Avery Dunn About the North of Israel

At Beit Kaye in Nahariyah

Today, in our hostel just within the old city walls of Akko, our day started off with an amazing breakfast, complete with the all-American classic: pancakes! Miriam was especially excited to see them. After that we packed up and went on our way to visit Beit Kay, a rehabilitation center for army veterans located in Nahariyah. Beit Kay is a center that has been open since the 1960s, dedicated to helping IDF soldiers to recover from injuries. Beit Kay is funded by the same generous people who sponsored our trip: Abe and Minnie Kay. 

Our group in the Artist Colony
Tzfat

After a quick tour we hopped back on the bus to drive to the stunning grottos at Rosh Hanikra. The view was breathtaking. After a discussion with Ilan, our guide, about the history between Lebanon and Israel, we explored the sea grottos. The next stop was the city of Tzfat, one of the four holy cities of Israel (along with Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Hebron). We explored two orthodox synagogues, one Ashkenazi and one Sephardi. After some free time to shop for souvenirs we headed to the last stop of the day, a disco boat on the Sea of Galilee! We had a fun time jamming out to some classic (i.e. "Cotton Eye Joe," "I Want It That Way," etc.) songs and enjoying the beautiful view of the shores of Golan Heights and the Lower Galilee. Next we had free time and dinner in the town of Tiberias and headed to our hotel.

Disco Boat!

One highlight from my day today was exploring the city of Tzfat. It was gorgeous with cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways. There were various shops selling all sorts of art, Judaica, fresh juice, and handmade candles. Much of the city is painted in turquoise and It really reminded me of Santorini, Greece with its gorgeous views and secluded passageways. It was a perfect stop for a new pair of candlesticks and a painting of the old city of Jerusalem. Overall, the day was really fun for everyone.