Our 2023 Visit to Israel

Niles Prestage

LHS ‘65

October 12th, 2023 - Good morning from Amman, Jordan. This is how we got here:

Judy and I left Huntsville on Saturday, September 30th,  for a much anticipated two-week tour of the Holy Land hosted by my cousin Mike Chisam, also a 64’ LHS graduate, and his wife Donna Price Chisam. Between them, they have led over 50 such tours and lived there for several months, so they know the area and the people very well, and are two of the most capable people I know or know of.

Judy and I were part of a group of 30 folks, most of them from the Atlanta area where Mike and Donna live. We also had excellent teaching, transportation, and accommodations. During our first week there we saw some of the most significant Biblical sites including the Mt. of Olives, the Western Wall,  the Garden Tomb, Masada, Qumran, and quite a few more. 

On Friday the 6th we arrived in Nazareth, where we were to remain until the completion of our stay. The following morning, Saturday, October 7, we began our tour of Mt. Precipice, overlooking Nazareth with a 360-degree view of the area. That morning we began hearing there had been an invasion in the Gaza area, some 100 miles SW of where we were, but we knew very few of the details. Throughout the weekend, the horrific details began to unfold and tensions began to grow. 

We resumed our tour on Monday the 9th, but by Tuesday the 10th, (coincidentally my 76th birthday) there was a nationwide 72-hour shelter-in-place order, so we stayed around our hotel. Mike and Donna arranged for our departure from Tel Aviv on Saturday the 14th. Things started heating up overnight, but we were able to tour two nearby Biblical Old Testament sites yesterday morning, Jacob’s Well and The Valley of Jezreel. 

On the way back to the Hotel Donna got a call that our group needed to meet immediately upon our arrival back at our hotel. When we arrived we were told that there had been a change in plans and that we were to pack immediately and be on the bus within 15 minutes for a departure to Amman, Jordan, some four hours away by bus. What we didn’t know and would soon find out is HOW our quick exit came about. 

Just before our departure by bus from Nazareth, we learned that our quick departure and easy passage into Jordan had been facilitated by one first-term U.S. congressman, Rep Cory Mills (R) Florida’s 7th district, a veteran of the Iraq War, and government security specialist, who led us through all of the necessary requirements to exit Israel and enter Jordan to then proceed homeward. Rep. Mills personally “with boots on the ground” rode with us from Nazareth to Amman, expedited our passage into Jordan, and checked us into the Sheraton in Amman at his own expense. It is one of the nicest hotels in which we have ever stayed. Then he headed back to Israel for another group needing to do the same thing we had just done. Coincidentally, no one in our group is eligible to vote for Rep Mills, quit an example of servant-leadership! 

We also found out last evening shortly after arrival that Nazareth had been locked down not long after we left, so the timing of our departure kept us from remaining there for possibly an extended period of time.

We are scheduled to fly to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later today, from there to NYC, then on to Atlanta, and are scheduled to be back at HSV and home around midnight, early Saturday morning. 

There is no doubt in our minds, or in the minds of any of those who made this journey that the events that I have described are nothing less than “A God thing”, and each of us has been blessed as a result of His favor and the prayers of so many who became aware of our situation.

(Editor's  Note: Niles reported in on Facebook that they are safely back in Huntsville now.)

The Wayback Machine

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

When hearing about what is currently going on in Israel, my memories take me back to the time I first became aware of the country and its history. Of course, I had heard of Israel from the Bible we studied at Central Presbyterian Church, but I had no knowledge of its current condition and the fight to gain its independence. I cannot recall even knowing anyone of the Jewish faith. I am sure I must have, but was not aware of knowing anyone if I did. I remember the Jewish Temple B'nai Sholom on Lincoln Street because my church friend Bob Davis lived right next door to it and we often played in his yard by it. Bob's old house no longer exists. I was completely ignorant about Jewish names like Goldsmith, "...steins", and "...bergs".

 It was not until I saw the motion picture "Exodus" that I actually learned anything about the country or its modern history. I asked the Wayback Machine to play us the title song from the soundtrack of that movie. I do remember how much I loved listening to it back in my high school days. I remember playing this song on a record player at a party at our French teacher (Mrs. Brooms) house one time. I look back and wonder how we were allowed to attend parties at teacher's houses back then. That would not happen today I am sure. I am including two versions: (1) The instrumental soundtrack version, and (2) A powerful vocal version by Pat Boone with scenes from the movie.

Exodus is a 1960 American epic historical drama film about the founding of the State of Israel. Produced and directed by Otto Preminger, the screenplay was adapted by Dalton Trumbo from the 1958 novel of the same name by Leon Uris. The film stars an ensemble cast including Paul Newman, Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Richardson, Peter Lawford, Lee J. Cobb, Sal Mineo, John Derek and George Maharis. The film's soundtrack music was written by Ernest Gold.

The musical score, by Ernest Gold, won the Academy Award for Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and the main theme has been widely recorded by other artists. A version by Ferrante & Teicher reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1961.

It is not often I get to include current news in Lee's Traveller, but this is one of those times. I emailed Niles and asked him what was happening to him while on his trip and received the answer above. We are all grateful he was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. It certainly was a birthday trip to remember.

I mentioned above I did not pay any attention to who was Jewish or not. The same goes for Catholics - it did not matter to me what faith people subscribed to, to me they were all just classmates and friends. I had no religious discrimination in high school. 

LEE LUNCH BUNCH

FOR THE CLASSES OF  ’64, ’65, ‘66

CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL

 Thursday, October 26, 2023

11:00 AM

Please save the date for our group’s fall lunch gathering. We will once again meet at Carrabba’s Italian Grill located on the upper parking level of Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville. We have a reserved area that will accommodate our group. I received many compliments this past spring about us meeting there since there is no charge for the space, the food is good, and they are so very nice to us. Carolyn Burgess Featheringill ’65,  arranged for our class of ’65 to meet there at least the last couple of reunion weekends, and everyone seemed to enjoy those times as well. Perhaps I will be able to find us a new place to try for next spring.

October is a great time for fall road trips, so if you do get out on the road, make Huntsville one of your stops to join your group for lunch.

Please do let me know at least by the morning of the day before if you plan to come so I can tell the restaurant a fairly accurate count.

Thanks and hope to see you soon!

Patsy Hughes Oldroyd ‘65

keithandpatsy@att.net  or Facebook

H (256) 232-7583

C (256) 431-3396