Qatzrin is located in the Galilee region of Israel. Known for its olive production, Qatzrin was populated by religious Jews. The population is unknown but the village was probably very small, between 500-1000 people. Here I saw a partly reconstructed ancient Jewish village, a wheat field, an olive press, and a synagogue. Text in the Bible on Qatzrin can be found in Mark 2:1-12.

But those are not the points that affected me on a personal level. Point one: Community in ancient times was more than just a group of people.

In ancient times there was no electricity, future technology and automobiles, but people were around. There were families, villages, cities, communities and they relied on one another to survive.

Campus students volunteer throughout the community to serve others during FC Serve Day 2018.

Serving 280,000 people in 5 counties, @ComFoodBankCV distributes 40M lbs of food from corporations, individuals & food drives.

Over 30 #FCS students pack 517 backpacks w/ meal kits, sending them to Fresno, Madera and Tulare county schools, March 1. #FCserves2018 #thefeather pic.twitter.com/OkEXuxCq8h

— The Feather Online (@thefeather) March 1, 2018

There was no privacy, your problem was my problem and together we could fix it. I saw an ancient Jewish house and there was only one room, and that was normal. Boys in that day would go out into the fields and work with their father. They would be brought up in his trade and learn what it meant to be a young man of Yahweh and to serve him.

Young girls worked in the house with their mothers. They would learn at an early age how to take care of a family and grow into a young woman of the time.

At the end of the day, the children would come inside and listen to their grandfather teach the history of their nation, Israel. Neighbors helped each other because it took a village to survive. Eventually, those children would grow up and build a house for their spouse and start the process over. The process of community would begin.

Second point: there is richness found in relationship. The phrase the “simple life” comes to mind. What would it look like for people to slow down their lives and take time to invest in a relationship? Invest in a child that needs a mentor. Invest in a fellow student that says they are fine, but on the inside, they are a wreck. How could our world change for the betterment of others if I took the time to have a conversation with an antagonist whom I disagree with? Try it and see what happens.

1 Corinthians 1:10

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

For more of Saelzler’s articles read COLUMN: My experience in the Holy Land of Israel and Thoughts from Israel No. 1-The Christian Prayer Life.