Thoughts from Rev. Sally Thatcher

Rev. Sally Thatcher

Our experiences of Israel began to unfold, believe it or not, with El Al security at JFK Airport. While Alan and David were taken aside and interviewed separately by 2 security people, we members of the group were interviewed in twos. Our interviewers were young women who sounded educated, intelligent, polite, and very intentional about what they were doing. They gave the impression that they take their job seriously and consider it important. It was a new experience to this traveler.

Shortly before flight left noticed a group of Jewish men in long black coats, wearing distinctive flat top, widebrimmed hats praying by the window looking out at our plane. David told us that this was a traditional Jewish ritual before traveling and invited us to do the same. We formed a circle: Catholics, Protestants and Jews, while Paul prayed a Christian prayer and David recited and in English and Hebrew a traditional Hebrew prayer for travelers. It certainly felt as we were starting off on the right foot (or feet).

We had additional opportunities to observe, close at hand, Jewish men in prayer. Our group was seated near the rear of the 747. There were many large groups of children returning home from summer camps as well as families with young children. It seemed as if we 14 were the only non-Hebrew speakers on the plane.

As darkness fell, some are over the Atlantic, a group of 10 or 12 men, again in black coats and hats, gathered in the aisles beside and behind us praying aloud from prayerbooks. It was impressive to see the way a schedule of praying structures their lives even while traveling. They prayed again at dawn. I don't know exactly when, but I was awakened by someone brushing me gently with his long white shawl, right arm and hand wrapped in a kind of strap and wearing what looked like a miner's light strapped to his head. Mercifully, the men prayed silently as I was not yet ready to greet the day, and apparently others or group weren't either. Bill and David participated and Bill promised to explain. More on this in a later entry.

The plane landed a few hours later to cheers and applause from Israelis. This traveler had goosebumps on her throat at finally being here. There is so much to learn about this land and its people in such a short time. What a week it's going to be!