We left Bethlehem behind and drove toward Mt. Hermon and the Golan Heights. Occasionally a Phantom Jet flew overhead. And we saw flatbed trucks hauling rusted tanks away from the battle site of the Yom Kippur War. The road took us near the Sea Of Galilee, now called Lake Tiberius, where warm mineral springs offer relief to people with arthritis near places where Jesus healed the sick.
Our destination was the Banias Spring, the origin of a tributary of the Jordan River. There is a shrine at the spring inscribed to the Greek God Pan. I thought again of the long reach of history in this land. The spring flows from underground and begins its journey to join the Jordan river. Snow from Mt. Hermon melts into the stream. We sat beside the spring, took off our shoes and felt the pure cold water.
That night our lodging would be at Ayelet HaShahar, a Kibbutz in the Hula Valley. We met with the people and heard their story of the origin of the kibbutz. It was built around 1900 in the days of the Turks. It was the first real commune in Israel. Originally no one had personal possessions. There was a common laundry where they took their clothes to be washed with no expectation of getting the same garments in return. The children lived all together in a separate house, cared for by the community. Work to support the kibbutz was shared by everyone, even by the children. It was not a religious community. At the time we visited things were more individualized. People were allowed to work outside of the kibbutz and there was a vacation bonus for families. The meals continued to be communal. We shared their evening meal with them. We ate blintz which were long a favorite of mine. I discovered for the first time how much I like borsch and gefilte fish.
poetrybyheart.me 
I think I visited the same kibbutz when I was in Israel. I don’t know how much the country has changed since you and i were there in the 20th century. I hope to find out from my kids who are currently planning a birthright trip there this summer. Meanwhile, I am enjoying seeing the same places I visited, at nearly the same time, through your Gentile eyes and memory.
I’m happy you enjoy seeing the same places we visited in the 20th century through my Gentile eyes and memory. I hope you’ll write about your kids’ trip this summer.
Hmm borsch and gefilte sounds delish 😀
Oh Yes, they really are. 🙂
I visited Israel while working on an archaeological dig at Caesarea in 1976. Your words took be back in time.
That must have been a fascinating experience. My two weeks in Israel were a rich experience.