We're all still in the dark as to what exactly the IDF was supposedly after somewhere near the Syria-Turkey border (at least some of us are). But what no-one seems to have noticed is that whatever went on there, it happened near the very heartland of Jewish mythology.
A few years ago, I accompanied a mixed group of ultra-Orthodox Israelis who were making an organized pilgrimage to Yaakov's Well (the one where he wooed Rachel with his rock-rolling skills) in the biblical village of Harran. It was in south-east Turkey, only a few kilometers from the Syrian border and the area where purportedly last week's clandestine operation took place.
How did they know it was Yaakov's Well? Well, it was a hole in the ground, there was water in it and the village really is called Harran.
Our small group stood forlornly around the hole, a few said prayers to help them or their loved ones find a decent beshert and off we went.That night we slept at the Harran Hotel in the nearby city of Sanliurfa.
The Muslims believe that Sanliurfa, which is also known as Ourfa, is Ur, the city where Abraham was born, and various religious monuments there attest to this.
Until the early 20th Century, a sizable Jewish community existed there but none are left now, though rumors persist that a few families still practice the faith in secret. All that is left of the community are a number of successful chefs in Israel specializing in what they claim to be Urfali cuisine.
The organizers of our trip were planning to bring regular groups of faithful to pray at Yaakov's Well. Their hope was that the association with the biblical story of Yaakov and Rachel's first meeting would attract all those desperately seeking their soul-mate to pray at the well. For some reason, the idea never took off and the believers continue to prefer graves in the Galilee and Ukraine.
If any of the rumors about what our brave boys were after, not far away across the border are true, perhaps that's just as well.
Previous entries:September 11, 2007: How many Chabads are there?September 5, 2007: Yeshiva in a Berlin barSeptember 4, 2007: In Germany, the burden of the past lies heavySeptember 1, 2007: Show me the money! Even on ShabbatAugust 29, 2007: Not all survivors are angelsAugust 23, 2007: Would Anne Frank even have wanted German money? August 21, 2007: The truth about the Satmar 'victory'August 17, 2007: A few observations on the richest Jew on the planetAugust 12, 2007: Fuchs isn't the only 'bastard'August 10, 2007: Too tired to blog, but...August 8, 2007: 'You bet I'm going on this march'August 7, 2007: Training for the war that won't beAugust 6, 2007: 'The real change is that we're training at all'August 5, 2007: Olmert's own heritage is no excuse
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