I arrived in Tel Aviv on a Friday in time to settle down for the Jewish Sabbath. I was on a pilgrimage to see more clearly that the God who once told me, "My name is Love," was also the God of Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and Mohammed. I wanted to understand that this one God is the God of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, the King whose kingdom is truly over all, who provides peace and justice to everyone. For me to understand this kingdom of heaven, I knew I had to focus on God to such a degree that His continuing goodness would be clearer to me than anything else. I had to see my own spiritual journey—and the current situation in the Middle East—from the high ground above the problems that can make one feel hopeless or fearful.
On Saturday morning in Tel Aviv, I awoke to the most astonishing silence. There was no traffic and few pedestrians; the shops were closed. Breakfast in my hotel resembled an American picnic lunch because cooking is forbidden on the Sabbath. After breakfast, I followed the flow of pedestrians to the nearest synagogue to see if I could understand the Hebrew readings from Leviticus, for the language sounds very beautiful on native tongues.
By noon I was ready for the beach. As I walked down a massive flight of stairs overlooking the ocean, folk music rose from the plaza, singing to the heart of love and loyalty and courage. The center of the crowd below me looked astounding, a great wheel that shrank and expanded and then spun as couples danced in and out and around. For Jews, the Sabbath is a "day of delights." Because it is a holy day, it is a holiday full of joy. I joined the encircling crowd to study their steps, faces, and forms, uplifted by their elation and dignity, beauty and joy. It seemed the entire city had come to bask in the festive atmosphere.
