Israel Trip Blog 2015

After another bountiful breakfast buffet, we headed south to Tzfat, long a Jewish spiritual and artistic center. Tzfat is the home of both Isaac Luria, who revolutionized Jewish philosophy through the Kabbalah, and Joseph Caro, who revolutionized Jewish law through the Shulchan Aruch, codifying and simplifying daily Jewish practice. We visited both men's synagogues and also were fortunate to witness a bar mitzvah procession, complete with musicians and hundreds of celebrants. Some of us then perused the art galleries and jewelry boutiques, while others of us rested.

Uri then described the history of the borders of Israel and her neighbors. A simple and delicious lunch was at a falafel and shwarma stand adjacent to a UN office on the Syrian border. 

Overlooking the much contested landscape, we learned more about the 1967 and 1973 wars, and the current situation. Two UN soldiers were stationed within earshot, and they said it was a quiet day today. To fortify us for the trip home, we patronized the elegant "coffee shop in the clouds" (named Coffee Anan. Really.)  and admired the verdant crops growing beneath us.

Now it's time to explore the lush grounds of the beautiful kibbutz that is our temporary home. It is hard to say farewell to the fascinating and stunning Kinneret.