Now on a Kibbutz, we hopped on the buses at 7:45a and headed for Safed, the center of mysticism.  There, we greeted the “hippie hasidim,” visited two synagogues and went on a candle, microcalligraphy and jewelry shopping spree.  Then it was on to the Golan for long bumpy jeep rides and “blah, blah, blah,” as one of the guides called it.  Translation: comprehensive, intellectual history lesson.  This lesson was one of the most heartfelt of the trip because, as the guide explained, the history is “internally a part of me.”

Next stop was an army base, where we met and had lunch with soldiers of the 603rd battalian.  A tour of the base followed, including a visit to one of the tanks used in the Lebanon war last summer (prime Kodak moment) and to a couple of memorials honoring the members of the 605th battalian who lost their lives since the Independence War.  This was a moving, educational experience for us all.

A stop at a local winery was next, followed by a bus trip up to the Israeli/Syrian border.  Bruce, as usual, engaged us in some interesting history, and then it was on the way to Naot, a shoe store and factory.  From there, we came back to the Kibbutz, where we will enjoy a great Kibbutz dinner (as breakfast was!) and then, if we’re up to it, an after-dinner drink to top the day off.  Cheers.