
This past week flew by for the 14 American Baptist leaders who took a Fellowship-sponsored tour of Israel.
On Saturday, the group visited Masada, the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73 C.E., and the Dead Sea and Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
They participated in a Havdalah service, the religious ceremony that marks the symbolic end of Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and ushers in the new week.
On Sunday, they began the day at the Fellowship’s Yad LaKashish project where they watched elderly olim (immigrants) from the FSU and Ethiopia make beautiful crafts (pictured above).
Then they visited the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the country located near the Temple Mount.
After touring the park, they visited the Western Wall where they prayed and put prayers in the Wall on behalf of their congregants back home.
The final visit of the day was to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.
At the end of their trip, they attended a farewell dinner, and each member shared a favorite memory from the trip.
All of the members of the group received a copy of Rabbi Eckstein’s book, The Bridge Builder, to take home with them.
Overall, it was a very successful trip. We want to thank all the members of the Fellowship of Baptist Organizations who did a great job of showing Christian support for the Jewish state!