Writes of Right Water Rites
Trip Start
Sep 19, 2008
1
6
11
Trip End
Sep 23, 2008
Jordan Valley,
Israel
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Guides in Israel are typically highly educated via a tourism guide certification school. It is like a college of sorts. Such guides are credentialed, typically Jewish, and very pricey. My guide was not credentialed and ergo not nearly as pricey. However, it sort of ended up being the 'you get what you pay for' scenario. The main reason I used him was due to the fact that he could take me to places that the Jewish guides were not allowed to go: Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock and Bethlehem. While he could get you access to these places and was a safe option, he wasn't exactly the most organized or informative choice
Ancient public toilets at Bet She'an
. In truth, he reminded me of a really nice and sweet but bumbling Inspector Clouseau character from the Pink Panther movies. It actually became sort of a personal comedy to me. Not everywhere, but many places we went I felt like it was about the second time he'd been there. In fact sometimes, thanks to my prior reading and documentary watching, I ended up telling him things about the sites that he didn't know. He also was very disorganized, sometimes having to backtrack with an 'Oh yes, there's something else I just remembered to show you'. His deficits would have bothered me except for the fact that he basically cost me the same as a simple driver (which is absolutely necessary) without a guide and he did do some guiding, albeit in a 'just the facts' sort of way- there was no story-telling involved. He also went out of his way to save me money by dealing with the locals on prices. Also Doug, I think you would have enjoyed his music along the ride. When we got to the sites, I did manage to overhear what the other guides were saying so I ended up getting a pretty good overview. All-in-all he made it enjoyable (and funny).Today I toured Bet She'an, Tiberias, Cana and Nazareth. Saw where Christ performed a couple of miracles, specifically the feeding of the multitudes via the 5 loaves and 2 fishes and the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana. We visited the Mount of the Beatitudes Church- a gorgeous setting overlooking the Sea of Galilee; the location where Christ appeared, post-crucifixion to the Disciples and told them where to throw their nets; and also saw Mary's house, where she was visited by an angel
Rock where Christ performed miracle of loaves/fish
. Of course they have built a church over the house, appropriately the Church of the Annunciation. Bet She'an was an ancient city in the fifth millenium BC. It was eventually conquered by the Romans and there are excellent ruins remaining. They had a Heliopolis, Ampitheatre, shops, baths, temple and even public restrooms.
Another place we stopped was a location called Yardenit on the Jordan River. It is near the supposed site where Jesus was said to have been baptised by John the Baptist. Now I had been baptised (sprinkled) in a Episcopal church as a baby. I later was indoctrinated on the rites of baptism by none other than the (Baby Blue decorating-loving) Baptists themselves while attending elementary & middle school. Of course they insisted that immersion at an age of personal choice was the only way to go. Being young and impressionable I was scarred for life (however for some reason their 'no drinking' admonishments didn't hold the same power). I'm fine with the Baptists but I swear, if they can find a way to throw proverbial water on something (no pun intended) to dampen the spirit(s) like dancing, drinking, music, how long your dresses have to be, etc., they will.
So upon arrival at the River Jordan I decided there was no better place was to finally get this water rite- righted
Stained glass @ Taghba/loaves church
. At the Yardenit site the entire purpose of the locale is baptism and they have church group after church group come to get baptised at the site. So, with the assistance of The Inspector, I set out to find a pastor that would initiate my baptism. It seems that I hit my timing to coincide with a mass of Catholic Indians who were getting baptised. I swear the combined population of Calcutta and Bombay was there. At very least the combined population of Indian physicians in Ocala, which trust me is no small number! So I was baptised this go round by a Catholic, Indian priest. However, he spoke English and asked me all the right questions from what I expected and could discern. After it was over he even raised his hands and shouted 'Halleluah, Halleluah' in true Baptist style. All I needed was an amen chorus being sung and I'm confident the skies would have opened and doves would have flown up right then & there. Seriously though, it was a good experience and one I'll always remember. 
