Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Aug. 7, 1997, edition 1 / Page 24
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8B tljE Charlotte So8t Thursday August 7, 1997 , Not all of Israel scarred by war Wesley Webster and his sister-in-law Vanessa, stand in front of the Dead Sea. By Wesley Webster SPECIAL TO THE POST When you think of Israel today, perhaps you imagine a land tom by war. Ketures of conflict in Israel between the Palestinians and the Jews fill the news. Despite this, my sis ter-in-law, Vanessa, and I spent 17 days touring Israel, from just about one end of the coun try to the other, and never saw any signs of conflict or war. Instead, throughout our trip, we were reminded of the mean ing of the capital’s name, Jerusalem, “a teaching of peace.” Our trip was filled with many wonderful experi ences, exciting places to go, and amazing sights to see. After taking a brief course in Hebrew, we had a chance to travel to Israel, a country roughly the size of New Jersey (8,019 square miles) with a population of about 5.4 million. We decided to visit Israel to personally examine the historic sites which are mentioned in the scriptures and to add to the research I am doing on the eth nicity of the biblical Israelites. We departed for Israel from JFK Airport in New York on Tell us about it What’s your most memorable travel experience? The Post would like to hear about it - good or bad - and print it in our travel section. Please type your experience and send it to 'Travel Section, c/o The Charlotte Post, P.O. Box 30144, Charlotte, NC, 28230. Or you can drop it by the office at 1531 Camden Road. If you have pic tures, send those also. If you want them back, send a stamped, self addressed envelope or come by the office after the article runs. Tbwer Airways. Tower Airways had a special fare of $687 round trip, making a visit to the Middle East very afford able. Due to Israel’s extensive security screening, we had to check in for the flight three hours in advance, and believe me, all of this time was needed. In all my travel experiences (Nigeria, South America, Caribbean, Europe), I had never been so acutely screened before. Though the flight to Israel lasted 10 hours, the tranquility we felt upon enter ing the country assured us the long flight was well worth it. Accommodations and cuisine Our Hebrew teacher and her husband, who live in Israel, met us at the airport along with another close friend. 'They had invited us to stay with them in their home in the city of Beersheva, in the south ern end of Israel. We spent most nights in their home, but we also spent a few nights in Jerusalem and in Tiberias, in the northern end of the coun try. Hotels in Israel are very expensive. A night in a five- star hotel can cost more than $250. A three-star hotel costs more than $100 per night. So we were very thankful to have friends in Israel with whom we could stay. During our stay in Israel, $1 was equivalent to about 3.3 Shekels (Israel’s currency). Overall, we found most things to be a bit more expensive than they are in the States, though we also realized that many prices were inflated because of the large tourist industry. Food in the Middle East is very tasty, especially if you are accustomed to spicy foods. One of the most common items on the menu is shwarma, similar in some ways to the "CITIZEN-TEACHER” OF THE MONTH ROBBY CULBREATH "Principles of Business & Exploring Technology Teacher, Albemarle Road Middle School & Pastor, Full Gospel World Ministries In all that one finds Robby Culbreath associated with, rest assured, children are always at the forefront of the plan. He’s a teacher, preacher, protector, and health conscious moti vator. He graduated from Virginia State University with a BA in Economics and a Minor in Business Administration. This walk of life began in 1985 for Robby. He coordinat ed and spear headed the John Hanson Savings Bank for the Duvall High School's Pro ject for Success Program. For this he was mentor, coimsel, support in outreach pro gram to "At Risk Teens', and speaker on behalf of the program to groups that included the Chamber of Commerce. He also coordinated and directed all local assembly's, in viting State Senators and State Attorney's to speak along with him. Robby headed this project through 1988. He was chairman of the Men's Fellowship Communications Network at Full Gospel AME Zion Chiu-ch from 1987-1989. There he developed a plan to communicate to every brother in Full Gsopel AME Zion Church directory, counciled with brothers about spiritual needs, developed computer communications and three other committees that were adopted in the Annual Pastor and leaders Confer ence and useful for support of the entire church. From 1992 - 1995, Robby, through his company. Habergeon Martial Arts formerly DBA Choi Kwang Do Martial Arts, provided outreach ministry work to local elementary, jxmior and high schools. He worked with "At Risk" children at Windsor Park, Piney Grove, Albemarle Road and Idlewild Ele mentary Schools. Additionally, worked with youth under contract with Char lotte Mecklenburg Government Specialized Youth Services program. He also founded Project 2005, a non-profit organization for outreach to "At Risk" _ youth. Robby is former co-director working with Garinger High School Outreach, as youth coordinator through Eastway Drive Church of God. He worked with Eastway Dr. VBS program. Robby performed and raised money at MDA Rick-A-Thon and spon sored and promoted St. Jude's Cancer Research Hospital Fund Raiser in 1995 here in Charlotte. Robby is foimder/director of a Summer Growth and Enrichment Program which involves teaching martial arts to "At Risk" children and youth, as well as provides women's self defense training. He is founder/director of the Marion Diehl Afterschool proram. The fist goes on. For his dedication, Robby has been recognized. He received a Proclamation from City Coxmcil for service in the community in May of 1994 and won the NC Black Male Showcase Image Award for 93-94, for outstanding service among black men in the community. Robby is married to Sheila. They have three sons, Derek, 13 years old, Joshua, 3 years old, an Zachariah 1 1/2 years old. Congratulations ^'Rohhy^^From Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated of Charlotte The Dome of the Rock. gyro. We found ourselves eat ing shwarma almost every day while we were on the road. A good one costs between 7 and 10 shekels. We drank plenty of water because the temperature in Israel during the day was as high as 95 degrees. In fact, we were advised by our hosts to carry a bottle of water with us at all times to keep ourselves from dehydrating. A one-liter bottle of water costs about 5 shekels, and we usually drank about 2 liters each per day. As the centerpiece country of the Bible, there are historic sites to visit throughout the land of Israel. Stories from the past spring from relics and monuments and even from the Hebrew names. Most Hebrew names are descriptive phrases. For example, our hosts live in the city called Beersheva. The Hebrew name Beersheva, which means “well of the sev enfold oath,” dates back to the time of the Patriarch Abraham who gave the city this name after he made an oath with Abimelech, a story which can be found in the Bible in Genesis 21. On our first day of touring, we walked to the well that Abraham dug, and we touched the tamarisk tree that Abraham planted at the time he made the oath, a tree dating back almost 4,000 years. It was an awesome thought to be able to touch something living today that was planted by the Patriarch Abraham. To get around, we rented a small car for $35 per day. Though the rental was reason able, we found gas prices to be very high, about twice of what you would pay here in the States. The car enabled us to travel back and forth from Beersheva to Jerusalem and gave us the flexibility we need ed to visit a number of other places as well. Most of the roads in Israel are very well maintained, and traveling by car gave us the opportunity to take in the sites. Overall, Israel is a very rocky and hilly country with caves, mountains, cliffs and peaks. The southern end of Israel is a desert, yet the Israelis have many farms in the south and the Bedouins can be seen with their herds, of sheep and goats and camels on the various mountains anS- hills. Jerusalem itself is on top of a breathtaking mountain. The gate of Capearnaum SUBSCRIBE TO THE POST TODAY! ®I)e Cliarlotte ^oj!t gives you: What your political leaders are doing or not doing, the latest in cultural trends, lifestyles, entertainment, church functions and news that affects us all with an outlook not expected from the local daily. |^~[ Send me 52 issues for just $30 I [ Send me 52 issues for just $21 (Senior Citizens) Name. Address. City. State. -ZipL Phone.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Aug. 7, 1997, edition 1
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