Small CSP group at MSP

Our dig site

Church at mount of beatitudes north shore

Relaxing in church gardens

Our group has all collected and we are in Israel! Travel was smooth with only a minor delay in Atlanta. The flight (all 11 hours of it) was reasonably comfortable in our huge 777.

Our first day in Israel was a mixture of trying to get our orientation and touring sites around the Sea of Galilee. All three of the international archeological teams are renting accommodations from a kibbutz directly on the Sea of Galilee. A kibbutz is basically a Jewish intentional community or commune with small business, farming, a coffee shop, pup and a restaurant. Kibbutzes exist in several places around Israel. The entire concept is really interesting and very political. Our kibbutz is about to celebrate its 70 year anniversary. You can imagine the political situation when it was founded – Israel was first recognized as a nation in 1948. The men and women of the US team each have our own houses reminiscent of small, humble rental cabins – like what you would find in northern MN.  

It is wonderful to put places to the Middle Eastern and biblical stories that have existed only in my minds eye (with the help of national geographic and small photos) in a first hand context. My first thoughts – I absolutely love it here!!! The people here live some of the oldest land successfully cultivated by humans – the fertile crescent; if that wasn’t remarkable enough – it is spectacular to see the people today chatting it up on cell phone, wearing fashionable skinny jeans while walking in the land that has seen influence from the worlds biggest forces and philosophies.

Shalom!

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