Boker Tov l'kulam (good morning everyone),
Driving through the stunning landscape of Northern Israel, with vibrant green orchards lining the roads, mountains which are owned by Syria on one side and Lebanon on the other, I am inspired not only by the beauty outside but also inside our tour bus.
The men and women with whom I'm sharing this incredible experience, Jews, Christians and Muslims, are interesting, generous, thoughtful and wise. We have openly talked about our differences of faith, language, loyalties and histories. There have been tense moments as we talk about the difficult political realities of Israel and the Palestinians, but these have been navigated with openness and real respect. I don't think we'll solve the conflict, but if people a lot smarter than we are could speak about the issues with same level of respect and attempt to understand each other, perhaps they could find a solution that would work.
It's a Tikvah - a hope - as in Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah.
Next blog will detail yesterday's visit to Nazareth. L'hitraot - see you soon.
I'll be sending periodic reports from the road as I explore Israel with Christian and Muslim colleagues from the Baltimore/DC area.
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