Hebron Glass Factory

Yesterday, before Yad Vashem, I went to a glass and pottery factory in Hebron with Jill and Barbara from St. George's College.

First, it is remarkable how nice it feels to get out of Jerusalem once a week. To see something other than stone. To see trees and grass (though grass is sparse given all the rock in the countryside). One of the things I hear frequently from ex-pats living in Jerusalem is how hard it is to live in this city, and it's that much more obvious once you take a step back from it.

Notice on the hill the rock walls, each painstakingly built to prevent erosion.





 

It's always a good reminder too, of what travelling is like in Israel-Palestine. More than likely a drive requires a checkpoint passage. I start to take this for granted until I take a day-trip somewhere. I quickly forget that Palestinian staff at the Cathedral and College generally leave home very early in the morning (4:30 or so) in order to be sure they can get through the checkpoints in time to be at work by 7am. I have been lucky (?) not to have had any trouble or waits at checkpoints so far.

Hebron is a Palestinian town that has been especially troubled by Israeli settlers, who are reportedly more vicious than others in their treatment toward Palestinians and outsiders. For this reason, we did not make a trek through the city but headed straight for the glass and pottery factory. It is also well-known for it's glass products.

We entered the store by passing through the workshop, which was really cool to watch. I've never seen glass being blown. The speed and agility with which the craftsmen work was incredible.

Shop and restaurant owners are known for giving away products to patrons. It really is phenomenal that in towns that are struggling to survive and keep businesses afloat, free goods are given out. Partly this is hospitality: a thank you for your business, and partly it is to try to secure repeat visits. Jill brought the owner of Al-Salam Glass and Pottery a box of empty glass wine and beer bottles for his re-use and we each purchased several items (one of us more than the other!). As a gift, the owner gave us each a trademark deep blue glass vase/bottle.