Part 2/13:
The speaker begins by expressing relief upon hearing from Dr. Spector in Israel, who has paused archaeological excavations due to the ongoing unrest in the region. Their correspondence, initiated via email around 2016, reveals a bond formed over artifacts and shared interests—Dr. Spector being both a medical doctor and an archaeologist with an extensive collection, some of which he sent as a gesture of friendship. The narrator appreciates the global perspective, noting the horrors of war involving Russia and Ukraine and expressing hope that conflicts do not escalate into a broader catastrophe.