Our Israel Trip: Something's Fishy -- Part 2

As we traveled through the northernmost area of Israel called the Golan Heights, we find ourselves within 2 miles of the border of Lebanon to our west and at one point we were within a few hundred yards of the Syrian border. The Golan Heights area was a part of Syria prior to the Six-Day War in 1967. Hearing first-hand accounts of the fighting during this war and the Yom Kippur War in 1973 from our guide Nathan, who was a former Israeli paratrooper, was a sobering experience for us all. All Israelis are required to serve in the military for three years when they reach the age of 18.

Our guide Nathan Shapiro - Syria in background

Our group, standing near the Syrian border

This is Gamla (think "camel"). Take a look at this mountain and tell me it doesn't look like a camel's back. So this unique land form was the site of a village by that name which fell to the Roman general, Vespasian in 67 A.D. For those among you who might recognize the name Masada, this tragic episode has been referred to as "the Masada of Galilee".

Here's the fishy part. You all know that Peter, Andrew, James & John were fishermen. Somehow, Peter alone got credit for naming the fish in the Sea of Galilee. Your visit to the Sea of Galilee is not complete until you've enjoyed a meal of St. Peter's fish. And so we did - heads on, fish eyeballs staring at you. Pretty tasty! We enjoyed this meal at Kibbutz Ein Gev, home of Shimon Peres, President of Israel.

The apostle Peter lived in Capernaum -- we know he had a wife and a mother-in-law -- and Jesus was certainly a frequent guest in his home. Our Lord spent more time in and around Capernaum than anywhere else during his three-year earthly ministry. The synagogue there has uncontested authenticity. Thus, visiting disciples such as we were, can be fully assured that we were walking on the floor where He walked as He taught and revealed Himself to those present.

Synagogue at Capernaum

This trip wasn't all work! We found time to enjoy the amenities of the Galei Kinnereth Hotel in Tiberius, including this dip in hot mineral waters which Tiberius tourists have been enjoying for a couple of thousand years.