Responses in Apocalyptic Times

Imagine this...you are sitting at the entrance to Cave #4 in Qumran and studying texts that were found right there...for someone who is interested in learning and history, there is no better way to start the day. I do not have words to describe the thrill of sitting in the spot where the scribes might have sat and learning from those very same texts. The theme for today was Responses in Apocalyptic Times and we started at Qumran learning about the community and then reading texts from the scrolls including there Code of Behavior and other non-religious texts. We also read some of the psalms that were included in the scrolls but are not in Tenach. We read Pliny's accounts which was quite fun since Marty and I had just been looking at Pliny in preparation for his trip to Pompeii...and even some things from the Wall Street Journal in 1954 when more scrolls were discovered. We had a long conversation about the difference between "exile" and "diaspora" from which we gleaned no answers but just more questions...I am still struggling with this and its implications. Then to Masada...Where those at Qumran had left Jerusalem due to the corruption at the Temple, those at Masada were the last hold out against the Romans...Question again of whether they were a cult or Freedom Fighters and what, if anything, is the difference...In addition to older texts, we read some anti-war poetry that was written in the 70's that uses Masada as a reference...of course, being anti-war in Israel has had different political implications for people than being anti-war in the US. Just when my brain was about to explode, we took a break and relaxed at Ein Gedi Spa for the rest of the afternoon. On a practical note, you'll be happy to know that Ahava is now selling a 3 ounce size in addition to their 5.1 standard size of creams and lotions. This may make a carry-on trip to India possible in November. A few of us had dinner with Sherri Morrison's sister and brother in law who live outside of Jerusalem. As always, it is wonderful to be in someone's home and to see how people actually live. Yet another great day and more to come..... L'Shalom, Randi