Shabbat Shalom!

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
(Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe!)

Shabbat Dinner- yummmm!

 We just celebrated a wonderful Shabbat dinner here at Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem (truly the coolest hostel ever).  We, along with about 20 other people, cooked and ate a most amazing Shabbat meal including chicken and loads of salads of every sort (see photo!), hallah, pita and tahini.. so delicious!

And with full a full tummy I can reflect on the past few days..

Chef Joe

So many delicious foods...

The beach in Atlit...sooooo niceeeeee!

We had a most wonderful stay with Andrey and Irin in Atlit (as mentioned previously).  I met Andrey doing my PNF physical therapy residency in Vallejo a couple summers ago and was excited to get to reconnect with him and his wonderful wife at their home in Atlit.  We shared some fantastic meals together (I have to say Israel has some of the best food, ever!), laughs and good conversation.

Joe and I headed up to Haifa one day (just 20 minutes north of Atlit) to see the Bah'ai gardens- which are very impressive! (can't remember if Joe mentioned this in a previous post...) Unfortunately we missed the English tour (oops) but got to hear the Hebrew one! hehe.  We also spent a day in Akko/Acre (near Haifa) which is an old city with lots of history.  Most notably, there is a massive old citadel and is one of the Knights of the Templar sites.

Thanks for the hospitality, Andrey and Irin!

Today we went to Yad Vashem (Heros and Martyrs).. the Holocaust museum here in Jerusalem.  It is an amazing place with beautiful architecture,  loads of videos, memorials, recovered paraphanalia, etc.  The place is stunning and very moving and incredibly heart-breaking.  Seeing Yad Veshem has definitely helped me to understand Israel a little better.. and how meaningful it is for Jews to have a country they can again call home.

One of the things that struck me most is a section of the museum called "Righteous Among the Nations." It is an area dedicated to non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from the Nazi extermination camps.  I was so blessed to see stories of heroic men and women who took on the plight of the Jews at this time and selflessly aided them to safety.  It reminds me of these verses...

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:12-13)

I just think it's so amazing to see when people put themselves in harms way for the sake of the oppressed.. it is such an act of humility and love. And, it's the complete opposite spirit of that of power, elitism, etc.  I can't help but feel thankful for Jesus.. the King of Kings.. most powerful being in the whole universe yet took on the form of a man, a servant and even died for the sake of those He loved.  Truly there is no greater love!

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!"

Philippians 2:5-8

Again, what an incredible God we serve!

In other news... tomorrow is Joe and my 4th anniversary!  Four years has gone by soo fast.. and we are so excited to be on this adventure together for our 4th anniversary :) Love you, Joe!!!

Thanks again for following our blog and for keeping us in your prayers! 

Goodbye Abraham Hostel- I will miss you and your fantastic hammocks!