Friday morning after breakfast, Yuval took us on a tour of the Kibbutz where we had been staying the past 2 nights.   "Gathering", Yuval said, is the meaning of the Hebrew word kibbutz. The kibbutz is a form of communal living that combines socialism and Zionism.  Yuval grew up on a kibbutz and shared a wealth of history and facts about this way of life. Less than five percent of Israelis live on kibbutzim.  

After our tour of the kibbutz we loaded the bus and headed north to Gamla, called "Massada of the Galilee". The name Gamla is derived from the word gamal, meaning 'camel', as it is situated on a hill shaped like a camel's hump.   The fortified city of Gamla was one of the last cities to fall to the Romans in A.D. 67.  Today Gamla is an archaeological site and a nature reserve.  It is also the home of a very large nest of Griffon vultures.



We visited Katzrin, the only Jewish town built in Golan Heights. Here I bought a pair of Elait stone earrings and observed locals, including a dog and some very serious soldiers.

The next stop was Mount Bental. Located in the Golan Heights and 3800 feet above sea level, Mt. Bental offers stunning views of Mount Hermon and the Golan, as well as several Druze villages and a network of old bunkers and trenches.
Due to its advantageous observation point, Mount Bental is a key strategic point for Israel. In the Yom Kippur War of 1973, it was the site of one of the largest tank battles in history. 

I love Mediterranean food! Everything I ate in Israel was fresh and simply delectable. One of the best food experiences I had during our tour was at a restaurant in a Druze village on our way from Golan Heights to Caesaria Philippi. The restaurant staff served us samples of Druze dishes which were all very delightful and interesting. Yuval always hooked us up!


Our last stop of the day was Caesarea Philippi (Banyas), an ancient city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon. The city is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and also numerous times in Acts. It was located within the region known as the "Panion", from Pan - the Greek god of desolate places. Today, the uninhabited city is an archaeological site located within the Golan Heights.


Tonight was our last night on the kibbutz. After dinner several of us brought our patio chairs together and formed a large circle. We told jokes and listened to Yuval tell the history of Israel. Tomorrow morning we would move on to Jerusalem!!