It is astounding to live in an age where one can wake up in the commonwealth of Virginia, hop on a plane and be in Israel in 16 hours. The trip takes a toll on the body - we were packed into the Boeing 777 Air France jet so tight I couldn’t sleep (much) - my knees hurt, as do my neck and feet. But why am I whining? Pilgrims from centuries ago suffered somewhat greater discomfort I might assume on their months long journey.

Landing in Tel Aviv, I was surprised at the landscape. I have been to some deserts before, mostly in the American southwest, but the terrain here is very distinct. The gentle, sandy hills with a scattering of scrubby green shrubs are like nothing I’ve seen, save perhaps the terrain in the high deserts of Wyoming.

Driving down route 1 towards Jerusalem, through valleys with irrigated farms producing olives and grapes, one comes upon Jerusalem all of a sudden. It is an astonishingly ‘heavy’ city architecturally - lots of big, rectangular block structures, walls (walls within walls within walls...) surround many buildings, compounds and whole parts of the city.

The most amazing surprise is how safe the city feels. I did live in West Baltimore for 12 years, so perhaps this is a matter of perspective, but venturing out from our room at the Mt Zion Hotel to go to the YMCA across from the King David Hotel for Dinner, and walking through the city for blocks and blocks we never felt anything but welcome and safe. [Yes, I said the YMCA. The Jerusalem YMCA is an enormous edifice complete with tower and gardens with waterfalls and an amazing restaurant (http://www.ymca3arch.co.il/). And the local wine is very good] To see how I am roughing it, go here: http://www.mountzion.co.il/

So I am off to the Western Wall and the first part of our guided tour through the Old City.

May you be blessed and be a blessing.