October 22, 2000

After church, we gave a letter to the priests of the three churches in town (Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican), sharing the support and concern expressed in the avalanche of emails we have received since the most recent violence began.

Elizabeth picking olives.

Agricultural paths among the olive groves.

In the afternoon, we headed off for day two of our olive picking training. We returned to the hills with another family later in the day. Ironic that we're picking olives, the symbol of peace, as both sides have accused the other of a "Declaration of War."

Later, we attended a funeral for a sixty year-old woman (a member of our olive host's extended family). She died today from a heart attack while picking olives, and was buried in the village graveyard after a procession from the church - all in one day. As the family came forward to pay their last respects, their was an outpouring of grief. It was hard not to be affected by this, and not to have the images of the dozens of Palestinian funerals we have seen on TV come to mind. It's an overwhelming, emotional time for all.

Enjoying the extended family.

Following the funeral, we went to meet our friends for a delicious dinner of ma'alube (Remember? It's what we had on October 9). Most of the olives that are picked get pressed into oil. Our friends, in one harvest, will collect enough for 120 kilograms of oil. The rest they eat as - surprise, surprise - olives.

Elizabeth helps with the curing.

Elizabeth helped with the cutting before they are soaked.