Reb Steve, our prayers are with you. Thank you for sharing this. Although I am gentile, the country of Israel has always been a favorite study of mine and the most enjoyable trip that I have ever made.
Let me share with you a funny story:
When we were at the ruins of Masada a Baptist preacher wanted to read about the Battle of Armagedon. I was just a kid in college so I was wandering around. All of the rest of the group were listening intently to the pastor.
I noticed a speck in the distance getting large quite fast. It was an Israeli KFIR C-2 fighter. It could not have been timed better. When the pastor read about the Lord defeating the antichrist the fighter came directly over at only about 300 feet above the hilltop, and dead centered where we were, just ripping along. The sound was INCREDIBLE.
Since I watched it come in, I knew what was going to happen and it was so funny, everybody thought the Battle had begun and it is a wonder somebody didn't have a heart attack when they jumped at the sound.
That was just one of the highlights of the trip.
Shalom