Day 13
we started  off early this morning, 7:45,and headed out to Herodium, yet another  archetectural  marvel of Herod the Great.  This time he builthis  "Summer  Palace" on a hill that he had built up to look like  the  cone of a volcano! He loved  this  place so much that he was buried there!  It's an amazing feat of engineering.  We went up to the top and  down into the cisterns.  It was mind boggling to realize  that  this  was  built in 35BCE!

We then went to Ephrat and met with Bob Lange, a Jewish settler who grew up  in upstate New York and obtained degrees in agriculture from the University  of  Wisconsin, Madison, and other degrees since then.  He shared with us his understanding of life in Israel.  I obtained  maps from him to help me see his side of things.

From there we went  to  Hebron and went to a glass factory that has been doing the mouth blowing of glass and ceramics since 1910.  We watched a cruet being made.  Then we went into the  ceramic  shop where artisans were painting ceramics  before  firing.  The glass factory shop was full of temptation!

From there  we went to a Holy site the cave of Machpelah, the site that Abraham bought  to bury his wife, Sarah.  Then, Isaac  and Rebecca, Jacob and  Leah were buried  as well.  It is now both a mosque  and a synagogue and shared uneasily by both.

Hebron is, to me, the conflict here in a  nutshell.  Two groups who each claim ownership of the land and the history...and both are correct.  How do you resolve  such a  conflict?  Bob Lange and Bishop Younan bothe sayou the same  thing!  Dialogue not armies...compromise  not conflict.  Peaceful  coexistence...so...why isn't  it  happening?

Off to Bethlehem  and to the Shepherd's Fields.  This is a beautiful  spot in Bethlehem  where it  is assumed  that those shepherds so many years ago heard the birth announcement  of  Jesus and quite  possibly  be the place where Maryou and Joseph stayed, too during the birth!  Beautiful  chapel built by Bartilucci in the shape of a Bedouin tent.

Beit Sahour is right next door, so some did further shopping.  I shopped but did not buy!

Hotel again ànd a super early  start tomorrow.  We are walking  out at 7am!