February 21, 2002 — Mudeif Productions

We have made a few excursions into the Galilee, but always for a day or two when we have specific things to accomplish. This time we do have some business to take care of, but we have - for the most part - a good chunk of time to relax. We anticipate getting to a lot of the Biblical sites over the next few days.

*Visiting the Abu Akel family in Kufr Yasif, Israel.*

The first stop was Mt. Precipice, on the outskirts of Nazareth, where the crowds tried to throw Jesus off a cliff because of what he was saying about them (Luke 4). The views from this place are incredible, and as green as the Galilee usually is, this time of year is optimal for seeing what the rain can do.

*An Israeli radar station at the Lebanese border.*

From there, we headed off to the village of Kufr Yasif. Supposedly its name comes from Josephus, the ancient historian who wrote extensively about this place (including - we are told - mentioning this village). Christians, Muslims, and Druze co-exist here, the majority still being Christian. We were making a visit that was a year and a half overdue to the Abu-Akel family. Our mentor in this whole endeavor is the Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel, a Presbyterian pastor in Atlanta. He was born in Kufr Yasif, and his family still lives here. Because of the 'Eid, much of the family was on vacation, including a couple who work as English teachers to Bedouins in Beersheba.

*From northern Israel, looking south along the Mediterranean.*

The patriarch of the family took us up north to see the Israeli-Lebanese border - a bizarre experience to say the least, reading a sign that said, "Israel-Lebanon border crossing." To whom? Wishful thinking?

A meal and a birthday party later, we set out for Nazareth - far too early in all of our estimations. We'll have to come back for a several-day visit at least. We were about five minutes away from our beckoning beds when we arrived at a police roadblock. There was stone-throwing going on just down the road, and the policeman was recommending that the traffic take alternate routes. We did, and the five minute journey took us the greater part of an hour. Made us homesick for Zababdeh - except the roads were paved this time around.