Mary's Well

From the artist's trip to Israel in 2003 near Ein Karem:

"It is always hot in Israel in August with no rain until October or November. In Ein Karem the well called Mary’s Well or Elizabeth’s Well is so cool and inviting. Outside women were painting rather like they do in our country — oils, easels propped up outside the well painting the view of the hillside. Inside there was an Armenian tour group singing songs of praises. Water was coming through these interesting three black holes into a trough. A gentleman was standing by with his kippot on and a cane. A young boy perhaps his grandson getting ready to hold his hand and lead him over to the water. A woman nearby in the habit that I had seen in Bethlehem, the one Mother Teresa wore in India. All the blues were lovely against the dark well. The water seemed to come out of the hillside. I do not know the water’s source, but it has been there perhaps 2000 years or so before Christ. Ein Karem is the place where Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth and the baby lept in her womb. This could have been the well that Mary and Elizabeth drank from during her visit."