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SYNOPSIS Of Israel Trip - Part 2 by knittinkitten at 10/7/2008 10:55:51 PM The hotels appeared full…many tourists…not as many Americans, but, we were not alone. There were throngs of pilgrims from Europe, Australia, Russia and many other parts of the world. The streets and the markets were crowded and bustling…It was, of course, during Ramadan…and the Old City of Jerusalem was a sea of Muslims, on their pilgrimage. I never had a moment of apprehension as far as my safety was concerned. Even our drive through the Arab territories was “business as usual”…. Your trip to the Palmach Museum, which explained the underground movement to us…and, your poignant memories of your time spent defending your country, including your injury, again stressed the need for some way to have people get along. Sadly, that may never happen, but I have faith. Sum up my thoughts of our trip, in a FEW words….IMPOSSIBLE…..but, I can tell you that this is one trip I will ALWAYS remember. Thanks, Eli…for the opportunity you gave us to share something so very important. One last thought is that I now have a much better understanding of how deeply this country is imbedded in the minds and the hearts of all its people…I saw Christians, Muslims and Jews, speaking each others language, living their lives, conducting their business and their religious ceremonies (it was Ramadan), and they all appeared peaceful. What can the rest of us do to help it truly BE that way.? The Holy Land belongs to all of us…it’s where we all got our beginnings. This you taught us when we studied The Lost Tribes of Israel....there's a little of THEM in all of US. Surely there must be a way. Sincerely, Judy.

Comments
lawdawg2	10/8/2008 10:25:33 AM I understand Judy exactly what you are saying as I visited the Holy Land 4 years ago. I was so at spiritual peace.
knittinkitten	10/9/2008 8:41:45 PM That's a very apropros way in which to state it. The Tour company messaged me today, congratulated me on my writing skills and asked if they could post my remarks on their web page....I'm a happy camper....We're having a full page spread in the Villages Daily Sun on this coming Sunday. And, now I'm told we're being featured on VNN - the Villages Cable Station, on the 6 o'clock news....When we started this whole thing...who knew...who knew...
knittinkitten	10/11/2008 8:01:58 PM This was the first time I saw myself on TV. Someone on our tour did a fantastic job of videotaping our entire trip. Obviously The Villages Cable station was impressed. They featured segments of our trip on their news broadcast last night...It aired about every 10 minutes all evening long. What a nice publicity opportunity for the Lifelong Learning College and for our professor. And, of course, it was a VERY inspiring trip for all the participants.
mizp	10/21/2008 11:43:59 PM I wish more people saw Israel that way, not as a land of division, but of beginnings. My sister's college boyfriend spent a year there studying and I would get papers and photos all the time. It is definitely on the top of my list of places to visit.
knittinkitten	10/22/2008 3:17:37 PM Well, if I thought I could get about a dozen people together, I'd surely take a group over....using the same wonderful Tour Operator who arranged our trip. If there's any interest, just let me know....It truly is a Trip of a Lifetime....for Christians AND Jews....our group was mixed....
knittinkitten	11/1/2008 6:37:53 PM I have just learned that the College has chosen a photo taken of our Israel Trip group, to be placed on the Front Cover of their catalogue for the coming season. Wow, but our Israel trip is getting all kinds of fantastic publicity...something it surely deserves, and another trip is planned for April, 2009. I would sure love to go again.....