8. Spice Way
Farm
Kibbutz Hulata
Beit Lechem HaGlilit
Upper Galilee
March 12, 2019
Day Three
We were greeted with a cup of herbal tea and an introduction of the history of the farm. The aromas
were amazingly and a wonderful way to begin The Fragrant Botanical Tour™ through Israel.
10. Bell Ofri
Ein Nashut Winery
March 12, 2019
Our hostess, Tami, cooked a
spectacular meal. We were
greeted with fresh cheese, an
assortment of breads and spreads
(pesto, tomato and olive),
vegetable salad, hummus and
olives. Her homemade ravioli and
Mediterranean fish were cooked
to perfection. The beverages of
lemonade and wine were
delicious. Just when we thought
we had eaten enough she brought
out biscuits with homemade sweet
spreads. One was a preserved
tomato . . . I need that recipe.
The Fragrant Botanical Tour 2019
11. Bell Ofri
Ein Nashut Winery
March 12, 2019
The food was served on clay dishes
made with Tami’s skilled hands. Her
love of life’s pleasures was felt from the
moment we arrived.
Her personal story of how the farm
transpired and built from recycled
materials was inspiring as well as her
passion to continue to take classes and
learn even as we age.
12. I just had to share
the picture of the
very tasty ravioli.
Each element of the
meal was
outstanding.
Belle Ofri
March 12, 2019 Day Three
Ein Nashut Wine Cellar is an old
Syrain Bunker.
13. The farm animals
included goats, cats,
dogs and peacocks.
Belle Ofri
March 12, 2019
Day Three
The Fragrant Botanical Tour 2019
14. Our inn for the night,
Vered HaGalil
March 12, 2019
Day Three
Vered HaGalilee (Rose of the Galilee) had
amazing views of the Galilee. Birds chirping to
wake us up encouraged us to sit outside to
enjoy a cup of coffee before we began Day Four.
15. March 13, 2019
Day Four
Vered HaGalil breakfast included salads,
breads, cheeses, shakshuka (a favorite of
Israeli’s). It is a flavorful dish of tomatoes,
peppers and onions with baked eggs.
16. March 13, 2019
Day Four
Galilee Boat Ride on
Daniel Carmel’s
boat “Faith”.
www.seaofgalileeworshipboats.com
Picture from SeaofGalileeworshipboats.com
17. March 13, 2019
Day Four
The drive down the
beautiful Jordan
Valley. Everything
this spring was so
green and lush,
flowers blooming
everywhere.
18. Moshav Netiv-Hagdud
March 13, 2019 Day Four
Oren Family Farm
Chaim Oren gave us a peek of the life of an agricultural family in
the Jordan Valley, and the difference between a moshav and a
kibbutz. The farm’s main crop is the argan tree known for its
amazing health and beauty benefits. I didn’t realize how labor-
intensive work that is involved in the production of this miracle oil.
19. March 13, 2019 Day Four
Biblical Tamar Park
Our home for the next 5 nights.
Photo Credit www.BibleWalks.com
20. March 14, 2019 Day Five
Vidor Agriculture Center
"Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the
face of the world with fruit ... the Holy One
of Israel has glorified you" (Isa 27.6, 60.9)
21. March 14, 2019 Day Five
Vidor Arava Research
Agriculture Center
Sage and
other herbs
grow in a
tower
Our tour at the ag center was very educational as
we learned that about 60% of Israel’s vegetable
exports come from the Arava region (Israel’s long,
eastern valley between the Dead Sea and Eilat and
where Biblical Tamar Park is located.)
Israel manages to produce 95% of its own food
requirements due to their sophisticated system that
utilizes drip and micro irrigation. The lack of natural
water resource, and the desert conditions, Israel
now makes extensive use of desalination plants,
reuse of treated sewage for agriculture,
computerized early-warning systems for leaks, and
computerized drip irrigation and micro-sprinklers.
India and other countries come to the Arava region
yearly and take home valuable technology to help
feed their people.
22. March 14, 2019 Day Five
Drive
through the
desert to
Makhtesh
Ramon
The desert highway through the Wilderness of Zin, Paran and Kadesh Barnea has
breath-taking views that change nearly around every corner as you approach the
geological formation known as Makhtesh Ramon.
23. March 14, 2019 Day Five
The first part of the Visitor
Center has a museum
dedicated to the service and
remembrance of Israel’s first
astronaut, Ilan Ramon. Space
shuttle Columbia exploded
upon reentry to Texas on
February 1, 2003, all seven
astronauts lost their lives.
24. March 14, 2019 Day Five
The ruins of a large prehistoric
stone structure known as
Khan Saharonim are found in
the makhtesh, as it lies along
the ancient Incense Route that
was used by the Nabataeans
2,000 years ago. These ruins
acted as a way station for the
traders and their animals
(khan is the Arabic word for
a caravanserai) as they
proceeded further westwards
to the Mediterranean seaport
city of Gaza. An interactive area and a short movie is educational
that explains how the earth has eroded over the years.
25. March 14, 2019
Day Five The Fragrant Botanical Tour 2019
2020 Tour info posted soon at
wwwTheFragrantBotanicalTour.com
This portion of the Ramon Crater Visitor Center is an emotional
and moving experience.
As you watch the video you hear Ilan Ramon continue to tell his
family that he is coming home. Then there is the countdown of
Columbia re-entering the earth . . . 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55, and . . .
Then there are few pictures into the Houston command center
and insight what they were feeling. Around 45 seconds . . . . The
screen becomes full of static while you hear “Houston, can you
hear me Houston?” . . . . Silence . . . .
As the music begins to a song (that is known throughout the
universe) the volume increases as the curtain opens up to the
world’s largest crater “makhtesh”. Some are silenced, some burst
into tears . . . Others try to process the moment.
While this isn’t a “fragrant botanical” experience the lesson taught
is our lives should be a “fragrance” remembering our lives are just
a breath away of our time to pass.
26. March 15, 2019 Day Six
We began our morning with a historical tour of Biblical
Tamar Park with interim supervisor Ross Nichols.
On the park tour Cynthia Hillson shared insight to
where the future “Garden of the Ages” will be located
behind the Tabernacle display.
27. March 15, 2019
Day Six
In the afternoon we began our work to help beautify Biblical
Tamar Park by pulling weeds out of the tel. Hard work but
very rewarding.
28. SHABBAT at
Biblical Tamar
Rest, Eat,
Presentation,
Eat, Rest,
Presentation,
Rest, Eat,
Good-Night
Day Seven ~ Shabbat
March 16, 2019
29. March 17, 2019 Day Eight
Masada and Dead Sea
It was breezy and cool, not many went in
to float today.
30. March 18, 2019 Day Nine
Balm of Gilead Farm with Owner Guy Erlich ~ Kibbutz Almog
The Balm of Gilead Farm is
growing thousands of ancient
plants of myrrh, Balm of Gilead
and Frankincense. Guy’s show
and smell tour of these ancient
plants was amazing as well as
sharing many other medicinal
plants grown in the Dead Sea
area.
31. March 18, 2019
Day Nine
Aromatherapist and Author Avraham
Sand shared his heart with his
passion beyond aromatherapy with
thoughts from his forthcoming book.
It was during the last few minutes
when Avraham reflected the thought
that his mentor, Rabbi Shlomo
Carlebach, believed the reason
mankind isn’t walking “in love”. He
said that it began in the garden and
why we were thrown out of it? In
short it is we are blaming each other.
Adam blamed his wife. The woman
blamed the snake. And, to this day
we blame others and never take
responsibility for our own actions.
32. March 18, 2019
Day Nine
Evening Worship with Baht Rivka Whitten
at the Jerusalem Hills Inn
34. March 19, 2019 Day Ten
Moshe Kempenski from Shorashim
Moshe’s talk with us was much like our time with Avraham
Sand. Both are deep thinkers and share the message of the
role of the Jewish people to love others, no matter the
religion, and to be the repairers of the world.
Perhaps that was the true essence of The Fragrant Botanical
Tour . . . to walk in love to all as we see the day approaching.
35. March 19, 2019 Day Ten
The Temple Institute
Jewish Quarter
The Temple Institute is an organization located in
the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Their mission’s focus and endeavor is to
establish the Third Temple and construct the holy
objects that will be used in worship.
Table of Showbread
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of
prayer: their burnt offerings and their
sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine
altar; for mine house shall be called an
house of prayer for all people.
Isaiah 56:7
41. March 20, 2019
Day Eleven
The Botanical Garden - Hebrew University – Mt. Scopus
A day to walk in a garden with smiling spring blossoms and birds chirping
42. March 20, 2019
Day Eleven
The Botanical Garden - Hebrew University – Mt. Scopus
44. March 20, 2019
Day Eleven
Baptist Prayer Center
Welcome Room Mural
Prayer Room
45. The Baptist Prayer Center
gardens are a quiet place in
Jerusalem.
The picture on the right
shows mums soon-to-bloom.
March 20, 2019
Day Eleven
46. March 20 (21), 2019
Day Eleven and Twelve
Flight
and
Arrival
to our
homes
47. The Fragrant Botanical Tour 2020
March 15 to 26, 2020
$2399.00 per person
Double Occupancy Land only.
Airfare is not included.
Single supplement $499.00
Hosted by Apothecary Cynthia Hillson
For more information please go to
TheFragrantBotanicalTour.com
48. Cynthia has made 41 journeys to Israel and she wants you to meet
some of her friends who love plants and are making a difference in
what they do with them.
Join Cynthia on The Fragrant Botanical Tour 2020, a boutique tour
where you will meet Israeli’s that will share their passions of the
plant kingdom. You will sleep in quaint inns, the quiet of the desert
and other places that are not-the-normal-tour hotels.
www.TheFragrantBotanicalTour.com
Here are some of Cynthia’s friends from The Fragrant Botanical Tour
2019. Thank you for supporting these families!
49. Yes, you can support Israel!
The Oren’s will ship to you,
and the cost is very
reasonable for their
exceptional product.
ARGAN OIL FROM THE OREN FAMILY
https://www.arganoil.co.il/en/
Chaim and Silvi Oren
50. Yes, you can support Israel!
Avraham will ship
products to you!
Essential Oils from Avraham Sand
https://www.Avaroma.com
Avraham Sand, Aromatherapist and Author
51. Yes, you can support Israel!
Guy Erlich will ship
Balm of Gilead Farm
products to you!
Balm of Gilead products from Guy Erlich
https://www.balmofgileadfarm.com/
Guy Erlich, Owner of Balm of Gilead Farm
52. Yes, you can support Israel!
Baht Rivka will ship
her CD’s to you!
Listen to Baht Rivka Whitten
http://www.lazmanhazehmusic.com/music-store/
George and Baht Rivka Whitten
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