On Wednesday the 6th of Tevet, several people came to work in Bet Hogla in farming-in response to my ads that I needed workers.
I also received a phone call from someone from Tel Aviv. He said that he was on vacation from his job in the Ministry of Defense, and that he has a longing for the Land, and would like to come.
On Wednesday, two men came who did not appear like farm workers at all.They expressed an interest in working. I answered them innocently. They told me that after work, they would like to go and drink coffee in a hotel in the surrounding area. I had informed them that the salary was 20 shekel per hour.
They left, and then one of the men who works here said"they are from the department of the Shabak that deals with Israelis". Only then did I understand that they were men of the Shabak who had pretended to be farm workers. But they didn't really fit the part. In short, I don't know if it was amusing or scary. I feared that they were already planning to vacate us from our settlement, or do who knos what. With the help of the Al-mighty, everything always turns out for the best.
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Visit to the Hasmonean tunnels
On Tuesday , the 28th of Kislev, we visited the Hasmonean Palaces that are in Jericho with a group of twelve people. We parked in Wadi Kelt in the square of the monastery and we walked on foot the length of the wadi.
We passed the Kipros, an important Hasmonean fortification that looks out over the entire Jericho valleyand we advanced until the last turning that followed it. The area was already populated. Then we went down the slope,wlked across the Wadi, and and went up the other side -where the palaces are located. We were very excited when we saw them-they are an eternal testimony to the Israeli presence in south-west Jericho. But what attracted our attention were the Arabs who were living there-not on large areas of the excavations but on smaller sections.
For example, the entire area where the royal industry had been located was now built up and planted. There still exist frescos on the walls and the plaster is fragile-everything is neglected. But we were happy to be in our land,to visit and give honor to a 200 year kingdom during the period of the Second Temple-when Jericho was a wellspring of life in all spheres- ranging from business to spiritual life.Hillel studied and taught in Jericho.
Many prominent people came to visit and to be inspired by this unique place. , that is below sea level and has such pleasant winter weather.
On Monday the fourth of Tevet 5770 wase regular weekly class of Rabbi Dr.Hagi Ben Artzi held at Bet Hogla.
At 11:15 A.M. with the participation of 8 women we studied the story of the conquest of Jericho in the Book of Joshua.
In the middle of the class, we heard a vehicle entering the settlement, and I went out to see who it was. There had been one time in the past when men from the shabak had come to visit, had joined the class, and had then left with enthusiasm for the class. Now , remembering the past incident , Chagi announced "Shabak".
It turned out only to be an ordinary police vehicle, and they had , come to see how I was doing. Then Hagi went out and asked them jokingly" Are you Bibi's bodyguads?Tell him I am disgusted with him!(Hagi is Bibi's brother in law).The police were surprised-and we just laughed. Hagi left and they said to me "Is this the Class?" Yes, I answered them.
Thus we laughed and they got an idea of what was happenting in our settlement.
News - august 2009
Jewish life in Jericho
Telephone 052-8699300, 02-9409038
email: ernajericho@bezeqint.net
Mailing Address: Erna Kobos,
Bet Hogla /Bet Haarava 90687
Donations: Bank Discount, Romema Branch (#67),
Account #212504
Registered Society 58-030-183-6
Jewish life in
Jericho 