Now the Jordan keeps flowing over its entire bed throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the bearers of the Ark reached the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the Ark dipped into the water at its edge, the waters coming down from upstream piled up in a single heap a great way off, at Adam, the town next to Zarethan; and those flowing away downstream to the Sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea) ran out completely. So the people crossed near Jericho.
Yehoshua 3:15-16
We started the day where the nation of Israel started - crossing the Jordan to the land of Israel. We traveled to Kasr Al Yahud, which is traditionally where the nation of Israel first crossed into the land of Israel.
We learned how the Jordan used to be much wider but 97% of the waters have been diverted from it for agriculture and industry, leaving a very small stream behind.
We spent some time understanding the nature of the miracle of crossing the Jordan river.
One who sees a place where miracles occurred on Israel’s behalf recites: Blessed…Who performed miracles for our forefathers in this place.
Mishna, Brachos 9:1
There is a special bracha recited upon seeing the place a miracle was done for our ancestors and we were able to say that bracha right by the Jordan.
This spot is also a holy place for Christians and we saw many of them coming to the river to baptize themselves.
