Environmental Tourism

I recently went to the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. While these are major tourism spots, this time I went there with a focus on environmentalism. I knew, from my previous visits, that the status of both the Dead Sea and Jordan River was bad. It was startling to hear exactly how bad it is.

The Dead Sea is receding by 1.3 (or so) meters a year.

The pictures above are from a hotel that was active until 1967 and the Dead Sea (barely visible in the distance) came all the way to the edge of the structure.

As the Dead Sea receded an unexpected phenomenon started to occur: sinkholes. There is a salt layer below the sediment that becomes eroded over time as underground water that is less saline flows past. This results in the sudden collapse of the salt layer and therefore dangerous and destructive sinkholes. 

12 years ago I ran the Dead Sea half marathon, I ran pretty closely to the water and the race started from this now destroyed spa (pictured above is the entrance and parking lot). The water is around 150 meters away and when the sinkhole picture above occurred, the spa was permanently abandoned - that was only in the last few years.

One reason that the Dead Sea is receding so much is that the Jordan River water is being completely used up for human consumption (primarily agriculture), by both Jordan and Israel. By the time it reaches the Dead Sea it is little more than a silt stream. Even so, pilgrims come from all over the world to get baptized in the less than inviting River.

This is the only part of the lower Jordan where civilians can approach the water and in the shadows of the pavilion, across the river, you can just barely see a Jordanian soldier monitoring the border.

There are proposed solutions for the state of the Dead Sea (most popular is the Red-Dead proposal) but nothing can be done immediately. Who will fund the projects? What are the further environmental impacts of any proposed solution? Could either Jordan or Israel stand to use less of the Jordan River waters? There are many researchers and organizations looking into all of this. There is a strong push to save the Dead Sea. Unfortunately, there is no solution that will be readily available for several years.

Not Knowing is Adventure

This last week I attended a Jewish/Christian joint night of praise put on by CJCUC (Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation). It was in celebration of memorial day and independence day. It was a lovely night, both the indoor and outdoor portion!

This meeting was in Netanya (just north of Tel Aviv) and I needed to get to Kfar Saba (between the two cities) for the night. I had checked the bus schedules and charted my path days in advance. I'm a planner, most of the time, and like to know in advance how things will go.

Well, that didn't work out. Several streets were closed due to the holidays even though the busses were running. As I saw the bus I needed turn in the opposite direction, heading away from me rather than towards me, I realized I might have a problem. Upon checking the bus schedule again I found that the last bus between Netanya and Kfar Saba was going to pass about two miles from where I was in about half an hour.

I took off running, in a skirt, with fireworks overhead, through neighborhood streets. It was a blast! Yes, I had a plan. That plan didn't work. I was thrown a curve-ball and had to improvise. It was more stressful but also more fun.

I think that often happens. Having a plan that works out is really nice and calming. Having plans that don't work can be stressful but it also opens us up for creativity and an adventure.

I made it to the bus with some time to spare and a sweaty face to show for my adventure!

On the Siren

Last Thursday Israel remembered the Holocaust. At 10 in the morning a siren was sounded for 2 minutes of silence during which time everyone stood. I was in class during the siren. The significance of that day was made more profound when my professor told us that her mother, who passed away about four weeks ago, was a Holocaust survivor. She was hidden by locals, with her sister, for the duration of WWII.

This week, Israel commemorates the loss of soldiers with memorial day. The siren will sound again and Israel will pause. It is truly eerie and intriguing to experience this event. If you haven't ever done it before, google "Israel siren video" and you'll get many videos of Israel coming to a standstill. (Look especially for one of the highways)

Immediately when memorial day ends, independence day begins: fireworks, BBQ, spending the day at the park, and all the accouterments. The flags have been going up over the past week in anticipation of the holiday!

Bless and do not Curse

The sidewalk and biking in Israel has led me to feel more frustration than most other experiences in my life. I can easily get mad at others on the sidewalk because it seems like they are trying to use me to commit suicide. The idea of walking/biking on the right side since they drive on the right side hasn't really taken hold, so it is hard to anticipate or read people's movements.

I don't like feeling frustrated so I generally find a way around it. Biking here has stumped me a bit though. It got a little easier when I figured out I could use my bell similarly to the way I used the horn whilst driving in Tanzania and Kenya. I ding that bell anytime I think someone isn't aware of my location. I've seen other Israelis do this as well, so I think it is appropriate in this culture. The bell helped.

I was still getting frustrated though. This week I decided that I needed to add another level of frustration-protection. I've decided to bless, bless and not curse those who frustrate me the most. I don't want to just put on a good face, I want to change my heart's response to these people, even when they are trying to use me as a weapon against themselves. So, when I notice a negative response to someone, I'm going to bless them. By blessing them, I'm pretty sure that I will also live a more joy-filled life.

No Khametz

It's Passover week here in Israel. Traditionally, this is the time when one cleans out all the Khametz (leaven) from the household before Passover arrives. I didn't do that and a lot of people don't really do that either. Some people simply sell their Khametz. They have a gentile buy their Khametz before Passover begins for a symbolic fee, maybe just a dollar. They close all of the Khametz up in a cupboard and simply don't open that cupboard for a week. Then at the end, they give the dollar back to the gentile and they can once again can access their Khametz.

Grocery stores have a similar tactic. Instead of throwing out and burning tons of food, they cover it up for the week of Passover.

So, for the next week I won't be able to buy anything behind these tarps. Thankfully, most of the food that I use isn't located behind them.

Blessings on you as we celebrate and remember that God has brought us out of slavery and into freedom!