First Israel Update (Tuesday)

Shalom Y’all

Friends, today is my first full day in Israel on this trip, and it is starting as you sleep. Back in South Carolina it is 12:30am as I write you this letter and prepare for breakfast. Needless to say, I’m still catching up with the time change! Nothing, however, not even fatigue, can keep me from today’s itinerary.

Today begins with a briefing from a member of the Israeli National Security Council on the current security threats facing Israel in the region. We read about these conflicts in newspapers and periodicals, but today I’ll gain a first-hand perspective. As if this were not exciting enough, we’ll culminate this day by taking Communion in the Garden Tomb, which is believed to be the tomb of Christ’s burial. I’ll post pictures for you later.

As I head out to our morning briefing, let me leave you with this: not only is Israel important to the United States in general; it is deeply important to our home state of South Carolina in particular. Israel’s thriving technology economy trades heavily with the Palmetto State, aiding job creation from Aiken to Greenville, and essentially everywhere in between.

I’ll seek to represent our beloved state well while here in Israel, and I look forwarding to checking in with you frequently.

Shalom, Y’all,

Josh