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In September 1998, we organized our first study trip to Armenia for Hebrew University students and affiliates. Eight of us set out to to make our first acquaintance with the people of Armenia, and to visit an ambitious list of historic sites, coordinated by the State University of Erevan.

As you can see from the pictures, it was a wonderful trip. We began with three days in Istanbul, another great center of Armenian population in the Middle East. His Grace Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, then patriarchal locum tenens, graciously received our group, and showed us around the Patriarchal compound.

Flying from Istanbul to Erevan, we passed the twin peaks of Mt. Ararat and descended to Zvartnots airport, exactly on time. After a first free day in Erevan, our counterparts at the State University there took over, carrying us off to the area of Lake Sevan, and then on other trips to Geghart and Garni, to Ejmiadzin and Oshakan, to the northern monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, Haghardzin and Goshavank, and finally into the deep south, to visit the monasteries of Noravank and Tathev. Unforgettable scenery everywhere.

Between trips, we enjoyed lectures by professors from the State University, touching on topics historical and contemporary: The ethnic identity of Armenians and Jews, Armenian art in Byzantium and the Islamic Empire, an overview of Armenian history, Religious developments in Armenia today.

Students from the State University of Erevan went with us on our trips, and met with us informally too. Hearing their views of the world and their own future, we were impressed by their determination to build a strong future for themselves and their country. People in the villages we passed through, guards at the historic sites, members of the Armenian Jewish community, young clergy, businessmen with mobile phones and academic colleagues all shared with us their preceptions of life past, present and future in the formerly Soviet Caucasian highlands. And they were interested to hear about us, as well. We were even shown on television, much to our surprise.

The group of us who went to Armenia together know that we shared something very special. Months after the trip, we are still getting together to reminisce and talk things over. We've made a video of the trip, and our trip photographer Yoav Loeff has a collection of photos we'd like to share with you, too (Yoav Loeff, fax: 972-2-643-9920).