A Day in Tel Aviv

On our last day here in Israel, Kate and I took the crew into the heart of modern and secular Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv reminds me, in many ways, of a South American city. There is the energy and creativity of any European city, but the era of architecture is very similar to cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.

We were most interested in taking the young people two specific sites we felt were important- Ben Gurion's house and Rabin Square. Ben Gurion was the first Prime Minister of Israel, and a major architect of its ethos. His very modest house is mostly as it was when he left it. While there, we watched a movie about his life, and Kate shared some of her admiration for all that he accomplished in his lifetime.

Rabin Square is where Itzak Rabin was assasinated following the peace process in the early 1990's. Kate and I both remember this event clearly, as she was a high school student and I was at college. However, our young people were under the age of 5, and don't have that clear memory like we do. For me, that square is a reminder of the risk of standing up and trying to do what is right. It is also, clearly, a testament to all that Rabin accomplished in his life.

Not too long ago, Kate and I were at a conference and training hosted by Reconcilers.net discussing the Episcopal Church do to help foster peace in the Middle East. We discussed the issue from a myriad of perspectives. At one point, we were asked to say what gifts Israel has to offer the world. For me, Tel Aviv is somehow a symbol of a secular and vibrant city. It plays hosts to world-class performing and visual arts. It has a vibrant economy. It is an exciting city to be. It was important to me that our young people see a bit of this. I hope that as we wondered through the downtown of Tel Aviv, they did so. - JR