November 2008 WBZ Tour of Israel

My Thoughts

Ruth Ehrhardt

It is very difficult to put into words the sights we saw and experiences we had while in the “Land”. When we arrived the modern and beautiful airport took me aback. The last trip we made was in the fall of 2003 and the airport was very different. I was expecting to disembark on the runway and be bused to the terminal. Instead, we exited the plane in the usual manner, through an enclosed walkway that led into the terminal. I was very impressed by the beauty and design of the airport. It’s gorgeous. As we made our way through the airport and arranged for our ride to the villa in Jerusalem, I was a little apprehensive about the days ahead.

We arrived a day early so Joel and Pam were very gracious and arranged for our lodging the first day. There were 10 of us who came from Portland OR together. We each had our own perspective of the tour but we were all very blessed and encouraged at the completion of our journey. We met so many wonderful people and had the opportunity to see ways that we can personally encourage and affect change and hope in the lives of our brothers and sisters in the land. I saw places that I didn’t get to see the first time and I was very excited to get to explore the land and connect with our heritage.

The first settlement we visited was Psagot. We met with Yo'el Elias. He and his wife had prepared refreshments for us and shared his vision of an archeological center in Ai, the second village that Joshua conquered after Jericho. We were shown the ruins of an olive press in a cave under the hillside of Ai. We actually went down into the cave. Yo’el’s vision is to educate through the archeological center about the history of Joshua’s victory in the area and inspire young people to catch the vision as young Joshuas. Psagot is situated across the road (literally) from Ramallah. Their houses and yards with flowers and green lawns look like any community in America. They are very limited as to how much building they can do in their settlement, but building goes on all the time in Ramallah unimpeded.

When we were on the buses going through the Judean wilderness and in the Negev, I was impressed with the natural beauty of the land. The miles and miles of vineyards, olive orchards, and date palms were a testimony of YHVH’s blessing on His land and people when they are obedient to His calling them home. My heart yearns to be in the land and to love and care for the land and its people in any way I can. When we went to the Dead Sea, I was very surprised at its beauty; I have to admit the pictures that I have seen don’t begin to do it justice.

While we were there, some of us took the tour to Masada. I have to say, Abba was definitely with us that day. Our tour guide was so very nice. I’m sure she didn’t quite know which box to put us in, but by the end of the day I think we may have touched her life in a way she didn’t expect. As she took us through the various parts of the encampment, she explained the events that took place and gave us a real sense of the people. She took us to a ledge that overlooked the whole area below and a mountain across with a wadi below. She told us to be very quiet and at her signal we were to all yell. When we did, it echoed back! As true Ephraimites, we couldn’t resist. We yelled out “B’nei Ephraim come home!” And “B’nei Yehudah come home!” It was so awesome! To hear that echo back was like it went out to the four corners of the earth.

Then, we went on to the site of the synagogue. As she began to share with us about the last night the people spent there, she asked one of our group to read the statement the rabbi made to his people. It was very difficult to imagine their last evening together. She went on to explain that when the archeologists excavated the site, they found some Torah scrolls in the back room of the synagogue. The scroll with Ezekiel 37 was on top, open. We asked if anyone in our group had a bible to read this portion of scripture but none of us did. Our guide said she had hers with her but it was a Hebrew bible. She read this portion of scripture to us and when she got to verse 16, through to the end of the chapter, she looked up at us and asked, "is this about you? Are you saying you are B’nei Ephraim"? We all said "Yes!" It was an amazing moment! While we were listening to her read the scripture, another group came in and sat down to listen, and then, a group from China came in also. When we were finished, one of them asked if we had been to the Olympics to which we said no. Then a man from their group stepped up and said “We are B’nei Ephraim also”. It seemed like such a divine appointment.

While in the Negev, we also visited a farm owned by Shlomo Azuli. He was one of the many who lost everything in Gush Katif. He greeted us when we arrived in the buses and we were led out to the olive groves where there were some new olive trees that we were given the opportunity to plant. It was a blessing to be able to plant an olive tree in the land, and to bless our brother who has lost so much and still keeps his faith in YHVH and the land.

After we finished the planting, we were given refreshments and the opportunity to visit with him. He is a very kind man and I enjoyed meeting him. Before we left the farm, he gave each one of us a gift of olive oil from his first pressing, along with dried herbs and canned fruit from the farm. I didn’t realize it at the time but after we left, Joel shared with us that Mr. Azuli is a Cohen and as such we had just been given the first fruits from a Cohen which is a double blessing, as it would be the oil for Temple menorah. This was very humbling to me.

When we made our way to the north, we met with the Druze community. They welcomed us with open arms and blessing. We were led through the streets of their 400 year-old community by bus until the streets were so narrow that the buses could go no further. We left the buses and walked from there to the location of the memorial for their 352 fallen who gave their lives in Israeli conflicts. They have given their lives for Israel. Some families have lost more than one son in battle. They choose to live in the hills in and around Mount Carmel so that they have the vantage point to see any impending attacks from Arabs, who consider them to be traitors. Though they are Arab, they are Midyanites, the sons of Jethro, and they are not Muslim. They believe in the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are very loyal to Israel.

After we left the memorial, we were shown the barracks of the military academy that they are building. They train their young men at the academy before they go into the IDF at the age of 18. From there, we made our way to their community center in town for lunch. Wow! They gave us such a wonderful meal. We all were very blessed by their extraordinary hospitality. After lunch, we were taken to Mount Carmel. There is a Greek Orthodox Church at the top of the Mountain. This is the site where Elijah called fire down from heaven to consume the offering on the altar, and where he slew the prophets of Ba’al. We went up to the roof of the building which has a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and the Valley of Megiddo to the east. It was amazing to see from that vantage point. I could see communities and farms and roads in the valley. It’s hard to relate to the fact that the final conflict to end all war will take place in this valley.

We left the Druze community and made our way to Safed, which is at a higher elevation than Mount Carmel. We arrived on Erev Shabbat and checked in to our rooms, then had dinner. The hotel was so beautiful. It looked like the streets of the old city of Jerusalem with each room tucked away down an alleyway or up some steps on the second level. It was a very quiet and beautiful place to spend Shabbat. The view was breathtaking! We enjoyed walking the grounds and spending quiet time in the many garden areas. We had a wonderful time of sharing for Shabbat followed by prayer. We were blessed to have Sagiv Assulin and his wife Keren join us. We prayed for him that YHVH would bless him and his wife in the elections. We left on first day after shopping and sight-seeing in the old city of Safed. What an awesome place to spend Shabbat!

We got on the buses and headed back to Jerusalem. We were sorry to leave Safed, but we were looking forward to the Gala event for WBZ. When we got back to the hotel in Jerusalem, we had just enough time to get checked into our new rooms and get ready for the Gala. That night was very exciting. We were wined and dined and treated like family. After a five-course dinner, we were blessed with music and song from a group from Sde’rot. They were awesome. Their settlement is under almost daily attack from Gaza. Then we heard from 4 different speakers from the Knesset. The speakers each welcomed us to Israel as brothers and fellow Zionists. Sagiv Assulin was the final speaker. He brought the house to its feet with a standing ovation after reading from Ezekiel 37:16-17, and welcomed us as his brothers and sisters. What an incredible evening.

The last settlement we visited was Hebron. I was a little nervous when we boarded the armored buses and headed to Hebron. When we arrived, we went to Machpela. I was surprised to see areas that were accessible to the public 5 years ago when we went there the first time are now closed off. We were able to go into the synagogue and take pictures of the ark and even the torah scroll inside. It was beautiful. After we left Machpela, we went to the only place to get lunch in Hebron, the pizza parlor. Lunch was great.

We continued on foot through the streets of Hebron. Joel took us to a house that is now closed up with concrete and told us the Jewish family that lived there was “evacuated”. The doorway was closed with concrete so they could not return. We continued further up the main road and up a side street to another apartment where a family was removed and the dwelling destroyed. The flowers and shrubs they planted in the courtyard outside their door were still there. I can’t imagine how it must have been for them to be removed from their home with such violence. We then made our way through the streets uphill to the top where there is an IDF camp. Just beyond the IDF is the cave where Ruth and her son Jesse are buried. I noticed during our walk through Hebron the IDF were all around us in small groups, either in front of us or behind. I knew they were there for our protection and I was very thankful they were there.

As we came to the end of the tour, we all were sorry to say goodbye to new friends, and the land. As I reflect back on the events of the tour, I realize I have turned a corner in my understanding and vision for the future.

I love Israel more than ever. It is my desire to be a blessing to the people who have heard from YHVH and returned to the land against all opposition, and in some cases paid with their lives for their obedience. Our brothers and sisters in the settlements of Israel are my heroes.