I’ve taken what i think are some gorgeous pictures however with the internet situation I cannot upload them just now but believe me I have tried! Today is a very busy day planned.  We’re going to hopefully see the Baha’i Palace and gardens, the ancient Stella Maris Monastery and Elijah’s cave.

It’s so easy, lovely and peaceful here on the kibbutz and even more so on Shabbat. I know most people won’t belive the words Israel and peaceful can share a sentence.  It’s so not at all like what you hear and see on the news. I’m not denying it is like that in spots and places in time, but it is not the overriding existence for Israelis: Arab, Druze; religious and non religious Jews alike. And the Carmel mountains which align this kibbutz are breathtaking and awe inspiring. Due to winter season here they are lush and green and so non-desert-like!

I was so excited to get to the Baha’i Gardens.  Michaels “Kibbutz Mom” Mariana came and got us at 11am and drove us there.  She was so wonderful.  The English speaking tour began at Noon and we just made it in time.  I wasn’t terribly nervous about it…I just KNEW I would be there in time.  No way would I have missed this after making it all the way to Haifa!  But Mariana got stuck parking the car and ended up on the Hebrew tour a groupo or two after us.  It was good on one note; I wasn’t sure how I’d do with all these steps.  You see the Baha’i Gardens and shrine in Haifa are nine enormous tiers that are kept in pristine condition by over 100 gardeners, some volunteer and some paid Israeli’s.  There are over  700 stair steps from the top to the bottom; then another 700 plus steps (but not stairs) from there to the actual shrine.  I had no clue how my legs would hold up to that, but I did fine; it was the NEXT day that I could barely walk!!!

 At the start of the tour; this is BEFORE the beautiful stuff!!!!  

 It occurs to me that I should take a SELFIE of me and Mike for facebook…Gosh I hate my face in Selfie’s!!!

 Then I decided that Moses needed to get in our Selfie!!!  The views are breathtaking (I think I’m saying that a lot in this blog! A little info on the gardens from their website:

The Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa comprise a staircase of nineteen terraces extending all the way up the northern slope of Mount Carmel. The geometry of the complex is built around the axis connecting it with the City of ‘Akko, which also has great historical and sacred significance for Bahá’ís. At its heart stands the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, which is the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’í Faith.

While different parts of the gardens offer a variety of experiences, they speak in a common language of graveled paths, hedges and flower beds groomed and nurtured by dedicated gardeners.  The gardens frame panoramic views of the city, the Galilee Hills and the Mediterranean Sea.

   I almost never ask to have my picture taken…but I wanted to go to this place so bad, that I was not about to not have a photo record of being here!   And of Course Moses needed to join the pose This building below contains the Baha’i archives This is the archives from below instead of above!  You can’t see the green roof (photo below)   Afterward, Mariana took us out for a meal.

I’m so glad I snapped this picture of Mariana and Michael

They are quite cute together; very good friends! Now we’re walking to the Stela Maris Monestary; the ancient Fort and the sky ride past Elijah’s cave  The Monestary from across the street  The statue of the Virgin Mary between the Monestary and the Old Fort which is a military outpost base now  We rode this sky ride all the way down.  I’m not sure we knew for sure what we were doing; we thought it was taking us into Elijah’s cave.  I should say that, as with so many sites in Israel, I think there’s more than one place claiming to be Elijah’s cave!  But the sky ride was amazing.     Mariana and i were a bit scared!  She wouldn’t look at the camera! Michael smiled.  If he was scared, he didn’t show it.         Ahhhh, now we find the Monest ary             Elijah’s Cave Memorial statue

                         Mariana heads home to her family; Michael and I stay at Lev Hamifratz and decide to go to the movies.  We are going to see ROSEWATER….     

 The movie was good; we caught a cab home.  Long Full, wonderful day.  What a lucky mom and gal I am!

***Additional Info*** More about the Baha’i Faith:

A Brief History

The Bahá’í Faith is a monotheistic religion born in the nineteenth century that sees itself as the continuation of the world’s great religions with a new message for the modern age.

Thanks to the world-embracing vision of its founders and the broad appeal of their teachings, the Bahá’í Faith spread around the world in 150 years, becoming a universal movement with several million believers living in every part of the planet and reflecting the diversity of its population.

The Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa and ‘Akko, together with the buildings found in them, represent both the historical memory and the contemporary heart of the worldwide Bahá’í community. Herein lies the “outstanding universal value” that was recently recognized by UNESCO in its decision to add these sites to the list of World Heritage to be preserved for future generations.

The short historical summary below will explain how this all came about and why this story is so significant.

The Báb – The Prophet-Herald

The Báb (Gate) was born as Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad in Shiraz, Iran in 1819. As a child, He showed signs of spiritual depth and wisdom beyond His years. At the age of only 24, the Báb announced Himself as a prophet or messenger of God during a period of intense messianic expectations in Iran. He challenged the thinking of His time by forbidding violence and holy war (jihad), recognizing the equality of women and encouraging science and education. Invoking scriptural prophecy, He claimed to be the herald come to announce and prepare the way for another messenger of God who would usher in the age of peace and justice promised in all religions.

After eighteen disciples, including one woman, had independently found their way to Him and accepted His claim, the Báb sent them out to spread His teachings. Within a short time, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, including some well-known religious leaders, were attracted to His message. Feeling threatened by His success, the clergy declared Him a heretic and instigated a wave of persecution during which thousands of His followers were tortured and killed.

The Báb Himself was confined in isolated fortresses for three years before being executed in a public square in the city of Tabriz, Iran, on 9 July 1850, an event that was witnessed by some ten thousand spectators and reported in the western press. Interrupting a conversation during which He was giving final instructions to one of His followers, guards took the Báb from His cell and suspended Him by ropes against the wall forming one side of the square. Three rows of 250 soldiers each fired in succession, and when the smoke and dust had settled, the Báb was nowhere to be seen. After a frantic search, He was found in His cell, completing his instructions. When He had finished, He calmly announced to the guards that they could now carry out their mission. The first regiment refused to repeat their act, so another one had to be summoned. This time, the bullets reached their target. The Báb’s remains were dumped outside the city and guarded by soldiers to prevent Him from receiving a proper burial. Despite this, His followers succeeded in removing His remains and hiding them in one place after another for fifty years, until they could be brought to the Holy Land and buried in the simple stone structure on Mount Carmel, which was later completed with a monumental superstructure and golden dome. For Bahá’ís, the beauty of the Shrine of the Báb and the lovingly-tended gardens that surround it are an answer to the suffering and injustices inflicted on Him.

Bahá’ú’lláh – The Prophet-Founder

Mirza Hussein Ali (1817-1892), later known as Bahá’u’lláh (Glory of God) was born into a noble family from the Iranian province of Nur. Instead of following in the footsteps of His father, a minister in the royal court, He chose to assist the poor and the sick. When the Báb announced His mission, Bahá’u’lláh became one of His followers and then a major figure in the movement. Like many others, this singled Him out for imprisonment and torture. In His writings, He relates how the announcement of His divine calling came to Him while He was confined in an underground dungeon in August of 1852.

All of Bahá’ú’lláh’s property was confiscated, and He and His family were expelled from their native land in 1853, never to return. The first stage of exile was Baghdad, where Bahá’u’lláh stayed for ten years, two of which were spent wandering alone in the mountains of Kurdistan. Before complying with an order from the Sultan of Turkey summoning Him to Istanbul, Bahá’ú’lláh announced His divine mission to the followers of the Báb, most of whom accepted His claim and became Bahá’ís. After a few months in Istanbul, Bahá’u’lláh was ordered to move on to Edirne in the European part of Turkey. At each stage of His exile, Bahá’u’lláh earned the love and devotion of the people surrounding Him and the jealousy of the clergy and rulers. Finally, in 1868, the Turkish Sultan banished Him to ‘Akko, then a remote outpost of the Ottoman Empire used as a depository for political prisoners and other undesirables. With time, the initial hostility of the authorities and people of ‘Akko changed to respect and affection. After nine years of confinement, first in the citadel and then within the walls of the Old City, Bahá’ú’lláh was allowed to move about freely and to live in the countryside north of the city. The last twelve years of His life were spent in relative comfort in the mansion that stands in the centre of the Bahá’í gardens in ‘Akko. When He passed away on 29 May 1892, at the age of 75, His remains were buried in a small building next to the mansion, which is known as the “Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh”. This is the place to which Bahá’ís all over the world turn their faces and their thoughts while reciting their daily prayers.

Throughout His life of imprisonment and exile, Bahá’ú’lláh was occupied with the revelation of the sacred texts that came to Him in a constant flow, sometimes with such rapidity that no one could write them down. While still confined within the walls of ‘Akko, He formulated the fundamental laws and principles of His religion in a volume He called the “Most Holy Book” (Kitab-i-Aqdas). He wrote to the secular and religious rulers of His day, asserting His authority as God’s messenger, urging them to make peace among themselves and rule over their subjects with justice and compassion, warning them of the consequences of their heedlessness, and in some cases predicting their downfall. In addition to major works addressing theological and mystical subjects, He wrote thousands of letters to individuals in which He explained His teachings and offered personal counsel. In His testament, Bahá’u’lláh appointed His eldest son as His successor and gave him the authority to interpret the teachings and settle differences of opinion so as to protect the community of His followers from dissension and disputes that could lead to schism.