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Reflections of God's Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel

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When I ordered a copy of Reflections on God's Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel, I didn't imagine the treasure I would receive.

I've never been blessed by a trip to Israel, of walking where Jesus walked, of seeing places spoken of in the Bible with my own eyes. But here is a book that has given me glimpses into the holy land. Written by a Jew and a Christian, each location covered by the book has a related Scripture followed by two pages of "landscape and lore" which are authored by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and called "Did You Know?" and then two pages of a a more personal nature authored by Eva Marie Everson and called "Reflections."

In truth, the entire book is one you will want to reflect upon. It is filled with beautiful writing and wonderful photographs. I recommend making it part of your daily devotions and allowing God to speak to you through its pages.

Wonderfully done. Incredible images. Poetic prose.

This is not a book that you will pick up once to look at just the pictures. Soak up Miriam's knowledge. Feel Eva Marie's joy, longing, and elation. No, this is a book that you will pick up over and over and over.

And you will be changed each time. A yearning will begin to stir in you, a yearning to draw closer to God.

Fall into this book and experience God's Holy Land like never before.

This afternoon I was thrilled to find in my mail from Amazon - REFLECTIONS OF GOD'S HOLY LAND. It is much more than a tour book of gorgeous photographs (which I will keep beside my own Israel photo album). Eva's thought-provoking observations transported me back to the sites. Her words were a springboard for my personal reflections on my three visits there. This beautiful book transported my spirit back to Israel where I love to go.

Thank you, Eva Marie and Miriam. The book was well worth the wait!

I was amazed, opening and flipping through, at how beautiful this book is. The photos and layout are just gorgeous. Digging a little deeper, I was pleased that the book isn't just a history or a Scripture lesson. Finding the history of Israel, written scriptures, personal accounts of Eva Marie's time spent there, married with beautiful photography by Ms. Feinberg Vamosh - what a feast!

This is my new coffee table book, to be picked up and read a bit at a time, when I need a cold, refreshing drink for my soul.

Ten years ago this week, my mother and I embarked on a ten-day tour of Israel. Over the course of the trip, we retraced the steps of Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem, waded into the shallow water on the edge of the Sea of Galilee and walked along the hillside where Jesus is believed to have delivered the Sermon on the Mount -- and this in addition to numerous other historical and religious sites.

Over the past few weeks, I have retraced my steps thanks to the work of Everson and Vamosh. The two journeyed through the Holy Land, visiting many of the same places I had visited. Their steps generally follow the course of events outlined by the gospel writers beginning with the Judean wilderness where John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming Messiah and continuing through Bethlehem, Galilee and finally Jerusalem. Illustrated with full-color photos, each locale is introduced with a passage of Scripture followed by short historical/cultural essay and a reflective essay.

Reading through the book is, in part, like looking through a personal scrapbook of the journey as the photos are (for the most part) actual photos taken by the authors during their travels and the reflective essay offers thoughts on the way each locale reinforced, challenged or enhanced the faith of the author. Its format lends itself easily to devotional reading and would make a welcome addition to any library.

Last year I spent several weeks in the Holy Land. The trip became possible suddenly. I had never considered that I might be blessed with a trip like that. It changed my life.

Back home again, I think about it so much that I wonder if it's normal, if I'm normal. Do other people treasure time spent there so much that they think about it every day?

Reflections of God's Holy Land continues to bless me as I read what is personal thoughts of these two lovely women. They are friends, from two different faiths, but with many things in common. I almost feel that I'm intruding at times as I read their very personal thoughts, but that's exactly what I needed. I wanted to know that others went to those spots and tried to drink it all in, knowing that it isn't possible to comprehend the bigness of it all. I wanted to know what others thought when they spent the day in Bethlehem, for example. Were others experiencing the same feelings? I'm so glad that Eva Marie Everson and Miriam Feinberg Vamosh shared their own thoughts and feelings. I almost felt as though they had been on that trip with me and we were quietly chatting later over a cup of coffee. The book has a wonderful spirit about it.

The photographs are exceptionally beautiful. They've made very appropriate selections to accompany the various personal devotionals.

I like to keep this book in my car. When I'm between meetings or stuck in traffic, I have time to review a few pages of 'Reflections' and it brightens my day.

I meandered my way through this book and enjoyed it immensely. Whether you've been to God's Holy Land or not, here's your personal tour. This book rates my "highly recommended" rating.

I've never had the privilege of physically visiting the Holy Land, but after reading this book, I feel as though I've really been there.

The two authors have different specialties. Miriam Vamosh is a Jew passionate about Jewish history. But instead of writing long, boring essays, she writes as a gifted story-teller, and invites you to see and hear fascinating details and sometimes humorous tidbits about the significance of each place they visit. Like the symbolism behind the feeding of the 5,000, the mysteriously blackened stones on Mount Carmel - reminders of the Holy Fire of Heaven coming down to consume Elijah's offering, and the fact that Pelicans are an ancient symbol of the Eucharist.

Contrasting this, you have Eva Everson's "Reflections" sharing how God speaks to her through Miriam's stories and through her physical surroundings. You hear how God seems to take delight in revealing His heart to her, warming her heart towards Him, and she shares those revelations with us, drawing us in.

All in all, this has been a fascinating walk through the Holy Land, led by two amazing and delightful writers.

A definite "must savour" for all for whom the Holy Land holds a special place.


Darlene Hull
PraiseWalker.com

REFLECTIONS OF GOD'HOLY LAND: A JOURNEY THROUGH ISRAEL...I received my copy in the mail yesterday and started my tour last night... Could not stop travelling. Just a wonderful experience...the combination of knowledge and emotion is exactly right. I will be back with more about my trip in a few days, but just had to make a comment today.

My TRIP IS FINISHEDReflections of God's Holy Land (A personal journey through Israel) is exactly what the title describes-a personal reflection. Eva Marie Everson, a Christian, and Miriam Vamosh, a Jew, combine their personal knowledge and emotions to produce a personal experience for their reader.
As one opens the cover, the photography leaps from the page to engulf the reader in the time and place of each Biblical location. Beautiful colored photographs draw one to the printed pages of both authors. Vamosh, with her, Jewish heritage and her experience as a tour guide for Christian pilgrimages educates the reader in the Did You Know? section, and Eva Marie lets us fall with her into the emotional journey of visiting the Holy Land.

Scripture references for each site visited give added knowledge and realism to the journey through Israel. These verses gave the added personal touch for my journey with Everson and Vamosh. My knowledge of Old Testament history is somewhat limited, and the clear, concise vignettes provided by Miriam are explicit. Her description of the Elah Valley and the history which is hidden in this valley gave me new insight about this area. "Elah was literally the `wild west' and saw more drama than any Hollywood western could ever dream of." And then she portrays the dramatic stories of Joshua, the Jewish exile, and of course the well-known battle of David and the Philistine giant. Again and again I am aware of the Israel of the Bible, and
as I continued reading I was filled with anticipation and excitement about my personal journey through these pages.

Though I was appreciative of the knowledge and insight provided by Vamosh, it is Eva Marie's emotional response kept me focused. After skimming the book when it first arrived, I decided to use it as a personal daily devotion. This method provided me both knowledge and spiritual uplifting for each day. Many memories remain with me, but one I recall is Eva's response to her visit to the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. She admits to hunger as the morning meal is long behind her. She describes the chapel with "flourish of symbols" "holy water", "flickering novena", mosaic of a bread-filled basket rising between two fishes" and her mind takes her to "We only have five loaves,...We only have two fish." But is this response that stays with me. Eva writes," Isn't this the way of it? We think of what we `only have' rather than what it might become in Jesus' hands. Not enough, we think, and so we hold back." And as Eva responds throughout the journey she says," I am guilty, I realize of holding on to what I have. Not trusting my Lord with what I've got. I stretch my hand toward the lump of rugged stone beneath the altar. If only I could place what little I have to offer upon it, Jesus would feed others. Jesus would feed me." Personal, emotional response at each historical visit creates within the reader a sense of "having been there too."

Everson's and Vamosh's Reflections of God's Holy Land is a personal journey that I encourage for any reader interested in increasing both mentally and spiritually the knowledge of God's holy land.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book; although I am a very avid reader, non-fiction about the Bible, or really any of the Middle East is not normally something I would choose. However, I could not put this book down. The combination of full-color photographs from modern-day Israel alongside the Biblical passages talking about them, as well as the commentary from the authors, one Christian & one Jewish, was, surprisingly, captivating. I really almost felt like I had visited Israel after skimming through the book. I plan on leaving it out for display, it is a very high-quality book with fantastic pictures, and to really study more in-depth as time allows. I can't wait to share it in our homeschooling our children also. Highly recommend.