Golan Heights Day One

Last night we returned from a two-day action packed trip to the Golan Heights.

First day first stop Gilbon Stream Nature reserve. We walked up to the falls, which are called Devora falls, and walked around the remains of the village.

Look what we found on our way up.

After hiking up and down we ate a hearty lunch.

After lunch we went to the ancient city of Katzirin. Instead of Naama as our tour guide, we were lucky to have a "villager that used to live in Katzrin". We got to see around her house, we sat in the living room and went up to check out the bedroom.

We saw what a difficult task it was for the women to grind wheat for flour.

Ephraim had a chance to use the ancient tool used to fix roofs so rain would not leak in.

Here we are turning the olive press to create oil.

Everyone in front of the ancient shul in Katzirin.

This is what the shul was presumed to look like.

Next stop - Golan Heights Winery we learned how wine used to be made by stomping on the grapes with bare feet, and how wine is produced in the factory today. Golan Heights Winery produces over 5 million bottles a year!!

The best part was when we got to taste the wine. We learned how it's properly done. We smelled it, swirled it, tilted it and drank it down- boy was that good!

After the winery we watched a movie about the Golan that integrated all the senses.

Check out the beautiful Golan sunset.

We ate yummy burgers and fries at Burger Ranch for supper.

That night we stayed over in Ohala-next to the Kinnneret, and Naama helped us make tea. After our tea we all turned in for the night in anticipation of the next day.

Hey everybody on Monday we are off to the Golan for two days, catch up with you when we get back.

Shabbos in Ra'anana

Friday Morning we were off to Ra'anana to the Tannenbaums (Ilans' Aunt, Uncle and cousins) for Shabbos. Yoni and Ephraim got picked up from Ra'anana by their families and Ruchi went to her cousins Bar Mitzvah.

Yoni with his aunt and uncle

Ilan with his aunt and grandparents

Friday afternoon we chilled out, ate some pizza and watched a movie.

Motzei Shabbos we hit the mall. We checked out the stores, played in the game room and of course ate. Thank you Tannenbaum family, we had a super time.

Sunday morning we all met up in Ra'anana and headed back to the Kibbutz.

Time to relax

We are all packed up and ready to head out of town for our "free Shabbos" weekend. Some of us baked fresh Challah to bring to our families. Have A Great Shabbos!!

Just a little "fun in the sun"

We are so lucky to have our own Yoga Studio on Kibbutz. Wednesday night we learned some breathing exercises, some stretching techniques and even got to play with some cool balloons!!

Tzfat

Today we went to Tzfat (aka:Tzfas, Safed, Zefat, Tsfat, Zfat, Safad, Safet, Safes) the ancient and mystical city which is one of highest towns in Northern Eretz Yisrael.

On the way to Tzfat we stopped at Misgav Am, a kibbutz on the border of Northern Israel and Lebanon with a spectacular mountain top view.

When we arrived at Tzfat, the first stop was LUNCH. Naama arranged a home cooked meal in a very special restaurant, the house of a local family. (Notice their beds in the background)

We walked around the ancient town and learned some history. We sat down on the steps and discussed the holy places in Eretz Yisroel , and heard some stories.



Along the way, we went into a few well known shuls. In the Ari Shul we noticed that the crown over the Aron (where the Torah is kept) is leaning downward toward the congregation insinuating that everyone can learn Torah. During the 1948 war, Arabs surrounded the shul. The Jews were davening shmonah esrei and a gun shot flew through the door. The bullet hit the bimah instead of the man standing in front of it because at that moment he was bowing down for Modim. The bullet hole still remains on public display and visitors can stick notes in the space.

The Abohav Shul was named after Rabbi Issac Abohav , a sage of the 1400's; it contains an ancient Torah scroll said to have been written by the Rabbi himself.

On the way home, we davend Mincha in Meiron at the Kever (grave) of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and learned the story of how he hid in a cave from the Romans for twelve years and uncovered all the secrets of the Torah (kaballah) and authored the mystical Zohar.