story of Moses. I'll probably be going more into it next year - along with the pagan roots and connections, like I did for Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur this year - See My October 2014 post. But for now, I'm going to talk about my week of adventure.

Inside the church. This was one of
those few places I felt some
connection in, both indoors and out.

This past week, I got to experience panoramas of Israel from the North to the South. After my Seder in Jerusalem, I traveled north to my mother's cousin's house in the moshav of Moledet. A moshav is a living community in which the individuals may share some communal resources, but for the most part live separately. I arrived on Sunday.

Boats in the harbor at the old city of Jaffa. The colors were
simply amazing there.

On Monday, we went to the Church of the Transfiguration, the monastery on top of Mt Tabor. It was the first of many amazing views. I have had the odd experience over the past few weeks in being in many places of religious significance. In many cases, I have not felt any kind of connection to the divine, but the places I have felt connections have not been based on any particular religion. For the most part, they are places I am fairly sure were of religious significance long before the majority religion was monotheist, but I'm trying not to judge.

A boat at the entrance of Jaffa port. On the left you can see the
breakwater that has separated the port from the sea for
thousands of years. 

After Mt. Tabor, we visited the village of Kfar Kama where there is a settlement of Circassian people from the Black Sea region. They are a warrior people, who came the land currently known as Israel as mercenaries with the Ottoman Empire. They are now religiously Muslim, however they still follow many of their traditional customs.

On Tuesday, I got dropped off in Tel Aviv. After a morning in the Flea Market, I wandered along the beach and explored the old city of Jaffa Port. Many people have told me that I would love Tel Aviv; really I didn't think much of it. It is a fairly generic city, though it is very liberal for Israel.

Wednesday was back in Jerusalem. I had made plans to go to Masada, however I got a bit of a sunburn in Tel Aviv, and really just felt like taking it easy.

The Negev is a beautiful desert, it stretches from just south of
Jerusalem to the Red Sea and Eliat.

Thursday I left for the desert.

Naot Semadar is the ninth most southern Kibbutz in Israel. A kibbutz is a communal living situation in which the majority of resources are shared, including meals and regular chores. Naot Semadar also houses the most southern vineyard in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert. The residents have built orchards and pools and a fairy tale-like Art Center. It is a place that is somehow both peaceful and lively. I was reminded again how important community is in my life and, as I felt myself missing my community at home, I also felt the hope and knowledge that I will be able to find or build an amazing community someday that cherishes all of the natural world, including humanity's place in it.

Below are a collection of pictures I took at the Kibbutz, I don't have to words right now to talk about how it felt to be there and how beautiful it was.

These were both taken at one of the many man made pools.
This garden encircles the Art Center, the cooling tower of
which you can see in the left hand picture.

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From the garden at the Art Center

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The Art Center looks like a palace from the Arabian Nights.

Every floor is different, the concrete dyed in bright colors and displayed in beautiful patterns and designs. The entire building is full for curving staircases, arched windows, and beautiful artistry.

The View from the balconies shows off the metalwork of the railings, and the amazing desert context.

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A walk around Naot Semadar shows both the creativity and ingenuity of those living there and the amazing beauty of the landscape.

On my way back to the bus stop to return to Jerusalem.

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