I woke at 3:30 a.m. and jogged from my hotel to the Western Wall, the Kotel, to pray just after 4:00 a.m. I jogged back, showered, packed my belongings, and headed northwards, meeting old friends at the incomparable Hotel Magdala, on the Sea of Galilee.
We drove north to the Golan, stopping at an olive oil factory in the town of Katzrin before reaching Mount Hermon, the highest peak in the Middle East. A group of Israeli soldiers from the new Alpine Brigade took us around the mountain and to a lookout from Har Dov, a strategic point that Hezbollah wants Israel to give up: it commands all of northern Israel.
We drove onwards to Majdal Shams, the northernmost town in Israel, a Druze village where 12 children were killed by a Hezbollah rocket in July -- in retrospect, a turning point in the war.
Later, at the brigade's base, there was an incoming rocket alarm, and we ducked into a shelter. Several Christians in our group began a joyful song of prayer to lighten the mood. We heard the booms of the Iron Dome, and emerged to see the smoke trails of the downed rockets.
We headed south again, witnessing a spectacular sunset over the Galilee and Lebanon. In the distance, there was a wisp of smoke, rising from an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. In the evening, I met for a delicious dinner in the Golan with a cousin who happened to be on a hiking trip.
So many thoughts in one day. Wondering what the future will bring; wondering about my own purpose in all of this; enjoying the fellowship of my fellow travelers; admiring the fortitude of the soldiers after more than a year of war; feeling so many emotions. A Thursday in Israel.
My son’s Little League All-Star team won a tournament yesterday. He went 2-for-2 with a single (here) and a double, both solid hits.
People are happy with the military, but weary of the war. People are cautiously optimistic about Trump and the proposed ceasefire deals. This society is full of children and old people, who seem less visible in the U.S.
Need rest. First full day tomorrow.
I'm writing from the coach cabin on El Al flight 006 from L.A. to Tel Aviv, heading back to Israel for another week of journalism and reconnecting.
This trip will be quick, and seems easy. Actually, it was very hard to arrange.
Last month, everyone was canceling everything, fearing a much wider war in the Middle East. I had a ticket on British Airways, and they canceled ALL flights to Israel through early next year. Two tours I might have accompanied also canceled.
I looked at fares on El Al, and they were prohibitively expensive. Suddenly, after refreshing the website for days, a fare popped up that was reasonable -- normal, even. I didn't hesitate; I moved ahead and booked my ticket.
My ambition is to get to Lebanon, somehow. I don't need to go far into the place; I certainly don't want to go anywhere particularly dangerous (though it's all a little dicey). I just want to stand there and look back at Israel.
I have a specific reason for wanting to do so: when I was at the Lebanese ...
I had a bit of a grumpy time yesterday around the scheduling of several video interviews. I love the hosts, and I appreciate their time, but video is so hard to pull off. It requires you to stay home, and to stop whatever else you are doing.
I realize that consumers of news are increasingly turning to video (though I don't quite understand the appeal of just watching someone talk into a mic). But who has time to make all that video? Especially if you're gathering news?
I'm a fan of radio and always have been. Podcasts are also great. I just can't think of any reason to tie up 2 of my senses for content that I can consume with one. Especially with four kids, work to do, a house to clean, etc. etc.
There are exceptions, of course. I think there are great TV programs, panel discussions, etc. that are much better in a visual medium (though still good in audio alone). But unless you have that level of production value... I don't get it. Doesn't seem worth it.
