Party in the Sand!

*FROM SEPTEMBER 10th*

It’s amazing how many things have happened in Israel since its creation in 1948. The technology here is amazing! Plus while the political world can’t seem to find peace between Israel and Jordan the farmers on Kibbutz Yahel have been growing their crops right next to the Jordan boarder for over 30 years. The man telling us about the area (who’s name is Ron Bernstein-he knows Rabbi Lustig) told us a story about how he helped peace in the Middle East. He farms Pamello (spelling?) and one day he got to the farm and IDF soldiers where there b/c the farm is basically the border, and they said that there were foot prints from the Jordanian boarder across the farm to get some fruit. Ron looked at them has said it is so hot out here and if I saw fruit I would be running to get it. After that he gave the soldiers pamello and they never spoke of it again. He then proceeded to put a box of pamello in the corner of the field for Israeli and Jordanian Soldiers. He eventually had to stop b/c someone told him he couldn’t put fruit out there anymore but one day he and friend were out in the field and they drove over that way and saw a bunch of Jordanian soldiers who looked like they could really use some fruit. So he and the friend threw fruit over the boarder for the soldiers. He also told us that while he was out in the corner if the field where he used to have the box of fruit, he saw a white car on the Jordan side of the boarder. Next thing you now the governor of that area of Jordan was getting out of the car to talk to him and thank him for being so kind. This happened during Hanukkah and the men decided they would come back the next day with their families and celebrate together. The next day both men brought their families and even though they were on different sides of the boarder they celebrated together.

It is so puzzling why people can’t be like all the time. Actaully, Kibbutz Yahel’s fields are basically in Jordan. In the 90s the boarder was changed as a way of settling peace with Jordan. Kibbutz Yahel was ready to give up all their farmland so that their kids would be able to know peace. However it was settled that the boarder would go around the fields. All this happened and yet the rest of the country is in such a mess with Arab relations.

Anyway before I heard any of those stories I woke up at 6:30 to go play in sand dunes. The view was so pretty! And the sand was so soft! We spent a few hours eating breakfast on top of the dunes and just playing around.

After we got back from the tour we had free time so I went to my friends room. We watched harry potter and then decided to nap. The 2nd we were falling asleep people came in the room and we all started talking. Then hadas came in and the 7 girls in the room plus hadas had a heart to heart for a good 2 and half hours. It was wonderful. Then we had Friday night services, dinner, and got ready to go to eliat. We had a 45 min. bus ride and then had about and hour and half to walk around. My friends and I got some yogurt and then just sat and talked. We just got back and I am so exhausted and even though we have an hour until curfew I am going to bed.

p.s. sorry I didn’t post this on the day it happened. Trying to get internet would take too long.