Shabbat

The Jewish day of rest started at sundown last night.  As we were driving back home to the hotel from the Dead Sea traffic had grown noticeably lighter.

It was still the same at the hotel as service was uninterrupted and there were staff (perhaps they were not Jewish).

At the lobby leading to the dining area were tables with tea candles which people could light. 

The Jewish guests were also all in their best frocks with the men in suits and the women in pretty dresses and hats. They all trooped to one of the hotel’s function rooms for a meal.

Shabbat Elevator

Finally solved the mystery of the elevator.  Jews were prohibited from pressing electrical buttons. Hence, it was an automatic elevator that opened and closed its doors and traveled from one floor to another with no need for any buttons to be pressed.  Is the same reason why there was no coffee machine last night at dinner and at breakfast this morning.  Instead,  coffee was poured.
The rooms also have a Shabbat button which makes everything—lights and aircon—automatic. Really cool.

The hotel lobby was very lively in the evening. Aside from the usual wifi vultures, there were people socializing.