Shortly after waking and enjoying the view from our room (see the 1st picture below), Shelley, Becky and I headed out to relax and float in the Dead Sea before breakfast. It was truly a special and unique experience. See the 2nd and 3rd pictures below. It was also a great beginning to another extraordinary day! After breakfast, all three tour busses headed out to experience the wilderness in the daytime. We visited a Bedouin tent camp in Kfar Hanokdim. Upon arrival we enjoyed some Sunday morning teaching from Rabbi Cahn followed by praise and worship. Then, we split into our separate bus groups in order to engage in three different activities in the camp without overwhelming our hosts at any one of them.
Our Blue-Bus group was the first to ride camels in the desert. We learned that Israeli camels have a single-hump. Two-hump, or Bactarian camels are found primarily in Central Asia and in the Gobi desert. See the 4th picture below of Shelley and me on our camel ride. Next, our group was treated to Bedouin hospitality. We learned a bit about how and when to enter a Bedouin tent, and how to conduct oneself once inside. We also had the opportunity to sip Turkish coffee. Despite warnings about the intensity of Turkish coffee, I did not find it as strong as some espresso that I have enjoyed. See the 5th picture below taken inside the tent. Our third activity was to enjoy a Bedouin lunch banquet. Buffet breakfasts and dinners were included in our package. However, this was the only lunch that was provided as part of the tour.
After leaving the camp we headed to Re’im Israel, the site of the Nova Festival tragedy which occurred on October 7, 2023. On the way there, Henry with tears in his eyes, did his best to prepare us for what we were about to experience. Among the 1,200 casualties from the invasion on that day, two were personal friends of Henry from his time in the IDF. Also, the home of Maya the Red-Bus tour guide, was destroyed. These sobering facts helped us begin to understand the reality of Israeli life.
Henry told us that on October 7, 2023 Hamas fired approximately 10,000 missiles into Israel. The ensuing invasion was carried out by well-trained and equipped Hamas fighters and other terrorist groups. We were advised that it was the “others” who were responsible for many rapes and at least 240 kidnappings. On June 1, 2025 the IDF reported that nearly 30,000 total projectiles were launched at Israel over the first 600 days of the war that had begun on Oct. 7. This includes approximately 10,100 fired from Gaza that day, about 17,150 from Lebanon, about 45 from Syria and about 50 from Yemen. The widespread sources of the missile attack helps explain why Henry solemnly told us that in a couple more years he would have to explain to his young children why it is that so many people who live around them, hate them.
Of the people killed that day, 411 were murdered at the Nova Music Festival, and 43 people were taken hostage there. Additionally, at the time of our visit, at least three Nova survivors had committed suicide. The Nova site is located in the west-central area of Israel. It is the closest that we came to the Gaza Strip during our journey. We were given ample time to wander through the 411 placards at the memorial site before receiving more teaching from Rabbi Cahn. See the pictures below of the placards and of the missile warning sign.
Our time at Nova was a powerfully somber experience for all of us. After leaving the site, we returned to the wilderness where we prayed for Israel during a Sunday late afternoon worship service. For our final event of this incredible day, we ascended the mountains of Moriah to look upon the city of Jerusalem, which was to be our final destination. See the final picture below. Our evening teaching and worship took place on a rooftop platform under construction on the side of the mountain. Then, once again it was time for dinner, before spending the night in our fourth and final hotel, the “Ramada Jerusalem”. As we prepared for bed, we wondered aloud what God had in store for us tomorrow!
The View From Our RoomShelley & Me In the Dead SeaShelley and BeckyOur Camel RideInside the TentNova Site MemorialNova Site Warning
Israel Journey – Day 7
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Posted: January 3, 2026 by OBrien Rich
Sunday, November 9th
Day 7
Shortly after waking and enjoying the view from our room (see the 1st picture below), Shelley, Becky and I headed out to relax and float in the Dead Sea before breakfast. It was truly a special and unique experience. See the 2nd and 3rd pictures below. It was also a great beginning to another extraordinary day! After breakfast, all three tour busses headed out to experience the wilderness in the daytime. We visited a Bedouin tent camp in Kfar Hanokdim. Upon arrival we enjoyed some Sunday morning teaching from Rabbi Cahn followed by praise and worship. Then, we split into our separate bus groups in order to engage in three different activities in the camp without overwhelming our hosts at any one of them.
Our Blue-Bus group was the first to ride camels in the desert. We learned that Israeli camels have a single-hump. Two-hump, or Bactarian camels are found primarily in Central Asia and in the Gobi desert. See the 4th picture below of Shelley and me on our camel ride. Next, our group was treated to Bedouin hospitality. We learned a bit about how and when to enter a Bedouin tent, and how to conduct oneself once inside. We also had the opportunity to sip Turkish coffee. Despite warnings about the intensity of Turkish coffee, I did not find it as strong as some espresso that I have enjoyed. See the 5th picture below taken inside the tent. Our third activity was to enjoy a Bedouin lunch banquet. Buffet breakfasts and dinners were included in our package. However, this was the only lunch that was provided as part of the tour.
After leaving the camp we headed to Re’im Israel, the site of the Nova Festival tragedy which occurred on October 7, 2023. On the way there, Henry with tears in his eyes, did his best to prepare us for what we were about to experience. Among the 1,200 casualties from the invasion on that day, two were personal friends of Henry from his time in the IDF. Also, the home of Maya the Red-Bus tour guide, was destroyed. These sobering facts helped us begin to understand the reality of Israeli life.
Henry told us that on October 7, 2023 Hamas fired approximately 10,000 missiles into Israel. The ensuing invasion was carried out by well-trained and equipped Hamas fighters and other terrorist groups. We were advised that it was the “others” who were responsible for many rapes and at least 240 kidnappings. On June 1, 2025 the IDF reported that nearly 30,000 total projectiles were launched at Israel over the first 600 days of the war that had begun on Oct. 7. This includes approximately 10,100 fired from Gaza that day, about 17,150 from Lebanon, about 45 from Syria and about 50 from Yemen. The widespread sources of the missile attack helps explain why Henry solemnly told us that in a couple more years he would have to explain to his young children why it is that so many people who live around them, hate them.
Of the people killed that day, 411 were murdered at the Nova Music Festival, and 43 people were taken hostage there. Additionally, at the time of our visit, at least three Nova survivors had committed suicide. The Nova site is located in the west-central area of Israel. It is the closest that we came to the Gaza Strip during our journey. We were given ample time to wander through the 411 placards at the memorial site before receiving more teaching from Rabbi Cahn. See the pictures below of the placards and of the missile warning sign.
Our time at Nova was a powerfully somber experience for all of us. After leaving the site, we returned to the wilderness where we prayed for Israel during a Sunday late afternoon worship service. For our final event of this incredible day, we ascended the mountains of Moriah to look upon the city of Jerusalem, which was to be our final destination. See the final picture below. Our evening teaching and worship took place on a rooftop platform under construction on the side of the mountain. Then, once again it was time for dinner, before spending the night in our fourth and final hotel, the “Ramada Jerusalem”. As we prepared for bed, we wondered aloud what God had in store for us tomorrow!
In the Dead Sea
Jerusalem at Night
Copyright 2026 Rich O’Brien
Category: Blog