Holy Tsfat!

Time travel is possible! We did it today; no fancy rockets or sound barriers, no high tech contraptions.  We didn't even have to reduce ourselves to millions of tiny particles, float through the atmosphere and reassemble ourselves in 16th century Tsfat. Nope, Today, on our JWRP/JWI trip in Israel all we needed to do was be on time for the bus, put our hands on our hearts, inhale the mystical air around us, listen to the swish of our shoes brushing against ancient stone and "vwalah!" We are in the holy city of Tsfat, as elevated as we can be in the Galilee, climbing gracefully step by step to the exquisite Mikvah of Tsfat where we are welcomed with warm hugs and gratitude for simply arriving; for being in Israel. From our early morning class in love and relationships we journeyed on the echoes of women's voices who are lieutenant colonels in the IDF, who are mothers of eight children, who are artists, who are wives, who are passionate Jewish Women, who are funny, who are smart, who are beautiful in every way.  They echo what is in our own souls; the holy Jewish woman inside each of us, the powerful and enchanting Jewish woman with the desire to connect, the will to believe, the strength to act, the commitment to a people and to traditions that hearten back 20000 years.
Down to every detail, the Mikvah visit was the highlight of the day.  The shopping in cobblestoned pathway for colorful inspiring art, Jewelry and Judaica pleased everyone including the artists and merchants of Tsfat who sold more than $2000.00 in goods from Los Angeles alone.  The beautiful "blue" synagogue, and holy synagogue of Tsfat revealed layers of history as we sat amongst worn and holy books including a  Sefer Torah girded in its beautiful hard casing.  The Jewish men and women who prayed daily through the years and still today can be felt in the walls.  But the Mikvah was extraordinary as we learned about the practice and significance of dunking in waters of hope.  Sitting in a stone building in a stone city that has been built and rebuilt by generations of Jews who long to have holy relationships and to continually elevate the physical, and transform every moment into a holy spiritual and meaningful experience or exchange is beyond compare.
In holy Tsfat, a sale warranted a special song and prayer,  coffee came at a discount after the owner witnessed one of us giving tzedaka (charity), "You helped that man, " the merchant said, so " I help you.".   Young men pass the day strumming guitars on the courtyard steps, cats dart in and out of  colorful doorways, children smile as they skirt down a tiny path from school, jewelry makers create customized works of art before your eyes, artists share their imaginations and their hearts and the Mikvah educators and JWRP teachers share their wisdom, friendship and inspiration. And the Mikvah sustains us all with its powers of renewal.  As we approach the next holy city, Jerusalem, we are filled with gratitude ourselves to be here. We join our Israeli brothers and sisters in solidarity with the new strength we have brought from Tsfat where the physical elevation matches the spiritual height.  The amazing songs and the dances from our dinner at the 700 year old mosque turned magical indoor/outdoor Jewish special events plaza/hall resonate as we
lean slowly toward our pillows and pray for the safety of our people of our land. "Am Yisroel Chai"
There are amazing women on this trip already wanting to live in Israel, curious about everything and everyone, and envigorated and full of energy, good humor, kindness, strength and wisdom.  I am grateful to the almighty for orchestrating this opportunity for me and I am looking forward to tomorrow and to taking our prayers to the kotel.  Ok, yes I am also looking forward to shopping in TelAviv.  Laila tov, good night.