I did wonder last night whether I had heard Jairus aright but when Avner arrived this morning to see if he was needed to help with the sheep he told us  that it was the main topic of conversation in KfarNahum. Everyone was marvelling about the wonders that seemed to follow Yeshua wherever he goes. Shmuel paid Avner and his son for their work. They said they have enough money to buy the leather they need to set up shop so they were quite happy to leave the shearing gang to it.

Yesterday evening, I learned that Yov was keeping an eye on the gang members. Shmuel said that one of the older men had commented that he was “as bad as his father” in wanting them to behave respectably.”As if they would do anything else!” He has told them our young women are “strictly off limits.” Usually the village elders lay down the law, but Yov knows their tricks and he thinks it will keep them focused and, above all fast! As for our young women, Aunt Tirzah and the other older women are keeping them very busy with domestic chores as well as dealing with the wool. I am amazed at their creativity coming up with jobs that must be done! I am accompanied everywhere by Rivkah and Chava, one of Azuvah’s daughters. She seems really interested in the preparation of the fleeces. She has asked if she can come to help out later on. She already makes things for her family but knows that Hadassah and I sell to the cooperative and would like to learn how to do that. I’ll see what Hadassah thinks when I see her tomorrow.

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The older women made sure all the girls attended synagogue this morning. They said we should honour Hashem for his goodness to us. He has brought the shearers in time and everyone wanted to know what all the excitement was about Yehud’it. Besides, as Devorah put it. “‘ln synagogue‘ means ‘Out of trouble!’” Fortunately, Rabbi Moshe had a similar idea! He reminded us about the importance of family and prayers on Shabbat. He said that his cousin Jairus wanted to celebrate what Hashem had done for his family and would be in KfarGanot this afternoon he had news of Rabbi Yeshua, too so he wanted us all to come to a special gathering at his house later on.
Aunt Tirzah was ecstatic! She reminded every woman and girl personally that they needed to be there. No excuses! One young lady said to Rivkah that the “old women” were intent on spoiling their fun. She asked me what they meant. I just said that I would explain when she is a little older. Childhood is short enough these days. At her age, boys are strange creatures with even stranger habits. I doubt she would understand even if I told her.

At the get together, Jairus told us how his little girl had died. He thought Yeshua had arrived too late. The Rabbi insisted she was only asleep. But they knew she was dead. He just took her hand and told her to get up, and she did! No fuss, it just happened. then the crowd went wild, and many sick people crowded in to get to Yeshua.
They did not even need to speak to them to heal them. One woman just touched his hem… That sent shivers down my spine! I remember that hem, the special hem only a Rabbi can wear. I made it! It would have had to be taken to the priests and approved, so l remember the care I took over it. But it was not magical. What was it about Yeshua that made his power overflow into the things he touched?
But that was not all! You remember the storm the other night that stopped so suddenly? The mother of Cephas, one of Yeshua‘s talmdim, told Jairus that Yeshua had told the wind and waves to calm down and it all stopped immediately! It’s only a rumour, but in the light of everything else there must be something to it! 

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At first light we were all relieved to hear reports that the shearing gang had been seen from Uncle Shaul‘s watchtower. Yemimah and Aunt Tirzah wasted no time in calling a meeting of all the women. Attendance was compulsory for everyone above the age of three.  I suppose suckling infants would be there with their mothers anyway! Everyone was given a job to do and every unmarried girl was paired with an older woman. The matriarchs are very aware of the temptations a gang of semi clad, muscle bound young men could pose. The maidens, however, were visibly disappointed.

Old Devorah made it clear there would be “no nonsense” in KfarGanot and that this was a golden opportunity to learn more about preparing yarn from more experienced women. Some of the older girls thought they knew enough already, but Devorah was adamant. At least the professionals work fast and will be gone by the end of next week. In any case, there is a lot to do, so they would not have time to flirt with the young men.

You may wonder why the older women are so concerned. If you have ever come across these itinerant sheep men, you will know their coarse language and rough humour. Yov assures us that not all are like that, but, yes it is very common. Uncle Shaul tells us that Yov’s father always kept his men in check but that is a rare thing. Our men and boys can make merry with the workers if they wish, but we women will all be at Yemimah’s tonight.

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Yesterday just blew me away! Is there nothing Yeshua can’t do? We had had no idea what happened to Little Miri and when I told Hadassah what I had overheard, she needed to sit down. But today, we were back to work and Miri took Yehudit up to the fields to help with the sheep. Shmuli had a little moan about it, saying the girls seem to have all the fun lately. Yoshi told him he thought the cart was much more fun and besides, it gave them time to sell eggs and fish to the passers by and make money whereas the girls were too busy to sell baby clothes. That seemed to cheer him up a bit.

Things were getting back to normal when we had another visitor! We are not used to so much coming and going in KfarGanot. This time, it was none other than Miriam of Migdal herself with an entourage of young men on horseback! I don’t suppose she had been to anywhere as humble as our village before. She looked as if she did not like the smell of damp wool that hangs on the air at present. Does she know what goes into making the cloth she buys, I wonder?

“Is anyone going to get on with the job of making the quality clothing and cloth the Galil is famous for? she demanded
Well. I ask you! I bit my lip and as luck would have it, Yemimah appeared from the yard and answered her, “These ladies are doing just that, Madam. Wool does not come off a sheep’s back ready to weave!”
“Really!” said Miriam, “and who are you?”
“Not one of your weavers, Ma’am” said Yemimah curtly, “But one who knows more about the process than you”
“Thank goodness!” snapped Miriam, “Just see to it that something happens soon!” and with that they left as suddenly as she had arrived.

Yemimah was beside herself.
“How dare that woman come here and tell us how to do our jobs?” she wanted to know.
I had never seen her angry before but Miriam had really made her see red. We sat her down with a soothing beverage and tried to take her mind off it.

She soon forgot about it when the singing began at supper.

You hear it from time to time when the wind is in the right direction ~ the sound of death ~ even from KfarNahum! You get this sick, sinking feeling. Today was no different. We were outside at the washing vats and Aunt Tirzah said,”I do hope it’s not little Yehudit, Rabbi Moshe said she was so very poorly when he left the other day.”
Shmuli had told us that on First Day when they came back from the market. The old man loved that little girl as if she were his own daughter.   He had just dropped everything and left when he got the message. The sound ebbed and flowed with the wind for about twenty minutes . It really tugs at your heart. But today was different! Suddenly, the sound changed and we could hear cheering and clapping! Why would that be? How could the mood change like that…

Then we all stood up and said as one, ”Yeshua!” We had remembered Little Miri‘s party!

About an hour later, the boys came charging into the yard closely followed by a dancing Rabbi, a dancing Chazan, two dancing women and some children.
“Yeshua did it again!” cried Rabbi Moshe just as Miri and Rivkah arrived to see what the fuss was about. We all took a break from the work and Vered made us some refreshments.
“I sneaked them out of town,”explained Moshe, “I remembered what happened to you, Hadassah, with that crowd they stood no chance!”

A little later, I overheard Miri and Yehudit talking together as they sat on the wall,
“It went all black and quiet,” said Yehudit,”and then I heard this nice man say, ‘come on, little girl, it’s time to get up!’”
“that’s what happened to me!” cried Miri,”that’s what happened to me!”and they hugged each other tight. It was such a beautiful moment, it brought a lump to my throat…

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Our friendly local Levite returned this morning for his fleeces. I offered him some herbal tea, but he was in a hurry. He seemed very flustered. I suppose his timetable is as out of synch as ours. They depend on us for so many things. Hashem gave them the tithes and offerings for their inheritance.  It must make them feel very vulnerable sometimes as things are not in their control. As Levites go, this young man is easy to deal with. He seems quite fair. Some can be very demanding.

Yoshi and Shmuli are running to and fro with the fleeces on their cart. I am not sure how they feel about Miri and Rivkah helping with the sheep, but with Hadassah, Vered and her sisters here we are quite crowded. The girls really wanted to be where the action is.

I’ll be really glad to get today over with. We’ll eat in the courtyard tonight with traditional songs and stories. This the season for it after all.

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Well, it’s all go here today! Danni has offered his services and Shmuel will help him in return. News travels fast. Uncle Shaul has also decided to join in. Yov will act as foreman, since it was his profession and, it seems,  much of the shearing is likely be done before the regulars arrive. I guess we will still enjoy the revelry but the stories will be our own. There will be dancing and singing too and wine will flow! The men seem to get extremely thirsty but then, sheep are not the cleanest of animals. They get all sorts of thing matted in their fleeces! We will be washing the wool in cold water to get out all the bits. Hadassah and I will be spinning the yarn with the lanolin still in the fibre. I find it easier, and ooh how soft it makes my hands! You can tell when a man has been shearing too, it’s just about the only job they do that softens the skin!

Avner and his son arrived early and the men have started erecting temporary pens in the upper field. The women are getting ready to store and wash the fleeces. We will soak them over night and sun dry them the next day. We don’t have to do them all at once, but we need to have enough in hand to start carding and spinning as soon as possible since we are late this year.

One of the local Levites called by to make arrangements for the tithe. He will be here tomorrow morning to inspect and collect the first ones. As I said, news travels fast! The girls spent the morning scrubbing out the large stone vat we use to clean the wool. They were filthy, but Miri was ecstatic!  She enjoys anything physical and I swear she is stronger than many boys her age!  She spent the afternoon trying to get the boys to let her help them with the sheep! I think she’d be good at it!

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Breakfast time:
I am feeling so much better today, if a little tired. Yov and Shmuel are going to KfarNahum to get what they need for the shearing and to get the blades properly sharpened. Avner and his family are moving into their shop and the children are going too, so I will have a quiet day.   

It is now late afternoon and I have had anything but a quiet day. Around noon, I had a visit from Reuven. He brought a message from Miriam of Migdal, the woman who buys the cloth from the consortium. She has a reputation for having a short temper and it seems she is angry. Many of the weavers have “run off”  chasing after this Yeshua fellow and the others haven’t begun preparing the new wool yet, let alone started weaving. I had not realised how wide reaching the lateness of the shearers would be! As for Miriam, she a wealthy woman, and the consortium’s best customer. If she is unhappy things are serious. Reuven called in on Hadassah, too, and she hurried over to see me. If Miriam goes elsewhere for business we could lose a lot of money! We will have to start preparing the yarn as soon as possible! Once the first fleeces are set aside for the Levites, we will have to “get weaving!”

We went to sit on the wall for a chat and noticed two of Shmuli‘s hens proudly showing off their new chicks. Funny how in this turbulent world some things never change!

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It is Shabbat, thankfully. I have felt so sick today and my head is pounding so l have stayed in bed. Vered has kept me supplied with watered wine and fruit drinks while the family spent time with Hadassah and Danni. Please forgive me for being so brief but the light hurts my eyes.

Before I go, I ought to tell you that Uncle announced the betrothal of Yov and Vered at the end of the service. They will let us know when the formal event will be. Vered was very excited all day. She will need a chaperone whenever she comes to visit now! It seems Uncle knew Yov‘s father when they were shearers years ago.

I’m going back to sleep and hope I feel better tomorrow.

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Today has been really busy. House work for me and farm business for the men. It seems the shearers are running late this year. We got word that they won’t be here for at least two more weeks. Shmuel says the sheep are suffering. Yov used to be a shearer before he became ill and is sure that with Avner’s help he and Shmuel could make a start. Avner is trying to get some money to start his business and is willing. His eldest son could help too. They would need some equipment, but he had seen just what they need in KfarNahum. Shmuel is nervous about it, but there does not seem to be much choice. We need to get on with preparing the yarn for weaving, too. The longer we wait the more rushed I will be, and there will be a new baby soon, too!

This afternoon, Uncle Shaul came over to see Shmuel. They were discussing the betrothal, I think. It is men’s talk, and I was required to make myself scarce so I’m sure that’s what it was all about. One thing I am sure about is that the there will be a good dowry. Uncle isn’t short of a Shekel or two. Shmuel hinted that it might include the old farmstead where the boys came across Shim’on that time. Since Uncle’s cousin died it has been his, but he has not been able to care for it. He keeps the flock up, but the house needs a lot of work. Yov would really have landed on his feet!

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