Kitchen with a View of History

An Efrat apartment that I manage for absentee owners recently received a new kitchen. I dropped in on the work every day to make sure it was done exactly as the owner had requested. One day I arrived just as the workman was cutting the hole for the sink. Aghhhhhhhh! He had placed the sink just left of the kitchen window. The sink was supposed to be exactly under the kitchen window, so that when someone was standing at that sink, doing the Shabbat dishes, or every day pots, s/he'd be able to look out on the hills of Gush Etzion, hills of history and inspiration.
I was able to stop the saw before the marble was cut, and the sink was placed, exactly where it had been intended. Phew!

The Hills of Gush Etzion

The Hills of Gush Etzion really are laden in history. We learn that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob walked on a path parallel to Efrat, called Derech Avot (path of the patriarchs). Our mother Rachel was buried right near here, because she died "Derech Efrata", only a few kilometers outside the Efrat city limits. There are many Bible tales from Efrat and Gush Etzion. Even one of the Chanukah stories took place right across the road.

Efrat is not only one of the most beautiful towns in Israel. It is made up of the nicest people around. And it stands on hills of history.