101026 KHIRBET WADI HAMAM

During a recent visit to the Galilee, a friend from Migdal mentioned the remarkable find of an ancient synagogue, Khirbet Wadi Hamam near Mt. Arbel, so with his directions embedded in my mind, I went to investigate the scene. What seemed to be simple enough turned out to be more complicated since the place is not well marked.
The ruins are on a hillside at the base of Mt. Arbel

101008 AN OPEN FRONTIER

BIKAT HAYARDEN, also ARAVOT HAYARDEN, Part II
(For Part I, submit a request for newsletter "On Assignment in Jerusalem" #101008, Part I, by writing to Abigail at uriyah@netvision.net.il)

Photos are of a recent public relations tour of the Jordan Valley. The goal of the journey was to create awareness of the lack of industry along the Jordan and awaken a dream to redeem lost opportunities since 1967. (2010)

During our recent tour of the Jordan Valley, we went to the high points of the eastern mountain range which makes for a strategic, defensible border with a view of the Jordan River below. (2010)

The first time I came to Israel was the summer of 1978. I had joined a team who was doing a documentary film of the prosperous dimensions of agriculture in Israel. It was said at the time that the small country of Israel could produce enough food to lift the world out of poverty and starvation. The only problem was that the majority of the world refused