The 2011
Journey Home to Israel

Day 2 - The Sea of Galilee

Tuesday’s tour highlights

A boat ride on the historic Sea of Galilee, where Jesus calmed the waters, was the highlight of the second full day of the Journey Home Tour. Yael Eckstein, daughter of IFCJ president and founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, urged the pilgrims to focus on what she called the holiest body of water in the world.

“Let these waters into your heart,” Yael said, suggesting that each time the participants encountered a problem; they should close their eyes, and visualize their time on the water. “Never forget this moment — this is your strength. Always go back to this moment,” she added.

As the boatload of Fellowship supporters idled on the smooth waters, Yael reminded them that though each is only one vessel, each person has the capability of changing the whole world. She recommended the Holy Land visitors look beyond their circumstances and put their faith in God, while gathering the tools on their trip to continue a life of righteousness.

“I hope you use your tools forever,” she concluded.

Late arrivals

More tour participants waylaid by Saturday’s uncanny snow blizzard, which halted flights in major airline hubs in New York, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta, arrived in time to join Tuesday’s activities. Rev. Roseanne Jackson and newlywed Maxine Rickard-Simis, friends from Englewood, Fla., arrived after a round-a-bout overnight stay in Paris; while the contingent from the Fellowship’s Chicago office — including John LaRue and his wife, Carole; Jim Jewell; Peggy Kennedy, and her husband, Robert; and Carolyn Martinez-Lodor of Chicago, arrived via a route through Warsaw, Poland.

First-time visit

For the first time in the history of Fellowship tours, participants visited the First-Century Nazareth Village which successfully replicates life in a Galilee village and its surroundings 2,000 years ago. They enjoyed feeding mischievous goats and viewing an ancient winepress, stone quarry, watchtower, working olive press, village well, home, a man weaving seats for stools, a woman hand-knitting a rug, and the village synagogue.

Fishy experience

Prior to the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, tour members enjoyed the experience of de-boning and eating St. Peter’s fish, a whole mild fish popular in the region, at the shore-side Lido restaurant. They also enjoyed falafels, hummus, and lettuce salad, fried onion ring loaves with barbecue sauce, French fries, pita bread, and fresh dates.

Four-legged sighting

Glee followed the first sighting of a camel, as the tour buses passed a field between Cana and Nazareth. Travelers who were disappointed they didn’t have their cameras ready for the impromptu spotting were assured they would see many more camels as the tour heads to Jerusalem and through the desert to the Dead Sea.

Somber reminders

Tour members were somberly reminded of the realities of dangers ever-present in Israel as they visited a bomb shelter in Tiberius, one of 2,000 Israeli bomb shelters renovated thanks to the generous donations of Fellowship supporters, and toured the regional headquarters of Magen David Adom, which operates 900 ambulances, armored casualty response vehicles, and mobile intensive cardiac care units in Israel. David Myers of Milwaukee, on his fourth IFCJ tour, spoke of his experiences volunteering with Magen David Adom, which has an ongoing relationship with the Fellowship.

Coming Wednesday

Highlights will include visits to the ancient synagogue at Capernaum; the Mount of Beatitudes, which recognizes the Sermon on the Mount; and Safed, an artist colony. The day will end with memorable baptisms and baptism renewals in the Jordan River.

Today's Photos
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