Monday, August 20, 2012

The Skinny Dipper at Tiberias

Nadene Goldfoot
Last year in August a group of Republicans and Democrats from the states were invited by an AIPAC group to tour Israel and learn about it first hand.  81 House members were given a week's visit.  They went to Tiberias and in what looks like a religious frenzy, many waded into Lake Tiberias, or as they call it, the Sea of Galilee.

The Representative from Kansas, Kevin Yoder, must have enjoyed the experience a little too much and stripped naked to jump in.  This isn't even done by the Sabras of Israel.  He's hearing about it now as the whole affair is being broadcast on TV, which is just something more to kick the Republicans with.  Each party is trying to throw dirt on the other as voting is getting close to the coming November.  Nothing about it made the paper last year.  Only AIPAC was rapped for giving so many a free trip.

What the TV reporters seem to ignore is the fact that the Kinneret, as we also call it, is 693.29 feet below sea level.  As I remember, Tiberias was very very very hot.  The group may have explained their actions being due to their religious feelings, but I think they just needed to cool off before they thought they'd die.

From 1980 to the end of 1985, I lived in Haifa and then Safed, and Safed lies above Tiberias on top of a mountain.  When I drove down, to see Tiberias,  I shvitzed!  That's what you're supposed to do if you're having a heat stroke, apply cold water anyplace on your body, and I think they all did it the quickest way.

Yoder just explained that he had never done that before and never will again .    Well, Israel does affect us all, and a religious spirit can touch us when there.

Resource:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/us/politics/after-skinny-dipping-in-israel-rep-kevin-yoder-is-rebuked.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-members-travel-to-israel-courtesy-of-aipac-lobby-not-taxpayers/2011/08/09/gIQA8xOU5I_story.html

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