Before the sun disappeared below the horizon of the Holy City and Shabbat officially began, we had a very interesting experience. We were invited to have coffee with an Arab family that lives just outside of Jerusalem. The husband is a one of the few Arab judges in Israel. The Arab culture is extremely hospitable,…
Category: Travel
haiku: sabbath
sabbath peace settles flecks of gold, copper, and light pierce the dark of night
Outing…
We took a little drive today outside of Jerusalem–Beit Shemesh–to a kibbutz with a winery and restaurant. They also have a country store, comprised of spices, dried fruit and nuts, teas, grains, etc., some of which they grow on their land. Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy anything because we are loaded to the max and still…
Pray for Peace
So many wonderful attributes draw people from all over the world to Jerusalem. The beauty of the stones alone are remarkable… Unfortunately over the years, tension in the Old City has escalated. It’s just not the same place it was a couple of decades ago when I was single and living on a kibbutz. I…
“Yored Geshem…”
We are staying just outside of Jerusalem in a village. This is the view from our balcony. Yesterday yored geshem birushalayim. That’s Hebrew for “falling rain in Jerusalem.” It did rain… most of the day. It was fine; because it was a catch up day for us, and we stayed in and did some administrative…
Cyprus–Land of Encouragement!
I have been awake since 2:30 AM. Now it’s nearly 4:30, and I am up and around as if it were mid-morning. This is our last full day in Cyprus… until next year. It will be a busy day of packing, cleaning, and saying good-bye to dear friends in the community. In a couple of…
Flower Boxes
Here in the mountains of Cyprus we haven’t had the heat on for almost a week. The days have been sunny and warm–the kind that allure you outside for a long walk. It has been really wonderful. Spring is getting closer, and I am beginning to think about the signs of the season. Of course,…
Favorite Things
I was just a little girl when I first heard Julie Andrews sing, “Favorite Things” in the musical, “The Sound of Music.” I thought I had died and gone to heaven when her lilting soprano voice rang out these words: “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens; bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens… ”…
Meandering Pathway
I wonder who lives at house number nine in the Cypriot village of Omidos. They have a lovely orange tree growing in their front yard just on the other side of this white brick fence. When my husband and I passed their little home just off the village square I had so many thoughts about…
Light through Glass…
Yesterday we visited the little mountain village of Omidos. We have been there many, many times over the years; but I still love it… lots of quaint shops, winding, narrow streets, ancient cobble-stone roads, and an Orthodox church. Every village has at least one, maybe two. The one in Omidos is especially beautiful. Neither of…
Bonnie Saul Wilks 