Angel

He introduced himself as Nivhar. He looked like a typical Israeli guy: black hair, slightly dark skin. He was probably in his late twenties, I guessed, after his obligatory army service.

I met him by the Ein Gedi spring in the mountains, where we (my five-year-old girl and I) climbed from the beach at the Dead Sea. We came for a one-day trip on an Egged public bus from Jerusalem. The last bus back to Jerusalem was leaving at 4.30 pm, so we didn’t have much time to walk around the Ein Gedi and David waterfalls reserve.

I needed this trip to nature. I was so tired from looking after my sick husband, working, taking care of the kid and the household. I was responsible for everything: shopping, cleaning, working, taking my daughter to and from school, and all the rest. My husband just sat at home either depressed or agitated, unwilling to do anything.

Compassionate Fatigue

I was tired all the time. I had anxiety from the moment I woke up. I could barely eat because of constant pain in my stomach. I would have to drink water and eat bread as soon I woke up; soon after that my throat would be so tight that it was impossible to eat or drink.

Ein Gedi Waterfalls

After an hour’s climb, we got to the small Ein Gedi natural pool at the top of the mountain. We sat in the cold spring water to rest after climbing in the heat and to enjoy the silent sound of the desert mountains.

He appeared out of the bushes that surrounded the area of the pool, said ‘Shalom’, introduced himself as the Ein Gedi reserve ranger (I knew there were rangers around the reserve by the David Waterfalls, by the spring, around the mountains). I used to travel to the Dead Sea a lot, so I was accustomed to their presence. He was wearing a uniform and talked on the walkie-talkie.

He introduced himself as Nivhar and asked if we would like him to take us to the highest point of the waterfalls. He said there was a pool at the top, hard to climb to, but he would help us.

It was beautiful there. First, we went on the top of the mount and from there we went down to the waterfall and the pool using twisted metal rods attached to the rocks. The water was very cold, refreshing and energizing. We swam, stood under the waterfall, and roasted in the sun. It was my BEST DAY EVER.

Then it was time to leave. We had to make it on time because the bus at 4.30 was the last one that day. Nivhar took us down the hill to the last waterfall. I already saw the bus coming from far away. After a quick goodbye and thank you, I started running towards the bus stop with my daughter and the backpack on my shoulders. I barely made it, but we got back to Jerusalem in the evening.

It was such an amazing trip. I really, really needed chilling time, nature, some heat, a little bit of freezing cold spring water and peace of mind.

That’s all I really needed in that period. And I got all of it.

A week later, I again traveled to the Ein Gedi Reserve. I was hoping to catch up with Nivhar and thank him for the last week’s walk. He was not there. I met a few rangers on the way, but they said that they had never met a guy by that name and description. No one knew any ‘Nivhar,’ any guy with black hair in his twenties, or any guy matching my description.

While writing this post, for a few seconds I smelled the desert in Ein Gedi. I knew that it was Nivhar sending me a hello…

Angels

Angels come to us when they decide that we need some help, encouragement, support, or even just a sign. From my experience, when they take a human form to appear to us, they adapt characteristic we find appealing. For example, if an angel knows you would only talk to a random person if they are a religious, middle-aged woman, this how they will show up on your path.

Nivhar knew that I was familiar with the presence of the natural reserve rangers, so this is how he came to me. He knew that with my everyday hardships and my love of the desert, I needed a relaxing time (with a bit of challenge) in the Judean Desert, so this is what he gave me.

I am sitting in Ramat Gan, writing this from a nice balcony, and Nivhar is sending me the smell of the desert because he knows it gives me a second of happiness.

Thank you.