Lost in the hustle-bustle Part I - Wednesday

Wednesday was an awesome day. It began with a glorious sunrise on the Sea of Galilee.
Israeli Memorial Day began at sunset on Tuesday. For our observance of Memorial Day we journeyed to the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights loom over the Rift Valley. It is strategically important inasmuch as Whoever controls the heights controls the valley as well.
In the 1973 War Syria and Egypt coordinated a sneak attack on Israel on Yom Kippur. Egypt tracked from the south, and Syria attacked from the north in an attempt to gain the Golan Heights. Israel was unprepared for the attack. She also had to fight on two fronts.
In the North, the Syrians held a significant advantage in armored divisions. They also had superior equipment which included night vision capability.
After taking early losses, the Israelis rallied and drove the superior Syrian forces from the battlefield.
It was our good fortune to visit the scene of the battle where disabled tanks and landline warning signs remain to this day.
Later in the morning we visited Caesarea Philippi in the north of the country. we arrived a few minutes before 11 am. At 11 am, a siren sounded nationwide bringing activity to a respectful and mindful halt for a minute. After the siren we went through Caesarea Philippi with a fine tooth comb.
The city had been built by Philip, the son of Herod the Great.
When Herod the great died his kingdom was divided into a tetrarchy (four sectors each with its own ruler known as a tetrarchy). Philip was granted the area of Upper Galilee.
Philip built a Roman style city, dedicating it to himself and the emperor. The city included a Tell, a grandiose palace, a humble synagogue, and a magnificent temple dedicated to the Roman God, Pan.
It was here that Jesus asked his disciples who people said that he was; and, more importantly, who the disciples said he was. Peter, taking the lead, stated that Jesus was the messiah, the son of God.
After leaving Caesarea Philippi we visited Tsfad, a center of Jewish mysticism named Kaballah. We had a chance to visit the Sephardic Synagogue and to do a little shopping.
Israeli Independence day began at sundown. We observed Independence Day with a marvelous dinner at the home of Kobi and Anat Rinott, friends of Shira and Saul Joseph. The Rinott's cohosts were Nurit Ivnitsky and her partner Moshe. we had an Israeli style dinner. At each table were four Americans and two Israelis. We were encouraged to ask our table hosts to describe for us what they found to be the joys and the challenges of living in Israel.
After the meal we went to Timrat town center for Israeli songs, dancing, flag ceremonies.
We returned to the Kibbutz in the Galilee late in the evening.




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Location:אברהם מאפו,Jerusalem,Israel