The students went on a field trip (a very windy and cold day), but we went on our own excursion to two national parks.  First was the Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve, which is between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.  It has more interesting formations than you'll find in many other caves.  Not a huge place, but very impressive. 

Then to En Hemed (known in Latin as Aqua Bella, beautiful water), a peaceful park with springs, a stream, and a Crusader fortress from the year 1140.  History at every turn here!

 

Jim had a most interesting trip to Haifa.  Yuval Rabin, a prominent organist in Israel and an observant Jew, drove him to Haifa for his solo concert at the Hecht Auditorium of the university there, where he is in charge of the monthly organ concerts.  Yuval is from Haiva, but lived in Switzerland where he met his now-wife.  She converted to Judaism there, and they have four kids, ages 15 to 9.  They worked in Basel and moved to Jerusalem a couple of years ago.  Very interesting guy, and they had a great time talking as they drove the two hours to Haifa.  They stopped in Caesarea on the way north, because he had missed a couple of things last time, including the Crusader buildings and fortifications.  

Then on to Mt. Carmel (the scene of Elijah’s confrontation with the false prophets of Baal) and the remnants of an ancient quarry.  

Haifa is a beautiful city!  One of the most beautiful settings in Israel, with mountains rising up high from the bay and harbor.  Akko is just across the bay.  Driving around this city is reminiscent of driving in San Francisco, with winding streets and spectacular views.  They had lunch at the food court at the university (there are two distinct kosher areas, meat and dairy). 

Jim rehearsed for his concert on the pipe organ built by Gideon Shamir about 30 years ago. Shamir made it out of leftover parts from organs in Jerusalem (St. George’s Anglican, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and some other Italian organ).  It’s a bit of a rattle-trap hodge-podge, mostly tracker but also has some pneumatic keys. But such is the life of concert organists—they play whatever is given to them and make the best of it. 

Yuval also took Jim to see the Stella Maris Monastery, which is built over a cave said to be the cave of Elijah.  They also saw the grounds of the Baha'i temple which is quite spectacular. Jim stayed at the Beth Shalom Hotel, a very nice boutique hotel only a few steps from one of the best panoramas over the Haifa Bay. 

The program was “music of the wild west,” all music by composers in the Western US and Mexico.  They had a great audience of about 225, Israelis and a lot of Russians.  They probably had never heard anything but serious old European music. They went into their rhythmic unison applause at the ending, so they got an encore!

The students put on their festive Arab Culture night again. The evening started with one of the most acclaimed sheiks in Israel who taught us all about the "call to prayer" which we hear five times a day on the loudspeakers not far from the Center. He makes the call two times each day from Al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City, which is a very big deal! Most of the students donned Arab attire and our chef and staff made a fantastic multi-course dinner for us. After dinner, the traditional drum and bagpipe band filled the Oasis and halls with music and dance. Never a dull moment!

James Wallis

David and Jo Ann Seely and Mary Ellen and Mark Rosen

We are happy that this semester's choir is up and running. We have about 60 students preparing to sing for the first-ever Easter devotional (on Holy Saturday evening). Christmas music is great and often fun, but Easter music is powerful.