Israel: The Holy Land and Timeless Cultures

10/4/2023 - Baha’i Gardens, Church of Annunciation, and Peace Vista Lodge Kibbutz

Daytime panoramas of the Baha’i from the top of Haifa.

Previous photo of night view from the bottom of the gardens.

You cannot miss the Baha’i Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and possibly the most distinct and most visited tourist attraction on Mount Carmel in Haifa. This is the most holy site of the Baha’i faith. 

The Baha’i faith was founded 200 years ago by Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi, a Persian who tried to spread his beliefs under the moniker prophet Bab (meaning “gate” in Arabic). The Shia clergy shunned him even though he amassed thousands of followers. Six years later, he was executed.                           

There are three sections of the Baha’i Gardens. The lower section includes the German Colony. The middle section consists of the gardens surrounding the gold-capped Shrine of the Bab, where his remains are kept. The upper section, just off the Louis Promenade and main gate, is where the tours begin. It is six-tenths of a mile from the German Colony to the top, with 19 terraces of flowers, waterworks, and small sculptures.                

The Gardens, designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba,  encompass 11 square feet containing nine concentric circles filled with flowers, small trees, small sculptures, water fountains, and pools. To the sides of the gardens are wooded areas designed to house wildlife and to cut down on urban noise. 

A walk through the historic Galilee Mill.

Ricky, Susan, and Alice had no trouble finding the sweets.

I followed my nose to the wood-fired bread oven.

There were spices and herbs.

And dried fruit.

So sorry to leave the mill.

The Basilica of the Annunciation is a Catholic church in Nazareth, northern Israel, commemorating where the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she would bear God’s son. 

Main entrance to the Basilica.

Incredible bas relief of entry door.

Ecumenical Meeting of Pope Paul VI (right)

and Patriarch A. Tenagoras I (left)

in Jerusalem on January 5, 1964.

Two photos of the diverse background on the hill near the Basilica. 

Catholic monastery, Greek Orthodox Church, Mosque minaret and dome. (left to right).

Inside the Basilica.

The Immaculate Conception by sculptor Charles L. Madden (USA).

THE WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN IS THE PROTOTYPE 

FOR MARY AND THE CHURCH. 

MARY IS THE EXPRESSION IN MULTI-FACETED SPLENDOR THAT THE GRANDEUR OF GOD WILL FLAME OUT

 LIKE SHINING LIKE SHOOK FOIL. 

Mary’s altar.

We ended our fantastic day with a drive to the Golan Heights, where we had dinner in the kibbutz dining room and stayed two nights at the Peace Vista Lodge.

A kibbutz is a "gathering" in Hebrew, a communal living situation unique to Israel. The first kibbutz was established in 1910. Today, Israel has about 270 kibbutzim. They are small towns with 100-1,000 residents, initially centered around collective farms but now focused on modern industry and tourism. 

Historically, many were formed by young Eastern European Jews who believed in the Zionist mission of creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which was once part of the Ottoman Empire and later under British control. Others came to escape antisemitism and, later, the Holocaust.

Kibbutz residents have never made up a majority of Israel's residents. (Less than 3% of Israel's population live on one.) Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had outsized cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history, with many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals, and artists coming from kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

 

The Peace Vista Country Lodge is situated on the high basalt cliffs of the Southern Golan Heights above the untamed gardens of a beautiful nature reserve with spectacular views of the Sea of Galilee, Mt. Hermon, the hills of the Galilee, Mt. Tabor, and the fields of the Jordan Valley. It is a village with wooden cabins, luxurious suites, studio rooms, and a unique holistic experience.

 

A kibbutz would never work for me. I envision a merger with a dictatorial HOA + 1960s Flower Children. One thing we benefitted more than once was enough, courtesy of the Peace Vista Lodge, was the 7:30 breakfast delivery of enough food to feed an army! 

What lies in wait under the burgundy cloth napkin?

Massive amounts of food!

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to guess what I ate first. 

The hard-boiled egg was still hot to the touch, 

so I started with the chocolate croissant (sigh), 

quickly followed by the little bread loaves.