Shvil Israel day 1 - Kibbuz Dan to Kfar Gileadi

Finally the Shvil started. Dan was so generous as to spend a whole day with me, driving 4 hours up north, starting the Shvil together with me. I have to introduce Dan. He is a child of the Cochin Jews from South India (a group of only 4000 people) who kept their Jewish traditions for more than 1700 years in India. As soon as the state of Israel was founded, this group decided to make "Alijah" ( Jews coming back to Israel). In 1952 this group came to Israel and to Upper Galilee to live here as farmers. So Dans name comes from the Jewish tribe of Dan and the name of the river Dan up in the North. Dan was born in Kfar Yuval a very small village 100 m away from the border to Lebanon. His family was very poor when they came here and when he grew up. He also experienced terrorists coming to the village killing 3 people out of a family and permanent rocket attacks in his childhood. He became a soldier serving the state and the people of Israel.

Dan, his birthplace Yuval in the background

Dan is a very kind person. It was such a present of him spending the first day on the Shvil with me. We had a wonderful day, in nice fellowship, great nature and beautiful (winter) weather in Israel.

Starting point of the Shvil

Wonderful Green Israel

From Mount Hermon to the Golan heights

We finished our trip in Kfar Gileadi, a Kibbuz on the hills of upper Galilee. This is also a historical place because Josef Trumpeldor a Jewish hero died here in a fight with the Arabs. His last words were "It is a good day to die in the service for your country." To honor him and the other 7 comrads this statue was built, the roaring Lion of Judah.
But this statue with the roaring Lion of Judah has also a spiritual meaning. Gods promised Messiah for the Jews is like a roaring Lion who will save his people and release them from all pain and danger. This is a promise from the Bible.

Thr roaring Lion of Judah

I was invited to stay with Dans brothers family over night. Nachum, the brothers name is also the leader of the local synagoge. So we went together to the evening prayer meeting. We had nice fellowship. Nachum really was a great host, he showed me his chicken farm, he introduced me to his friend who is a hobby carpenter.