What a difference two years makes. Standing only 40 miles away from Damascus, we looked out from the Golan Heights into Syria. Today, the U.N Guards were looking at their cell phones and only occasionally into their high powered telescope pointing towards the 4th largest city in Syria. When last here we were witness to a brutal, full-scale siege in the Syrian civil war. Standing on the very same platform today, we saw only beautiful landscape and heard nothing but the sound of the tour guide’s voice. Gabi remarked two years ago that she knew if people did survive the siege, they would never have their homes to return to and most likely become refugees and be bounced about unwanted by anybody.
Lana, our guide, did speak about the refugee population and their horrific situation. We shared that Congregation Beth Am has adopted a Syrian refugee family and it has changed the lives of a few Beth Am families who work closest with them. There is a GoFundMe page for the Alatrash Family and we are making a great effort to help ensure their self-sufficiency in the next year. We were inspired to help this family and we will be exploring more about the refugee crisis in the future. We have to be part of the solution!
Before the Golan was a small hike at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, then lunch and a visit to beautiful Safed/Tzafat, where we learned about Kabbalah while sitting in the Caro Synagogue, did some shopping and then dinner back at Kibbutz Goshrim.
What a great day inspiring me to work harder for immigration rights and to also help take care of the Alatrash Family as much as I possibly can. If you are able to help, please learn more about them here.
Blessings from the North
Ayin Tova: To See The Good 
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