A Weekend Away

This weekend, we participated in a Shabbaton (an overnight Shabbat) as part of Parallel Lives, a group that brings together Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and American students to build relationships and to gain understanding of each others' lives. We had the privilege to stay with the Hosman family for the weekend at their home on a moshav just outside Binyamina, a small town best known for its wineries about 1.5 hours northwest of Jerusalem. A moshav is a small Israeli town that is a type of agricultural cooperative community, and Elisha, Etti, Eyal, and Roni welcomed us into their home with open arms. Their backyard was full of orange, avocado, grapefruit, and olive trees, plus a greenhouse where their grandfather tends to his hobby of horticulture. The common land grows all sorts of vegetables plus a huge number of carnations that are exported, mainly to Japan. Etti was a fabulous chef--the food was endless and delicious. We felt so lucky to have this experience and hope we'll have a chance to visit them again.

Our family


Birds of Paradise in the backyard


I love the blue and the way the kitchen was organized.


Shakshouka on Saturday morning!


Did you know this is how avocados grow? I didn't.


Homemade Challah on Shabbat=delicious


Welcome to Parallel Lives...just another day in Israel


We took a short hike with the group on Saturday. Looking down-


Thanks to the Hosman family, we also are the proud owners of an aloe plant!