Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage

by Cheryl Dickow

Join Elizabeths mid-life flight to the Holy Land as she questions her marriage and her life. See how God reaches her through people and events. Experience Elizabeths walk on the Via Dolorosa, the way... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979225809
• ISBN13: 9780979225802
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Bezalel Books
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

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Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage By Cheryl Dickow Review by Lisa M. Hendey Beth Gantry, Liz, Elizabeth...the main character of Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage is many things to many people. What seems unclear in the opening pages of this debut novel from established non-fiction author Cheryl Dickow is how Elizabeth will be able to reconcile her roles as wife, mother and teacher with the woman she feels she has always wanted to become. In the opening pages of this engrossing story, we meet Elizabeth and depart with her on the journey of a lifetime: her solo trip to Israel. She has dreamed of this pilgrimage for many years, but in the end it appears to be her discontent with her life that drives her to finally embark on her voyage. Beth has given her life to serving others and has come to feel only disappointment and resentment in return for her loving efforts. Her relationship with her husband Luke is strained to the point of near divorce. She feels a growing gulf between herself and her teenage children, the oldest of whom has flown the coop for college. Even her spiritual life seems dry and distant. Interspersed throughout the accounts of Elizabeth's trip, we find Luke experiencing his own journey of sorts. As he steps in for the role his wife has played within the family, he begins to understand her perspective and his part in the damage that has occurred in their relationship. Like Beth, he finds himself longing for a deeper and more convicted connection with God. But has his marriage suffered too greatly to be repaired? The closing chapters of this lovingly crafted novel bring a tender response to this dilemma. Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage is not the typical inspirational novel. Part travelogue, part history lesson, part Bible study, this book blends a wonderful story with empathetic characters. Author Cheryl Dickow's research and attention to detail are apparent in this smartly written tale. Dickow's strengths lie in both character development and in educating the reader without taking on an overly dogmatic tone. In reading this novel, I learned a tremendous amount about Jewish culture and its relevance to the roots of Christianity. The close connection I felt with several of the characters in this book, along with my admiration for the wisdom and spiritual reflections of author Cheryl Dickow, leave me hoping that we will be treated to a sequel to Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage.

Looking Back to Go Forward

"Who knew? Who knew the answers to some of life's big questions? At forty-eight she was starting to feel that she had more questions than answers." Thus Elizabeth sets out on a courageous journey to look backward in order to make sense of her future. This is an engaging story about a woman's quest for her inner spirituality and finds it deep in the beauty, love and death she encounters in the Holy Land. What starts as a "getaway" turns into a reclamation of Elizabeth's love for her family. But she must receive it first from the people who take her in as family and love her unconditionally. She must receive it first from a God that was a concept and turned into a warm, living Savior. Read it twice!

Elizabeth A Holy Land Pilgrimage

Cheryl Dickow masterfully guides her readers through a journey to the Holy Land in her new fiction novel Elizabeth. Readers will experience the culture and customs of a land that is wonderfully different from our own. Join Liz Gantry, the main character of Elizabeth, as she rediscovers meaning in a life with which she has become so dissatisfied. Readers will identify with the desire that drives each of us to constantly seek the value of our own existence. Join Elizabeth on a memorable journey that will lead her full circle back to the treasures she already has. My compliments to Cheryl Dickow on her wonderful new book, Elizabeth! Rosemary McDunn/ Author of The Green Coat A Tale from the Dust Bowl Years and When Kids Dream and Trucks Fly

Relationships are universal

Cheryl has written an excellent book which I had a hard time putting down. Those women who are feeling down about getting older will come away encouraged to know that what they are feeling is felt and understood by others. She is to be praised for the importance she puts on being a wife and mother in a world that devalues that calling and service. Even though it is inspirational it is also a great work of fiction. While the title would make you think you were going to read about the land of Israel it is really about the most important part of the Holy Land, it's people. They have endured hardships just because they are Jewish yet Cheryl touches on their secret of survival which is loving God and as commanded by Him loving their fellow man. In this book Christians are given insight into the richness and beauty of the Jewish roots of our faith. There are surprises in the book , some of which I won't share so as not to spoil it for anyone. You will have an unanswered question which will make you want the sequel to be released soon. And just when you think it has ended Cheryl has added some information for each chapter to help apply some of her insights to your own life and also she shares some of the web sites where we can get more information. Cheryl Dickow is a fairly new writer who will soon be in the ranks of the best.

Fiction which Teaches and Inspires

Beth Gantry, Liz, Elizabeth...the main character of Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage is many things to many people. What seems unclear in the opening pages of this debut novel from established non-fiction author Cheryl Dickow is how Elizabeth will be able to reconcile her roles as wife, mother and teacher with the woman she feels she has always wanted to become. In the opening pages of this engrossing story, we meet Elizabeth and depart with her on the journey of a lifetime: her solo trip to Israel. She has dreamed of this pilgrimage for many years, but in the end it appears to be her discontent with her life that drives her to finally embark on her voyage. Beth has given her life to serving others and has come to feel only disappointment and resentment in return for her loving efforts. Her relationship with her husband Luke is strained to the point of near divorce. She feels a growing gulf between herself and her teenage children, the oldest of whom has flown the coop for college. Even her spiritual life seems dry and distant. Beth looks at her journey to Israel as an opportunity to regain the life she feels she has missed out on in all of her efforts to care for others. "Her ache for what life hadn't yet held was becoming almost unbearable at times." Leaving her children in the care of her very driven and increasingly distant husband, Beth throws herself into her travel. Her desire is not to have the typical tourist experience of the Holy Land. Rather, she arranges for apartment housing in hopes of truly experiencing the traditions of the Jewish people. After having spent years studying the Jewish culture, "Elizabeth wanted to know, up close and personal, what is was like to live as a `chosen one'." Elizabeth's logistical efforts are rewarded immediately when she meets the friendly neighbors at her Jerusalem accommodations. Meir and Ayala Goldfarb, along with their adult children David and Miriam, immediately embrace Elizabeth as a part of their family's Sabbath celebrations and she finds herself invited to dine and worship with them. Just as the reader is joining Elizabeth in settling in to her wonderful scenario, unexpected tragedy strikes. Beth, at the urging of a very concerned Luke, contemplates cutting her trip short but eventually decides to remain in Jerusalem. The ensuing events draw her even more closely into the Jewish rituals and traditions she has longed to experience. Ultimately, through her wonderful relationship with the Goldfarb family, she meets Sipporah and Rachel, who will become her guides. Their tutelage is both historical and spiritual - embracing their companionship Elizabeth ultimately reconnects with her own personal spirituality. A fire is lit within her as she reconnects with God with a new intensity. Interspersed throughout the accounts of Elizabeth's trip, we find Luke experiencing his own journey of sorts. As he steps in for the role his wife has played within the family, he begins to