Hamra: Accompanying shepherds in the Jordan Valley
8.30
Walking with and following the pasture. Up the hills 'escorts' were waiting for us. One of them, a citizen, is carrying a weapon.
The two are familiar to us from similar "visits" to this grazing area, with weapons and in an attempt to block or disperse the herd.
The shepherd acted wisely. He moved away a little, creating an opening for the two of us who accompanied him: each of us walked close to one of the invading visitors, preventing him from scattering the herd and keeping him away. Each at a different end of the herd, all the while photographing and transferring the photograph to the members of the coalition group.
The license plate of the car in which the two arrived is covered in mud.
We continued accompanying herd and shepherd without further covert calamities.
The special “visitors” came from the outpost uphill, whose men routinely assault other shepherd families in the area.
The first milk after calving, colostrum, contains a great concentration of beneficial nutrients. The leftover amount is cooked on stovetop or in the local oven, usually with added sugar and is scrumptious, and makes one feel that any other vaccines are superfluous.