“Walla, God has given me an amazing opportunity here, to do something which I truly love, and that is what I will do,” Boaz exclaimed.
By A.Y. KATSOFHas Abraham's tent been found?(photo credit: COURTESY OF THE HEART OF ISRAEL)
Along the switchbacks of the Alon Road, lonely among the crags and scrub brush of the Judean Mountains, hides the mysterious “Eretz Bereishit” – Genesis Land.Genesis Land takes its guests on a thrilling journey of discovery in the tent of Abraham. There, guests enjoy “hafla,” ancient hospitality, along the dusty traveler’s road, in the exact same location where Abraham himself pitched his tent with “Beit El in the west, and Ai in the east” (Genesis 12:8).“I was a tour guide,” explained Boaz Ido, who established Genesis Land 26 years ago.“While touring, I would act out characters from the Bible all over the land…I would try to bring the stories to life, as much as possible.”Boaz realized that one of the most beautiful and most important stories of the Bible, which took place in this area, was the story of the fight between the shepherds of Abraham and the shepherds of Lot.“Walla, God has given me an amazing opportunity here, to do something which I truly love, and that is what I will do,” Boaz exclaimed.In Genesis Land, visitors live as Abraham lived, and taste the life of the desert dweller. As they enter, they don clothing similar to those of an ancient Israelite, and descend on camelback into the world of their nomadic ancestors. Our forefathers were travelers, wandering the land and teaching others about the one, true God. In the spirit of Abraham, Genesis Land invites guests to ride camels along the ridge of the ethereal Wadi Kelt.Back at the tent, guests also get a chance to work with ancient crafts: Boaz welcomes them to form their own tools out of clay and write holy letters on parchment, with a quill and ink.
Boaz explains that the reason he drew directly from the Bible was because this is really the Jewish story, here in the land of Israel. This is our story!"Especially today, when there are people who believe in a two-state solution and want to disconnect us from our land, we are showing the world that we are here to stay. Nothing can break our connection to the Holy Land and we continue to re-plant our roots in the land of our ancestors."Visitors to Genesis Land are welcomed by the character of Eliezer of Damascus (often played by Boaz himself), who was Abraham’s servant, and chief of his household. Eliezer leads them down the hill to an airy, goat-skin tent, open in all four directions to receive guests and travelers.At the tent, Eliezer defers to an actor playing Abraham, who warmly welcomes his guests inside, and washes their hands. Guests get to bake their own pitas over a “taboon” – the ancient Middle Eastern oven used for thousands of years. Then, while seated around low tables in the tent, they enjoy a rich, traditional meal, including dried fruit from the 7 species that Israel was blessed with.“This is basically their entrance into the world of Abraham,” expands Boaz, his Hebrew sinking into a rich cadence as he introduces the world he loves. “The tent overlooks the east, and the Jordan River Plain. Abraham tells the story of his arrival in the land of Canaan, and of what it is like to herd sheep.” Abraham then tells over the story of his parting with his nephew Lot, and shows his guests the biblical passages:“Let there not be any quarreling between you and me.” (Genesis 13:8)For Boaz, Abraham’s message is one of brotherhood: the Jewish people must do everything to create peace amongst themselves, in the land. “The important thing is not to fight within the family. It’s important to accept everyone as they are.”As guests meditate on the stillness of the desert, sunlight floods the burnished land with color, and reveals the stark and breathtaking angles of the Judean Mountains. From the eyrie vantage of the tent, the character Abraham teaches them about the land they see unrolled below them, including the Dead Sea.“I thank The Holy One, Blessed be He, that he gave me the opportunity to establish this place and to tell the original story to many people who seem to really love it,” smiles Boaz. “I feel blessed every day that I can work at something which I love and help others experience the true story of the Bible.”As he drove his tent pegs into the ground, Abraham founded the ancient tradition of Jewish hospitality which lives on throughout the world. Today, Boaz has renewed Abraham’s spirit in Genesis Land, where he welcomes people to live as he lived, in a welcome oasis in the silent mountains of the desert.“This is the way of Abraham,” Boaz reflected. “To live in peace within the nation of Israel, and to live in peace within the State of Israel. That is our message. You can do it, and you can do it the right way. It is the way of Abraham, and it is our way.”Reprinted with permission of The Heart of Israel
