Fateful Decisions in the Wake of the Destruction of the Second Temple

After a restful and uplifting Shabbat, we started for the north early this morning. Our first stop was in Caesarea for a study session in the ruins of the ancient Caesarea. This was a very upscale city built by Herod early in the common era. The creation of this city changed the patterns of trade in the middle east for generations. We read from Josephus, and both the Talmud Yerushalmi and the Talmud Bavli as we looked out at the view of the Mediterranean that inspired Hannah Senesh to write Eli Eli. We had time for some quiet reflection as we each walked alone along that same path. Then on to Beit Shearim for a study session about the period of the Mishna. We sat in the burial chamber where Yehuda haNasi was buried in 200 as we read about him and the development of the Sanhedrin. I continue to be overwhelmed by the impact the place has on the study. We arrived in Tzfat in time for dinner and a brief study session on the Fable of the Goat which many of you know. A bit of modern info - I can't remember how it came up in conversation, but today I discovered that the largest percentage of porn videos being rented in Israel is by Haredi boys. I leave the commentary on that to the rest of you. I must sleep. L'hit, Randi