10 minute read
Travel in a Changed World
Visiting Israel for my daughter’s wedding
By Jesse L. Pleet, Esquire
My life – and indeed the entire world – has changed dramatically since my last trip to Israel in 2018.
That 2018 trip with my late wife, Karen, was my third visit to Israel. It was Karen’s first.
We did some sightseeing and visited my youngest daughter, Rachel, and her Israeli boyfriend, Yehonatan. Rachel met Yehonatan in 2013 at Camp Ramah in the Poconos where they were working as summer counselors following Rachel’s freshman year of college. She became an Israeli citizen in 2017 and they moved to Rishon LeZion, a suburb of Tel Aviv.
Shortly after Karen and I visited Rachel and Yehonatan, they became engaged and planned to marry in the spring of 2021.
Who knew how much would change?
COVID brought the world to a near standstill. International travel was out of the question. However, the world is emerging from those days of isolation. And my daughter rescheduled her wedding for Thursday, May 26, 2022 in Israel. I would embark on my fourth visit to Israel with my girlfriend, Maria, on May 18. We flew from JFK Airport in New York and arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv at 8 a.m. on May 19, but the last trip was much easier. There was plenty of evidence of how COVID changed travel since 2018. Masks were required at JFK and on our flight to Tel Aviv. The Israeli government had required a negative PCR test for us prior to boarding our flight plus evidence that we had medical trip insurance for any COVID-related illness. The Israeli government had recently suspended mandatory airport COVID testing for foreign travelers upon arrival as of May 22, so Maria and I were among the last travelers subjected to cattle-call rapid testing at the airport.
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Travel in a Changed World
Continued from page 9
Yehonatan and Rachel with their Ketubah, which is a traditional Jewish marriage contract spelling out the obligations of the bride and groom.
Fortunately, both of us tested negative for COVID, and it was “Welcome to Israel!”
I had arranged for a luxury bus and tour guide for two consecutive days before the wedding to accommodate guests who had made the trek from America.
Our first day trip departed from Rabin Square in Tel Aviv for Masada and the Dead Sea. The day was hot, with temperatures soaring into the upper 90s, sunny, clear, and dry.
Visiting Masada on the southwest coast of the Dead Sea.
Masada is an ancient stone fortress with extraordinary views of the Judean desert, the Dead Sea, and Jordan to the east.
About 2,000 years ago, King Herod the Great built himself this fortified palace on top of an isolated rock plateau. Many decades later it eventually became a place of refuge for the Jews, who were fleeing the Romans toward the end of the First JewishRoman War in 70 C.E./A.D.
Once surrounded by Roman legions, the 300 inhabitants chose to end their lives, preferring death rather than being enslaved by the Romans.
This was not a mass suicide as sometimes referred, but rather, under Jewish law, considered a “mercy killing.” The head of each family executed their own families. The remaining men drew lots to determine who would be the last man standing to fall upon his own sword. So, there was only one true suicide. Masada stands as an Israeli symbol of resistance and Jewish heroism.
After Masada, we drove 20 minutes to the Dead Sea. It is the lowest place on Earth. Its waters are extremely salty and mineral rich. This makes one float to the point of losing one’s balance. Covering in the “mud” from the shore leaves your skin silky smooth. Although the Dead Sea is still over 1,000 feet deep at its lowest point, the water level has dropped over 100 feet during the past 30 years.
This is a result of extensive mining for the minerals, the constant evaporation at that latitude, and political issues between the countries of Jordan and Israel, both of which border the Dead Sea. There is a joint Israeli-Jordan Commission addressing these problems, which many believe relate to a diminishing supply of fresh water that feeds into the Dead Sea. This was a great day; we walked more than 15,000 steps.
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The bride's American friends, Federico and Anna, apply Dead Sea mineral "mud" during a relaxing dip. Taking a break during a trip to Old Jerusalem.
Jesse’s Tips for Your First Visit to Israel
1. Retain a reputable touring company that includes booking your hotel reservations, busing to the sites, and guides. 2. Have an Israeli SIM card in your phone. Speak with your wireless provider whether your cell phone is “locked” or “unlocked” since you can only buy a SIM card in Israel for an unlocked phone. If you have a locked phone, consider buying a temporary phone in Israel to access Wi-Fi and cellular coverage beyond your hotel. 3. Use ATMs to acquire your NIS (New Israeli Shekels) instead of banks, which charge higher fees and limit you to their location and hours of operation. 4. For occasions where venturing out on your own beyond your group’s organized activities, download Israel’s GETT taxi app for rides, which operates like UBER; and in the larger cities, consider the Moovit app for public buses. 5. Pack a pair of comfortable shoes. Most of the historical sites are vast with uneven terrain.
The second day trip was to Old Jerusalem. The Holy City of Jerusalem is rich in history and culture. On any given day, there are more than a dozen active archaeological dig sites. Jerusalem has been the focus of armed conflicts more than 100 times throughout history.
The old city is divided into four quarters, namely the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian quarters. For Jews everywhere in the world, the portion of the Western Wall revealed inside the Jewish quarter is its holiest site. Muslims believe that Mohammed the Prophet was thought to rise to heaven at the Dome of the Rock, now squarely inside the Muslim quarter, which was built on top of portions of the lengthy Western Wall. The Christian Quarter includes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The Armenian Quarter represents their strong presence since the 4th century when Armenia became Christian.
We took an amazing tunnel tour under the Western Wall and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which Catholics believe is the holiest real estate on Earth outside of the Vatican. We finished the day by visiting the famous Machaneh Yehuda Market, known as “the Shuk,” for shopping and delicious treats of shawarma, fresh pita, burikas, shakshuka, sabich, and falafel, which is Israel’s national dish. We were very tired after this long day of 17,000 steps…
My daughter had a traditional Israeli wedding under the Chuppah. Thank goodness it started at 7:30 p.m. All of us needed some rest after the prior two days of exploring.
There were no toasts and no speeches. Instead, there was amazing food, beverages, and dancing. However, the only slow
dance that night was my honor as father of the bride. And, of course, the groom eventually cut in.
We left Israel May 31, but not before mandatory COVID rapid testing required to re-enter the United States. Negative again!
Masks were no longer required on the flight nor at JFK upon arrival.
However, while on the flight home I felt a “tickle” in my throat, always a harbinger for an impending cold or flu.
After additional symptoms, I took my first home COVID test, testing positive. I conferred with my doctor, self-quarantined for six days, and felt better, testing negative 10 days after the return. Maria, though, had no symptoms and tested negative.
Several Americans returning to the United States experienced the same story, contracting mild COVID while in Israel. But all is well that ends well, including this wonderful spring experience in the Holy Land.
Since 2018, many of us have grieved the loss of a loved one. I have lost a wife, met a wonderful new companion, and gained a son-in-law. And soon, our family will expand again.
My oldest daughter, Mollie, resides in Portland, Oregon with her boyfriend, Anthony. Shortly after Rachel’s wedding, Mollie and Anthony announced their engagement while we were still in Israel.
So, as the celebration of one daughter’s wedding ended, the planning for the next celebration in 2023 begins. It is truly a circle of life.
Jesse L. Pleet is a past President of the Berks County Bar Association and principal of Pleet Law Office, Wyomissing.
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