Rabbi's Message

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
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March 2007

Shalom M'Aretz Yisrael
Hello From Israel!

Yes - the first snow of the season arrived just as we were getting ready to pack our bags and head to Logan Airport - but to Logan we went and had an ON-TIME departure on Air France to Paris. Long flight, bad food, no sleeping and finally...Paris.

Four hour layover in a very unremarkable airport, we did manage to find seats next to a wonderful French Bakery - fresh croissants were had by all. Our second flight was almost as long as the first and was more bumpy. The food was worse - but some of us did manage to sleep (a little). We arrived in Tel Aviv tired, but happy just in time for a fabulous thunderstorm and rainy night. The two-half hour bus ride to our hotel was painful, to say the least. Not such an auspicious start, but the next day more than made up for the long, yucky bus ride.

Friday morning we awoke to a clear blue sky over the Negev Desert in Mitzpe Ramon, a development town in the Negev Desert. It was cool, but clear and at 7:00 am, we took our bus a short distance to overlook Machtesh Ramon, Israel's (and the world's) largest Makhtesh. A Makhtesh is a canyon or crater unique to this part of the world. It was created over eons by erosion of deposited minerals left from the pre-historic ocean that covered this area of the world at one time. The Makhtesh is awesome, inspiring, unreal - somewhat like the Grand Canyon but more impressive - if only because of the stark nakedness of the desert landscape.

We recited morning prayers overlooking the Macktesh, thanking God for our bodies, our breath and the wondrous nature of God's creation. What a way to start our pilgrimage. It was at this moment that we finally felt like we had arrived - like we were now someplace really special.

After a sumptuous breakfast in the hotel, we left to drive through the Makhtesh toward the Arava (Southern Desert). We went on a short hike at one site - the "Carpentry Shop" - so called because of all the black stones that have the appearance of leftovers from wood working.

The morning hike was not strenuous, but invigorating and a welcome change after a day and a half of sitting in not very comfortable seats.

We continued or journey South toward the Arava through some of the most beautiful desert landscape in Israel. It is easy t see the spiritual allure of the desert - it is both barrenness and life, open space and small caves, colorless and vibrant all at the same time.

Our road took us toward the Jordanian border and along the Jordan Valley. We arrived at Kibbutz Keturah in time for lunch in the Kibbutz Dining room and a tour of this community. Keturah was founded in 1973 by a group of Young Judeans from the United states. Although it has grown significantly, the population of the kibbutz is still mostly Anglo (American or British) and mostly young and idealistic. Keturah is the home of the Arava Institute - a study program devoted to environmental and ecological studies and cross-border cooperation. We heard form four students - two Arabs and two Jews - about the program and their hopes for cooperation and collaboration on the critical issues facing the region (water, air pollution, overpopulation, and conflict).

Meanwhile, the children with us went with their Madrich (counselor) Yonaton to visit the Refet - the dairy barn. They petted some of the cows (including one that was only a few days old) and saw the milking machines.

Speaking of dairy, the kibbutzim in this area all have dairy cows and milk - but they don't each have their own processing plant. Instead, the milk is sent down the road a bit to Yotvata - the Arava's Dairy Collective. There, it is processed, turned into butter, cheese, ice cream and all other sorts of delights, and shipped all over the country. Of course, this was a necessary stop for us.

Friday afternoon brought us to Kibbutz Elot just outside of Eilat - the Red sea resort town of Israel. This kibbutz is mostly supported by tourism and has lovely guest houses and facilities. We can see the Red Sea down the hill and enjoy a pre-Shabbat swim in a nearby swimming pool. A great way to relax and prepare for our first Shabbat in Eretz Yisrael.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Elyse

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