Journey to Israel – Part 3

On May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion, head of the World Zionist Organization made the declaration of the establishment of the independent state of Israel. Jews from all the world began to crowd into this little nation that would almost have fit between Saskatoon and Regina. The coffers of this new nation were empty, and little could be offered by way of support to the newly arriving immigrants. What should be done? What could be done? Small communities or kibbutzim were formed, and they learned how to support themselves. We had the opportunity to visit some of them. We visited a shoe factory that made and sent footwear around the world. I bought a pair of Naot sandals and still have them. Another kibbutz grew and exported roses. Another pressed olives and exported olive oil products to world markets. Some built hotels to accommodate the tourist industry. But maybe the most unusual kibbutz we were told about was one that raised hogs.

Like me, you may be asking when bacon had become kosher. Well, it hasn’t, but not all the Jewish immigrants were that careful in their dietary demands. Apparently, there is a market for bacon burgers in Israel. Because there are so many political parties, every government is made up of a coalition of one major party and a number of smaller, splinter parties. In most cases one of those smaller parties was an orthodox, conservative religious party. One such party promised their support to the party forming the government for one small concession – they would have to pass legislation making it illegal to raise hogs of Israeli soil. That would require the destruction of the hog-raising kibbutz facilities, or would it? The enterprising members of the kibbutz put their barns on short stilts, raising them so they were no longer on Israeli soil. Problem solved.

We visited a restored village of Nazareth populated by costumed people emulating the town of Jesus’ day. We saw a small vineyard surrounded by a stone fence. They had an oil pressing factory, using methods that would have been used by Jesus’ contemporaries. We were told that Jesus was probably not strictly a carpenter but was probably more of craftsman with jack-of-all-trades skills. The tools that Jesus would have been used were replicated. We were given the feeling of stepping back into history. We visited the city of Capernaum where we were taken to a home reputed to have belonged to the apostle Peter. It was there, we were told, that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law and immediately upon being healed, she put her apron on and began to serve the group of men Peter had brought home for lunch. I wonder if she had some words for her son-in-law about bringing home a group of men without having let her know in advance. Oops, no cellular coverage.  

Part of our journey was a trip to Bethlehem. It meant we would have to leave Israeli territory for the Palestinian controlled city. Our Israeli guide had to leave the bus and was replaced by a Palestinian guide. He was also very well versed in the places where he took us. There we visited Manger Square, that was the site of much unrest in the past. We visited the tomb of Lazarus, the friend that Jesus had raised from the dead. As always, we were taken to souvenir shops to buy icons, jewellery or mementos carved from olive wood. We were taken to a shop owned by a family of Christians. Iona had an experience on our way back to the bus that she will never forget. She had a camel ride. For a few shekels she got on the back of a camel named Michael and was led on a ride that lasted a few laps of the path that Michael had created for himself. The highlight was a hairy-faced kiss Michael gave Iona.

We had also visited a site known as Gideon’s Pool. It was here that the judge Gideon reduced his army from 32,000 to 300. The Midianites fielded an army of 135,000, meaning Gideon faced odds of 450 to 1. We were told that it was at this pool that God told Gideon to have his men take a drink of water. 300 took water from the pool in their hands while the remaining men bent down and lapped the water. It was these 300 that formed Gideon’s army. We were told the water was still drinkable and I filled a small bottle to take home with me.

On our final day, on our way back to Tel Aviv, our guide whetted our appetites for one last stop. Another shrine, he told us. He didn’t tell us what it was, and we were all extremely curious. We finally stopped at what looked like an American diner and went inside. We were surprised by what we saw. It was indeed a shrine – a shrine to the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. It was filled with all things Elvis. Our journey was now over, and we were headed back to Canada. My heart had been changed as we walked some of the same paths Jesus had walked almost 2,000 years before and I received more lessons in keeping the Son in my eyes.