Today is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana. It is our new year and one of the holiest days of the year. It is the day we take a moment, reflect on the events of the last year, and spend some time reflecting inwards. It is a spiritual holiday and one of growth and regeneration.
Current events couldn’t seem farther away from the description I just gave. Right now Israel is in a state of panic with the recent events in the Middle East and the Palestinian Authority is using this as an opportunity to seek statehood at the UN. It is hectic, and peace seems farther and farther away.
When we were in the Sinai Desert we sat one evening speaking to a Bedouin man who, not knowing we were Jewish, shared with us that he couldn’t understand the problems between Israel and it’s neighbors. He told us he felt the Israelis were his cousins, if not his brothers. This was the sentiment we felt throughout the Middle East and one of the reasons we felt so comfortable there. Despite the headlines and the extremists, most people want the same thing…peace.
On this day of spiritual growth we will pause to reflect on our experiences in the Middle East and how we might help to educate our friends and neighbors in our new community. The reason there is trouble there is that everyone wants the same chunk of land and everyone seems to have forgotten how to share.
To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.
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