My 'Delta' flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Newark, New Jersey was uneventful. At Newark I switched from Delta to El-Al Airlines for a direct flight to Tel Aviv; it was during this leg of my trip the scales were removed from my eyes.
Due to the ongoing terrorist threats, El-Al is noted for its tight security system. In fact, their metal detector was so sensitive that I had to remove my sneakers before it would stop beeping. Another thing was that a group of Afro-Americans from Chicago, calling themselves Black Hebrews, have entered Israel, settled in Arad, and refused to leave. With me happening to be an Afro-American and heading for Arad, I was interrogated and detained at every checkpoint (I'm glad I wasn't from Chicago too). Perhaps a black man traveling alone, visiting Israel looks or seems somewhat suspicious? I can only speculate. The fact is, people before me simply flipped their credentials and were allowed to pass. But I was always detained or escorted by security to a backroom where a specialist interrogated me further. Also, before my luggage could be transferred from Delta to El-Al they had to be x-rayed and opened by Israeli security.
Every security person I encountered seemed to snap commands at me and seemed extremely rude. I was beginning to feel unwelcome, and I haven't even got on the plane yet. Where was the milk and honey?
Little did I know at the time, that I happen to have prominent Palestinian facial features and a similar skin complexion. In other words, I look like the enemy, which was another factor.
While waiting on a line, a rabbi cut in front of me with a Torah (Bible) in his hand. While standing in another line, two rabbis in my rear (one on each side) kept crowding and pressing against me. Note! I tend to call all orthodox Jews rabbis. You know, the guys with black beards, black suits, black shoes, white shirts, and black hats.
When I finally got seated on the plane, I asked the lady next to me (who rested her arm against mine like she knew me) if she was Jewish. She replied that she was Jewish but not religious. The lady next to her (who wore a see-through type blouse) also claimed to be Jewish, but only celebrated the High Holy days. I figured that that was similar to those Christians who only go to church on Easter.
Well, during the rest of the flight I pondered these things. I was beginning to realize that the land of milk and honey had some major issues! I started preparing and bracing myself for whatever. Some first impression!
As for my first impression of the land, the scenery, the landscape…well, I viewed this with my spiritual eyes! Carnally, the land can appear barren and sprawled with pebbles, stones and rocks. But when I look at what appears to be desolate and know that this is where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob roamed. And that this is where Yeshua once walked; I see the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey!
I will answer the second part of this question "What was your reaction to…seeing the people?" along with my response to question 3.