Long but uneventful flight through Vienna to Tel Aviv. Great views from Mt. Carmel at the Crown Plaza in Haifa. DAY 1 Necropis at Beit Shearim. "SARCOPHOGI R US." Internment Camp at Atlit, "Refugees R Us." Shabbat at OR HADAH and welcome dinner with enthusiastic, dynamic congregation. DAY 2 ROSH HANIKRA "GROTTOES R US." ON TO ACRA. City of layers Crusaders - Mamalukes - Friendly Arabs. The Souk! The stuff. View of Bahai Gardens. Dinner @ H.A. Bank.

Day 3 First Stop Safed. A Galilee town with a rich historical/religious/cultural tradition. Once Inde[endence was declared in 1948 Jews and Arabs fought, Arabs left, and government encouraged arists to move into their space. Visited synagogues, heard explanation from inventor or fabulous stender. Lunch at family dairy restaurant. From Safed, drove to ancient synagogue of Baram. Then, we drove near Lebanon border and learned about security situation. Brief, idiotic stop at NAOT shoe factory. Really. We stayed at the "kibbutz" Kafer Blum.

Day 4

Arnaud drove our jeep through a mine field to see positions in the Golon captured from the Syrians. On to Tel Dan, fabulous ruins dating back to 4000 BCE. On through Duze villages to Cafe Aanan. There Noam explained what occurred during the 6 day war. Afterwards, on to Museum for film on Gamal, the Masada of the North. Then, a brief stop to talk to a soldier at nearby Army base. Next stop, winery. Then, dinner at restaurant with Army Colonel.

Day 5

Left Kafir Blum. First stop Beit Shean. On of oldest setlled sites. Where Saul fell to Philistines. Excavated Roman City. 5 Stars. On to Beit Alfa where synagogue floor still has ancient mosaic. Through the Jezerel Valley to Peace Instititute Givat Haviva. Lecture by Lydia the Loquacious. Then a visit to the divided town of Barta and a discussion at the home of Selma and Riyadh talking about inter faith inter community initiatives. By night on to Jerusalem and the Mt. Zion Hotel.

Day 6

A day in the old city. The bazaar. the labyrthine alleys. Lunch at Hallelujah Shwarma! A trip to the dentists, the tour guide's wife. Later afternoon at the Southern Wall.