Archeological dig and Lag B'Omer

This is the cave we went in to dig.

On our first full day in Israel, we drove 45 minutes to an archeological dig site. This was the site of a Jewish settlement over 2000 years ago. When they were kicked out by invaders (I can’t remember who, Romans? Arabs? No idea…). They threw everything in their homes into the basements. That is where we were digging, in these old basements, looking for things they left behind. We found many pieces of pottery, some hand made, some, they told us, were imported from Italy because it was made of different material. When we sifted through the smaller things, we found pieces of charcoal, and someone even found a bead, probably from a necklace. It was really interesting to think we were finding items that were just so old, and people in their homes used so long ago. Someone in our group actually found an almost complete bowl, with only a small chip missing from the side. It was so hot outside, but in the caves underground it was very cool and pleasant. The heat was basically the opposite of the heat in Tallahassee, very dry and hot, not humid. I like it a lot more than Tally weather, and I do well at night too. It gets down to about 50, and people are freezing. I love it because its like spring in Trumbull! Really not cold at all, not to me.

Pieces of pottery collected, not by us, but in the past,
that have been put together to make whole pieces.

After the digging, we went to a cave that began in one place and came out in another. People went through it, which I learned is called “spelunking.” After all of this we went back on the bus and drove to a picnic area, near an old watchtower. Our new friend, the Commander, barbecued burgers and lamb kabobs. The burgers, of course, were without cheese. Everything here is eaten with pita and hummus (but if you pronounce “hummus” wrong, people WILL glare). So our burgers were no different, they were stuffed in a pita with hummus, and a cucumber tomato salad. It was delicious, as were the lamb kabobs. Pita is not like it is in America; it is much better and so much fresher. Hummus is also better here, it’s really good and there are so many different types.

Fire Dancer at the bonfires for Lag B'Omer

This day it was also a holiday, called Lag B'Omer. To celebrate, we went to a large park in Jerusalem where the community was gathered around a dozen or so bonfires. On one side there were a bunch of bonfires where only kids were gathered, running around, singing and laughing. One thing we all noticed is how free the kids were, no parents around at all, or constantly telling them to watch the fire. Our first reaction was how crazy it was, for these parents not to care! It wasn’t that they didn’t care, it was just safer for their kids, it’s how they grew up. Parents in America these days freak out over any and every little thing, not even letting their child walk down the street to a friend’s house alone. These kids are given more responsibility at a younger age. This was just very different for us to see, definitely a culture shock. We ended up at a bonfire set up for English speakers who had moved to Israel to help them adjust and fit it. There were fire dances and roasting marshmallows, and it was a lot of fun and very interesting to see and be a part of. Then we made our way home... the next day, the Old City of Jerusalem.