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<\/a><\/p>\nThis morning, we left the hotel and drove north to “Ein Gedi”<\/em>, which\u00a0<\/em>means “spring of the goat.” \u00a0The bus drove quickly through the lush botanical gardens of Kibbutz Ein Gedi then continued to the archeological site of the Old Synagogue complex.<\/p>\n There had been a Jewish community at this location since the 7th century BC. \u00a0The mosaic floor of the “Old Synagogue” which was built during the 2nd century AD, was well preserved. \u00a0It included an inscription warning residents to keep the method of preparing balsam a secret. \u00a0Balsam was the most expensive fragrance in the ancient world and its preparation generated great wealth for the community.<\/p>\n Afterwards we went to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and National Park. \u00a0The reserve is a sanctuary for many types of plant, bird, and animal species, including the Nubian Ibex.<\/p>\n We walked along the path through the desert to a lovely waterfall. \u00a0The landscape was incredibly striking and beautiful.<\/p>\n Or bus drove along the shore of the Dead Sea providing us with incredible views:<\/p>\n Our next stop was the Qumran Caves, the archaeological site in the West Bank where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.<\/p>\n The scrolls were found in eleven caves around an ancient settlement and were probably hidden sometime between 66-73 AD. \u00a0It had been exciting to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in the museum in Jerusalem and now, here I was at the place where they were discovered. \u00a0Unbelievable! \u00a0I had read about the scrolls over past decades but never dreamed I would see the place where they were found. \u00a0Amazing!!<\/p>\n About a dozen scrolls as well as fragments of scrolls were found in earthenware jars hidden in the caves in Qumran. \u00a0The scrolls included copies of all the books of the bible, except the Book of Esther. \u00a0Scribes wrote on parchment sheets that were sewn together into scrolls and placed into large jars.<\/p>\n On our way back to the Cinema Hotel in Tel Aviv for our last night, we stopped in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. \u00a0It was named for olive groves that once covered its slopes. \u00a0The Mount has been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years.<\/p>\n And so, we ended our Israeli trip the same way it began, with a panoramic view across a valley of the Old City of Jerusalem. \u00a0What an incredible view it was! \u00a0The gold Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount shone in the brilliant sun shine. \u00a0Towers of old and new Jerusalem stood out against the clear Israeli sky.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n