Deep in the heart...

Jerusalem...the Movie

2011-07-19T06:10:00.000-05:00

I was just sent this video about the Imax movie, Jerusalem, that is going to be released in 2013. The trailer is awesome!!

Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D from JerusalemGiantScreen on Vimeo.

Wrapping Up…

2011-07-10T21:22:00.001-05:00

After David Arthur’s teaching at the Haas Promenade, we went to the Israeli museum. One of the things that we enjoyed seeing there was the model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period. Just in case you can’t read the writing in the picture below…

The model before you recreates Jerusalem in 66 C.E. In that year, the Great Revolt against the Romans erupted, resulting in the destruction of the city and the Temple. The ancient city was then at its largest, covering an area of 445 acres (more than twice the size of the Old City today). The model reflects ancient Jerusalem at its peak, just before all was lost.

The model was built at the initiative of Hans Kroch, owner of the Holyland Hotel, in memory of his son Jacob, who fell in Israel’s War of Independence. It took four years to complete. In 1966 the model opened to the public on the premises of the hotel and quickly became a popular attraction. In 2006 it was moved to the Israeli Museum.

The model is based on the writings of Josephus Flavius, a native of Jerusalem, the New Testament, and Jewish sources including the Mishna, the Tosephta and the Talmud.

We kind of wished that we had seen this first in our Jerusalem itinerary because it gave us a lot more perspective.

Here is the Temple and the Antonia Fortress. The Garden Tomb is in the very left center of the picture, right below the road. At this time there were between 50,000 and 100,000 people living in Jerusalem.

The three towers in the picture are Hippicus on the left, Phasael in the center, and Mariamne on the right. Each one was built by Herod. Phasael was named after his brother, Hippicus was named after his friend, and Mariamne was named after his beloved wife, whom he later murdered. The towers are located in the area of the medieval citadel, close to the present Jaffa Gate.

The square in the lower right edge of the picture, just inside the wall, is the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed the man who was blind from birth. John 9: 1-12

Here are the Southern Steps and the Huldah Gates. The tomb of the prophetess Huldah is right below the steps. 2 Kings 22:14-20

And, of course, the East Gate…

This would have been Jesus’ view as He entered the city from the Mount of Olives. The Kidron Valley was directly below. Can you imagine how heartbroken Jesus was when He looked out on this city, wept, and said “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42-44

Of course, we know that there will be no peace in Jerusalem, no matter what politicians, heads of state, or the UN would have us believe, until Jesus comes again. When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying for the Messiah’s return.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you , you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” Luke 13:34-35

The buildings sloping down to the left belonged to the poorer citizens, while the red- roofed and large buildings in the upper city belonged to the wealthy citizens.

They are still adding details to the model. It is pretty incredible. In the picture below, you see the national bird of Israel, the crane. Ha! They are everywhere.

This is the top of Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is supposed to look like the top of one of the clay jars in which the scrolls were found. When you enter the Shrine of the Book you descend into a cave like room. There you can see a very good copy of the scroll of the book of Isaiah and some other scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls themselves are kept in an underground vault.

The building in the background is the Israeli Knesset, or Parliament.

The model again from a different viewpoint.

After visiting the Israel Museum, we came back to the hotel to pack, rest, and get ready to go to the airport. Judy and I decided to go across the street to the “Cup o’ Joe” for a cup of coffee. We needed the energy! Ha!

I really hesitated to include this picture since those bags under my eyes are horrid. We had just taken a little nap and were having coffee to help perk us up for our midnight flight back to the U.S. If you think this is bad, you should have seen me after the 12 hour flight!!! That was the only bad part of the whole trip. I’m saving my frequent flier miles for an upgrade to first class next time!

Judy and I had to come back to see the walls of the Old City for one last time. It was hard to say goodbye. I praise God for the experience that we were able to share and can never thank Him enough for the opportunity. I am grateful to my husband for encouraging me to go and I hope to one day go back with him! I definitely left part of my heart there.

I just read where the Dormition Abbey is near the spot where they say the Upper Room is located.

It is hard to leave these desserts behind. Believe me, I was not the only one taking pictures of the table. Ha!

And, just in case you thought we didn’t have anything else to eat, I included a picture of part of the salad and vegetable tables.

This is Chris, Freda, MeMaw, Steve’s mother, and Steve. We laughed and ate (lots of desserts) with them every night while we were in Jerusalem. This was their second time to come on the trip and I believe that MeMaw may be coming back next year. They let us in on the secret about the ice cream. They told us if they bring out a bowl of ice cream, line up. So we did! They make the best Kosher ice cream. It rivals Blue Bell and I’m sure that there isn’t a bit of milk in it.

After dinner, those of us who were leaving had to get our bags to the bus and get ready to go. Those that were staying, spent the night in Jerusalem and left the next morning for the Petra extension of the trip. There was a lot of hugging and picture- taking. It was hard to say goodbye both to the new friends that we had met and to Israel. If someone told me I could go anywhere in the world I wanted to go, I would pick Israel.

Next year in Jerusalem!!

Haas Promenade

2011-07-03T18:45:00.003-05:00

On our last morning in Jerusalem we went to the Haas Promenade where we had our final teaching by David Arthur. The Mount of Olives is in the right of the photo. You can barely see the Dome of the Rock in the center. The tower on the right on the top of the Mount of Olives is where Jesus is supposed to have ascended into heaven.

From this vantage point tradition holds that Abraham was shown Mount Moriah as the site for the binding of Isaac. Hidden under this ridge are the remains of an aqueduct built by Herod the Great to bring water from the south, by way of his summer palace, Herodium, to the second temple. This area was a no man's land in the period between the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. At one end of the promenade, on the Hill of Evil Counsel (I love the name), is the United Nations Middle East Headquarters, located in the former Palace of the British High Commissioner. In front of the promenade on the slope is the Jerusalem Peace Forest. The Jerusalem municipality plants a tree in this forest for every child born in Jerusalem, representing the eternal hope of peace bridging the Arab and Jewish populations. Of course, we know that Jerusalem will experience no peace until the return of Jesus.

We are with Freda. We ate dinner with her family every night. They are dear people.

Our last lesson raised the question, “What are you going to do with what you have learned?” and “What sort of people should we be?” I will never look at the Bible in the same way again. Having been in the place where much of it was written and walked in the places where Jesus walked, has had a profound impact on my life. Also being able to see the fulfillment of prophecy right before my eyes, I know that there is nothing more important for me than being prepared for Christ’s eminent return.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. 2 Peter 3:9-18

After our lesson, we sang “Jesus Messiah.”

Now we’re on to the Israel Museum, a free afternoon, a last dinner, and the airport…

The Garden Tomb

2011-06-25T20:20:00.001-05:00

After leaving the Arab Quarter, we headed to the Garden Tomb.

The Garden Tomb is in the middle of a very busy and noisy Arab area. When you walk into the garden, you feel like you’ve entered an oasis, even though you can hear the horns blaring, radios playing, and people shouting.

This area is part of an ancient stone quarry. According to tradition, the quarry was used by the Jews as a place of execution by stoning. Christian tradition links this site to Stephen’s martyrdom. The Romans carried out crucifixions along busy roadsides as a visual deterrent against rebellion. This ancient execution site at the intersection of two busy roads to Damascus and Jericho would have been ideal. It is also interesting to note the appearance of the skull in the cliff face of the quarry. The Bible says that Christ was crucified outside the city gate at the “place of the skull.” So this spot would fit the requirements.

This gentleman is from the United Kingdom. He was explaining why they believe that this could be the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. He was very sweet.

The tomb was unearthed in 1867. Not all archaeologists agree about its date but many describe it as being a Jewish tomb from the 1st century A.D. In later years it was possibly used for church worship because there are indications of a church structure, including early Christian crosses.

All of the evidence indicates that the vineyard’s owner was a very wealthy man. His tomb was cut out of the solid rock, there was a large weeping chamber, and there was a channel for a rolling stone. All of the features mentioned in the Bible’s description of the tomb of Joseph of Arimethea can be seen here.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the LORD Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? “He is not here, but He has risen.” Luke 24: 1-6

I had to take another photo of my feet standing on the stones upon which Jesus may have walked in His resurrected body.

While we were here we took communion. You can see the basket and the covered tray ready for us.

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:19-20

This is where we were sitting as we read the scripture, took communion, and sang a song. I think we sang “Nothing But the Blood.”

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. Psalm 122: 6-9

Someone was seeking a little solitude and some reflection time.

The volunteers also keep up the grounds.

This very well-preserved winepress was excavated in 1924 and is one of the largest in Israel. It is thought to be of pre-Christian origin and suggests that this area was a vineyard.

The people who care for the Garden Tomb are all volunteers who love the Lord.

The Via Dolorosa

2011-06-25T10:35:00.001-05:00

After we left the Ecce Homo Basilica area, we headed to lunch. We were ready!

We are still in the Muslim Quarter although we must be looking towards the Jewish Quarter.

We are walking along the Via Dolorosa, or “way of grief.”

This is also one of the stations of the cross. It is the spot where Jesus is said to have fallen the first time. I don’t know how they came by that information.

This is the restaurant where we were having lunch.

This was lunch – a cheese pizza and a wintergreen mint drink. Both were delicious.

This is the Minnesota table. Carol is the lady in the middle. Doug is sitting beside here, but is concentrating on his food.

At this table we have Collette, Jon, Theresa, Brenda, and Vickie.

We had a few minutes to explore the area around the restaurant.

You can see that it was very, very busy.

This is the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm, the site where Mary is supposed to have seen Jesus as He walked by carrying the cross.

Some of the stones that we walked on were original to the time of Jesus. This was one. It makes you think of the title of that hymn, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked.” Please excuse my gross feet. Ha!

And here’s Judy’s.

I am unsure what this man was selling, however he was very interesting looking.

We were now headed toward the Damascus Gate and it was extremely crowded, so much so that you felt nervous. People were pushing and shoving and it was hard to keep up with the group. The children obviously did not want me to take their picture, which was not my intent. We also passed by a mother, along with her young son, who was selling something at a booth. She had a toy machine gun that she pointed at us as we passed. This was the only time during the whole trip that I felt nervous.

I didn’t take anymore pictures of the area or Damascus Gate because I was concentrating on not getting lost or separated from the group.

I found the following pictures off of the internet. The picture below is approaching the gate from inside the Old City. So it is a picture of the area above on a less crowded day.

The one below is actually entering the Damascus Gate from the Old City. The only difference is that on the day we were exiting the gate it was jam-packed with people. You turn to the right once you enter the gate to exit.

This is the outside of the gate. Again, the only difference is that on the day we were there it was extremely crowded and the plaza in front of the gate was full of vendors.

The Damascus Gate is the main north-facing gate of the Old City. It was built in 1542 by Suleiman the Magnificent and is sometimes called the Shechem Gate by the Jews.

The Praetorium

2011-06-24T16:29:00.001-05:00

After we completed our visit to the Garden of Gethsemane, we headed to the Arab part of the Old City.

This is the Arab community of Bab a-Zahara.

We entered Herod’s Gate to access the Muslim area of the Old City. Since we were there on a Saturday, it was market day.

What an experience…We were told to walk in a single-file line and keep your eyes peeled on that yellow umbrella because it was very crowded in some areas.

Do you see anything you’d like for dinner?

Vickie and Judy were talking. I was bringing up the rear because I was trying to take pictures and walk at the same time, even though that was a big “no-no.” I was afraid to stop and take the pictures because I might get lost in the maze of streets we were walking through.

This is the Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”) Arch. There is some controversy about whether or not it is the place where Pilate presented Jesus to the crowds. Some now think that it is a triple-arched gateway built by a Hadrian, as an entrance to the Roman Forum. The other part of the arch has been incorporated into the Ecce Homo Church, which includes the Sisters of Zion Convent.

Kenny is trying to help out the owner of this shop by showing us the attributes of this prayer shawl.

Another picture of the Ecce Homo Arch… We are about to enter the Sisters of Zion Convent to the right.

We are entering the Praetorium, which is the first stop on the Via Dolorosa. It was under this convent built by the Sisters of Zion in the 19th century that Jesus was condemned by Pilate and took up His cross. After the Sisters of Zion built the convent, they continued the excavations underneath. The more they excavated, the more they found of the gigantic fortress of Herod the Great.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. John 18: 28-32

We are descending into the Praetorium. There is a group ahead of us, so we are waiting until they’re through.

We are walking on stones that are part of the “Pavement” mentioned in John 19:13. You can’t really tell very well in this picture, but in this stone was etched “the game of the king” that the Roman soldiers played.

Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done? Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” John: 18: 33-38

Since this is the Judgment Hall, this would have been where Jesus and Pilate had that conversation. This is also where Pilate would have had Jesus scourged.

Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. John 19:1-3

This is also the place where Pilate washed his hands in a bowl of water in front of the people as a sign of his innocence in condemning an innocent man. (Matthew 27:24) It was also in this place that Pilate’s wife sent a message to him warning him to have nothing to do with the death of Jesus.

Ray was asked to read the scripture.

After our time at the Praetorium, we continued down the Via Dolorosa.

This is the entrance to the Ecce Homo Basilica which houses part of the Ecce Homo Arches. I am unsure what Kenny was pointing at.

The picture below (taken from the internet) is the inside of the Ecce Homo Basilica and shows part of the arch.

We’re going to continue down the Via Dolorosa to lunch.

Garden of Gethsemane

2011-06-23T20:59:00.004-05:00

After breakfast the yellow bus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. (In Jerusalem the buses each had separate schedules because of access to the different sites. It was hard for a crowd of 171 people to be in a site at the same time.) Today the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane were very crowded. The group that was with Joel Rosenberg at the Epicenter Conference was with us in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The photograph below is from BibleWalks.com and gives great perspective on the Mount of Olives. It was taken from the top of the Golden Gate on the Temple Mount. The building in the front with the three arches is the Church of All Nations. To the left of the church is the tomb of Mary. To the right of the church in the center of the picture is the Russian Orthodox Church and to the right of that is the Tear Drop Church. Beneath the road in the picture is the Kidron Valley.

The peaked tomb in the center of the picture is the tomb of Absalom, David’s son who was killed by David’s men after a failed mutiny. According to the Bible, the tomb was built by Absalom himself in his lifetime since he had no sons who would build it. 2 Samuel 18:18: "...and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place"

This is the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene.

All the pictures below are olive trees from the Garden of Gethsemane. We were given time here to pray. It was very quiet considering that there were so many people outside the garden wall. My grandmother's favorite old hymn, “In the Garden,” kept playing through my mind. I know that I have too many pictures of the trees, but I loved the different shapes and the gnarled trunks and branches. I bought Amy and Erin nativity scenes from Bethlehem made out of olive wood.

It has been determined that this olive tree is old enough to have been here at the time of Christ, which is why it is fenced off. While I was there I saw people pulling pieces of bark off some of the other olive trees. I guess that is why they are protecting this one.

This is a picture of the same tree from the 1920s. The monk is picking the olives.

And here again is a picture of the East Gate. Every time we looked up and across the Kidron Valley this was the view. So every time we looked up we were reminded that Jesus will come again and will enter Jerusalem through the East Gate from the Mount of Olives with those who have been redeemed through the blood of the lamb. That means, as one of the redeemed, I’ll be with Him! Therefore, I’ll never have too many pictures of the East (Beautiful, Golden, Mercy) Gate. Someone on our trip said that we may never see each other again in this life, but we know that we will meet again here in Jerusalem outside the East Gate. Gives you goosebumps, doesn’t it!

I took this picture out the bus window of the Church of All Nations on the first morning we were in Jerusalem.

This is the entrance to the Church of All Nations, or the Basilica of the Agony. It has been nicknamed the Church of All Nations because it was built from 1919-1924 with funds contributed from 12 different nations. It stands on the foundations of two ancient churches: a 4th-century Byzantine basilica, destroyed by an earthquake in 746 and a 12th-century Crusader chapel, which was abandoned in 1345.

The inside is just lovely.

The Church of All Nations is famous because it contains the rock that Jesus is said to have prayed upon in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26: 36-39

I am very fortunate to have gotten this picture. The altar was surrounded by people the whole time we were there. There were people who were overcome with emotion and knelt to kiss the stone. Notice the edging around the stone was created to look like thorns.

This is Mary’s tomb. There is also a cave on this site that is called the Cave of Gethsemane. Some groups believe that the cave is where Jesus prayed and where He and the disciples were staying the night because it would have been too cold to sleep in the olive groves.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Caiaphas’ House

2011-06-22T19:35:00.000-05:00

This is the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. It is located on Mt. Zion looking across to the Temple Mount. Tradition, supported by archaeological evidence, holds that this is the site of the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest before whom Jesus was brought. It’s name Gallicantu, which means the cock’s crow, comes from Peter’s denial of Jesus three times before the cock crowed twice.

This was another very early morning so we could hear Kay’s teaching prior to the official opening for the crowds.

Here is the sculpture of Peter in the courtyard outside the high priest’s palace. As we sat here and listened to Kay there was a rooster that crowed several times. It was eerie.

The Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples would have had the last supper was farther up Mount Zion. This is the road that Jesus and the disciples would have used to walk down to the Kidron Valley and then back up the Mount of Olives.

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Matthew 26: 30-34

The sun is coming up over the Mount of Olives.

Jesus’ jailers would have brought Him back up this road after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.

We are sitting on the courtyard where Jesus was probably scourged. Kay’s teaching was entitled, “Do you really believe in Him?” Many of us say we do, but do our actions show our belief? Do we mourn over our personal sin and the sin of our nation? Do we live like we’re set apart? How can we not remember that we were bought with a price?

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:2-6

It is believed that this is the pit in which Jesus was kept the night before He was crucified. Prisoners were tied with rope underneath their arms and lowered through this hole into the pit. Their toes barely brushed the ground so that their weight was supported by their arms. It is thought that Peter, John, and other disciples were beaten and held here as well.

People could look in this window and jeer at the prisoners.

This was the pit. Most of us were overcome with emotion at what the Lord God has done for us.

We are looking again across to the Mount of Olives. The tower that you see is thought to be where Jesus ascended into heaven.

Do you really believe in Him?

Yemin Moshe

2011-06-22T19:24:00.001-05:00

After returning from Yad Vashem in the afternoon, Judy and I decided to talk a walk through Bloomfield Garden across the street from the hotel. Kay had mentioned that there was an artist’s colony on the other side of the Hinnom Valley from the Old City. It was a lovely area, with especially good views of the Old City wall..

This is the back of the King David Hotel.

Another view of the Dormition Abbey…

Here is the entrance to the Artist’s Colony. The tower that you see in the distance with the fortifications around it is the Citadel and David’s Tower.

This was the most gorgeous bougainvillea.

The path not taken…

This was the front of some of the houses. The area is actually called Yemin Moshe. In 1860 a British philanthropist, Moses Montefiore, built new housing on the hill overlooking the Old City to help relieve the crowding and the poverty in the Jewish Quarter. It has now become very pricey and few artists can afford to call the area home.

This is part of the ancient aqueduct system that has supplied water to Jerusalem up until the 20th century.

This picture is of the bridge in the 1860s. The picture is from this article.

It was a lovely afternoon for a wedding. I bet she didn’t know that she had an additional photographer. Ha!

The windmill, was originally built to serve the milling needs of the residents of Montefiore's new developments, but it was never operational because of the lack of wind where it was situated.

A restaurant is located just down the stairs from the windmill, which offers a spectacular view of the Old City walls. An alternate route into the Old City is to walk down the stairs past the windmill and through the Yemin Moshe gates to the street and walk across and up the hill to Zion Gate. This takes you into the city right near the Jewish Quarter and is a relatively quick way to get to the Western Wall. I wish we would have found out about this earlier in our visit.

I copied this image off of the internet because it shows our hotel behind the windmill.

The ridge you see in the distance with what looks like a wall on it is Mt. Scopus.

This is St. Andrew’s Church of Scotland. It was built in the 1930’s to commemorate the Scottish soldiers who died in World War I fighting the Turks, bringing an end to Ottoman rule over Palestine. It was the dying wish of Robert the Bruce that his heart be buried in Jerusalem. There is a plaque in the floor of the church that commemorates his wish.

Yad Vashem

2011-06-20T05:23:00.001-05:00

Once we got back to the hotel and had breakfast, we again boarded the bus for a trip to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum.

I took this picture as we were driving through the neighborhood of Rehavia. I just liked the way the roof was painted. I believe it was a coffee shop. I probably needed some good coffee! Ha!

There are Holocaust memorials and museum all over the world, some of them extremely moving, but none could ever be as poignant as Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial. Yad Vashem was opened in 1957, nine years after the establishment of the State of Israel and less than 15 years after the Holocaust, with the purpose of commemorating and researching the single largest act of genocide in human history.

Yad Vashem is located at the foot of Mt. Herzl (which bears immense symbolism in itself), and comprises several memorials, including the Hall of Remembrance and the Children’s Memorial; the Holocaust History Museum; the Museum of Holocaust Art; sculptures and installations; a massive archive; a research institute; and more.
Yad Vashem’s Holocaust History Museum was reopened in 2005 after extensive renovations that lasted several years. The striking new building now contains 10 exhibition halls, each of which focuses on a different chapter of the Holocaust. The exhibitions are ordered chronologically and tend to focus on individual stories as a means of evoking the stark historic reality of the tragedy.

A special section of Yad Vashem is devoted to the Righteous Among the Nations, those gentiles who often put their own lives on the line in order to rescue Jews from the jaws of death. Many of these people have been invited to Yad Vashem over the years in order to plant trees in the Garden of the Righteous, symbolizing the private lives and collective existence that they have helped to perpetuate.

Like the foreign dignitaries who come here, anyone visiting Israel must pass through Yad Vashem, if only to grasp the enormity of the miracle of the State of Israel, which emerged out of the ashes of Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, etc.

We were here as Shabbat was beginning, so we had about two and a half hours before it closed early. We ate in the museum cafeteria.

This sculpture is outside the Children’s Memorial. The posts are arranged in different heights to represent the ages of the children who were murdered.

A family built the memorial in memory of their son.

This is the entrance of the Children’s Memorial. It is incredibly moving. You descend underneath the arch below to a building hollowed out of a cavern. I am pasting the description directly from the web site.

This unique memorial, hollowed out from an underground cavern, is a tribute to the approximately 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust. Memorial candles, a customary Jewish tradition to remember the dead, are reflected infinitely in a dark and somber space, creating the impression of millions of stars shining in the firmament. The names of murdered children, their ages and countries of origin can be heard in the background.The children's names are taken from Pages of Testimony in the Hall of Names, Yad Vashem.

The Children's Memorial was designed by architect Moshe Safdie and built with the generous donation of Abe and Edita Spiegel, whose son Uziel was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of two and a half.

I believe that Kenny said that the spikes protruding out of the rock were like rebar in a concrete foundation and were to symbolize rebuilding.

We were certainly not allowed to take photos, but I found this one on the internet courtesy of Yad Vashem. It would be completely dark in the room except for the candle flames, and then the pictures would start flashing before you as the names were read.

You can see that we were in a somber mood.

This is the Pillar of Heroism commemorating the Jewish resistance. The inscription reads: "Now and forever in memory of those who rebelled in the camps and ghettos, fought in the woods, in the underground and with the Allied forces; braved their way to Eretz Israel; and died sanctifying the name of God" .

The young trees you see planted along the wall have been planted to commemorate the efforts of Gentiles to intervene in the persecution of the Jews. Each tree has a plaque in front of it on which the name of the Gentile is inscribed.

In 1961, Yad Vashem inaugurated the Hall of Remembrance, the first Holocaust commemoration site established at Yad Vashem on the Mount of Remembrance.

The Hall is an imposing structure, with walls made of basalt boulders brought from the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee, and an angular roof that gives it a tent-like shape. Engraved on the mosaic floor are the names of 22 of the most infamous Nazi murder sites, symbolic of the hundreds of extermination and concentration camps, transit camps and killing sites that existed throughout Europe.

The Eternal Flame, burning from a base fashioned like a broken bronze goblet, continuously illuminates the hall, its smoke exiting the building through an opening at the highest point of the ceiling. Before it stands a stone crypt containing the ashes of Holocaust victims, brought to Israel from the extermination camps.

Dignitaries who visit Israel for the first time always come to Yad Vashem to place a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance. In fact, anyone who visits Israel for the first time is highly encouraged to visit Yad Vashem. You can’t understand modern Israel unless you understand the Holocaust.

The pictures below are of a cast aluminum sculpture called, “From Holocaust to Rebirth.”

This is the Warsaw Ghetto Square.

“We have entered into a new life, and it is impossible to imagine the panic that has arisen in the Jewish Quarter. Suddenly we see ourselves penned in on all sides. We are segregated and separated from the world and the fullness thereof, driven out of the society of the human race.” Chaim Aharon Kaplan, Scroll of Agony (1999)

The building in which the museum is located is a triangular shape and has a metal-looking roof. You look out a huge window shaped like a triangle and this is your view.

This is a picture of the building from their website.

Here is the plaque in front of Corrie Ten Boom’s tree. Corrie’s father, Casper, told the first Jew who asked for assylum in his home, "In this household, God's people are always welcome." This began the family’s “hiding place.” Eventually, the family was turned it to the Gestapo by a Dutch informant and were sent to a concentration camp. Casper died two weeks later. Elisabeth also died in a concentration camp. She said before dying, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." Corrie was released because of a clerical error one week before the other women in her group were killed. She said, "God does not have problems. Only plans."

This is an original German cattle car that was used to transport Jews to the concentration camps.

This is the monument to the 1.5 million Jewish Allied soldiers who fought against the Nazis in World War II.

But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long;…For your righteousness reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. May You increase my greatness and turn to comfort me. Psalm 71:14-15; 19-21

Mount of Olives

2011-06-17T09:09:00.001-05:00

This morning we were up at 4:30 because we were going to have Bible study on the Mount of Olives. We needed to board the bus by 6:15 so we could get to the “Tear Drop Church” or Dominus Flevit, before it was opened to the public. The bus let us off at the top of the mount and we walked down the Palm Sunday Walk to the church. Of course, the Mount of Olives is directly across the Kidron Valley from the Temple Mount. Because we were early, there was no haze and the view was spectacular!

The hill is first referred to in the Bible when King David flees the city (2 Samuel 15: 30). King Solomon erected altars on the hill dedicated to false alien gods. They were later destroyed by King Josiah who "filled it with bones" to prevent future worship. Zechariah talks about the Day of Judgment, with Mount of Olives its epicenter of God's fiery fight against the enemies of Jerusalem. In the New Testament, of course, it is associated with many events in the life of Jesus, some of which are yet to come.

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. Acts 1:9-12

In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south…Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!…And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem…And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. Zechariah 14: 4-9

We were standing on holy ground!

To the right of the tree is the Southern Steps. To the left of the tree is the City of David.

Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” Matthew 24:1-3 This was accomplished by Titus in 70 A.D.

We’re walking down the Palm Sunday Walk to the little church that you see in the midst of the trees below the olive grove. Tradition holds that the Teardrop Church is where Jesus wept over Jerusalem as he was entering the city.

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept (wailed) over it, saying, “If You had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41-44

Again, this is our view looking straight ahead. Along the outside of the wall is a Muslim cemetery.

We’re still heading down the Palm Sunday Walk. You can see that it is steep.

This is part of the Jewish cemetery. The holes in the side of the grave markers are there so that visitors can place a candle there in order to see when they visit. It is a Jewish tradition that when you visit a grave you put a rock on top of the marker, so it is obvious who are the most popular people in the cemetery.

The Bible tells us that Jesus will return to Jerusalem. Jews believe that the Messiah will come to Jerusalem. This cemetery is very crowded, and is actually considered to be the holiest cemetery in the world to Jews, because everyone buried here will have a front-row seat to Messiah’s coming and the resurrection of the dead.

The building in the upper left center of the picture outside the city walls is the Dormition Abbey. It sits on Mt. Zion.

We’re standing on the plaza in front of the Tear Drop Church. (Remember that we’ve been up very early!) To the right of us is the East Gate. Our teaching from Kay today is going to point out the significance of this gate.

Here is a close-up of the East Gate, which is also called the Beautiful Gate, the Golden Gate, and the Gate of Mercy. To the right of the gate inside the city walls is the Antonia Fortress, which figures prominently in Jesus’ last days. The Bible indicates that Jesus passed through this gate many times while he was in Jerusalem. Jewish religious tradition teaches that the coming Messiah will enter Jerusalem through this gate.

In 1517 when the Turks conquered Jerusalem, Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the walls of the city. In the midst of this building project he ordered that the East Gate of the city be sealed. According to tradition, he had it sealed because he learned that the Jewish messiah would enter through this gate and liberate the city from foreign control.

Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. The LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.” Ezekiel 44: 1-2

On June 7th, 1967 during the Six Day War, the Israeli paratroopers broke through the Lion’s Gate to return the old city of Jerusalem to Jewish control for the first time in 1,897 years. It had been suggested by an Israeli commando that they blow open the sealed East Gate because it would catch the Jordanian defenders off guard. But the leader of the group, an Orthodox Jew, had vehemently protested the idea, stating that "the Eastern Gate can be opened only when the Messiah comes."

Kay’s powerful teaching was from Matthew 24.

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, "’I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains…For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

This is a closer view of the Antonia Fortress.

The tradition that the site of the Tear Drop Church, or Dominus Flevit which means Jesus wept, is the site of the prophesy of the destruction of Jerusalem dates back to the Byzantine period (324-636 AD). When standing inside the church one is supposed to get the feeling of standing inside a tear drop. Since Jesus is prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem, the single large window causes the visitor to look out onto Jerusalem.Through special dispensation this is the only Catholic church to face west, allowing the view to be the altar picture.

Outside on top of each corner, the architect placed huge stone replicas of tear bottles. In Roman times there was a tradition of collecting tears in glass vials and pour them out on the grave of the deceased.

This is another view of the cemetery where the Jews will have a front-row seat to Jesus’ return. Actually, the hillside is white with grave markers.

More olive trees…

We’re continuing to walk down the Palm Sunday Walk to meet up with our bus and go back to the hotel for breakfast. As you scroll through the pictures, think about Jesus entering the city using this same path. When He came the first time, Jesus rode a donkey from the Mount of Olives down into the Kidron Valley and up to the East Gate where He entered the Temple Mount for His last days of teaching. As He made that ride, the Valley of Kidron was filled with thousands of admirers who had heard about the resurrection of Lazarus. They waved palm branches and chanted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Within a few days that same crowd was shouting, "Crucify Him!"

You can see the path up to the Muslim cemetery.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other…But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone…Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

With angels hovering above and millions of the Redeemed filling the Kidron Valley, Jesus will ride up to the Eastern Gate on His white horse, and as He approaches the East Gate, it will blow open. He will then enter the City of David, and to the triumphant shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David," He will be crowned the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Amen!

The Dead Sea

2011-06-16T17:59:00.002-05:00

After leaving Masada we were hot and hungry. It was about 1:00 and our next stop was for lunch and a swim. We were headed to the Crowne Plaza resort for lunch and a dip in the Dead Sea for those who were interested. The hotel furnished robes, etc. for our group.

The Dead Sea is actually a large inland lake which measures about 50 miles long and 10 miles wide. It is approximately 12 miles east of Jerusalem in southeastern Israel. Known through the Bible as the Salt Sea, the Sea of the Plain, or the Eastern Sea, it today forms part of the international boundary with the Kingdom of Jordan.

The Dead Sea has numerous extremes. Its surface is 1,290 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean, which is just 50 miles to the west. It’s only 10 feet deep at its shallowest, but reaches a depth of 1,300 feet at its deepest. The salt content has been measured to be five times that of the oceans. The high salinity is the reason that very little life is found in the waters - it really is a dead sea.

The Jordan River is the main source of water for the Dead Sea, with a few smaller rivers also emptying into it. Despite the constant inflow, and the fact that it has no outlet, the level of the Dead Sea changes very little over the year. This is the result of the extremely high rate of evaporation from the heat of its wide-open, below sea level, desert location. The water quickly evaporates, but the salt remains. In fact, some of the resorts are no longer sitting on the edge of the Dead Sea because it has evaporated so much that the waterline has receded significantly.

I opted out of the swim. They warned us that people with high blood pressure or other health conditions should not enter the water because of the extremely high salt and mineral content. I was having issues with swollen feet and decided that I would really enjoy just resting and watching. I don’t know what kind of tree this is, but it was beautiful.

The water is a lovely aqua. It’s really strange not to see any boats, skiers, etc. on this huge body of water. The mountains that you see in the distance are in Jordan. These are some of the girls on our bus.

The white you see in the distance is salt. I thought it was interesting that scholars think that Sodom and Gommorah were located just south of the Dead Sea. The mineral concentration of the Dead Sea waters has long been known to have medicinal value. Aristotle, Queen of Sheba, King Solomon and Cleopatra all took advantage of this and modern doctors as well often prescribe patients with skin ailments to soak in the waters of the Dead Sea. We saw the Ahava factory.

What does the future hold for the Dead Sea? Is it going to evaporate away?

After the return of Jesus, the Bible tells us that:

And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

Fishermen will stand beside the sea; from Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.

By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fall. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekial 47:8-12

Masada

2011-06-15T20:08:00.001-05:00

Back in the late 1970’s my parents, who were probably the same age I am now, went to Israel with their church. It was a trip that they had looked forward to for a long time. I remember going to the airport to pick them up and waiting for them at the gate to disembark. Nearly the whole plane was empty when here came my parents down the jetway-my dad was pushing my mother in a wheelchair. Not only was my mother in a wheelchair, she had a huge fever blister on the side of her mouth. She never could fully explain (that I can remember) why she needed a wheelchair. It seems that it had something to do with Masada and the Dead Sea. After visiting Masada, I know why.

Below is a model of Masada, which is Hebrew for fortress.

It is situated atop an isolated rock cliff at the western end of the Judean desert overlooking the Dead Sea. The natural approaches to the top of the cliff are very difficult. You can see the trail underneath the cable car. These cable cars were just installed in the 1990’s. When my parents were here they must have walked up the trail, since I know that my dad was very impressed with the site. There were people walking up the trail the day we were here. We obviously chose the cable car.

I am really afraid of heights so I walked very very very fast over this bridge. As I was walking, I looked to the right where there wasn’t quite as far of a drop. I’m sure I missed some great views, but oh well.

I don’t know what was down those stairs. Surely all of those people weren’t walking back down to the bottom! I hope they didn’t need a wheelchair to get off their plane!

The only information we have about Masada comes from Josephus Flavius, the historian of the Jews. According to Josephus, Herod the Great built the fortress of Masada between 37 and 31 B.C. Herod, an Idumean, had been made King of Judea by his Roman overlords and was hated by his Jewish subjects. He was also afraid of the threat that Cleopatra and Egypt represented. So being the master builder that he was, he “furnished this fortress as a refuge for himself.” It included a casemate wall around the plateau, storehouses, large cisterns ingeniously filled with rainwater, barracks, palaces and an armory.

Some 75 years after Herod’s death, at the beginning of the Revolt of the Jews against the Romans in 66 A.D., a group of Jewish rebels overcame the Roman garrison of Masada. After the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., they were joined by zealots and their families who had fled from the city. The zealots raided and harassed the Romans for two years using Masada as their base. In 73 A.D. the Romans decided that they had had enough, so the Roman governor Flavius Silva marched against Masada. He came against Masada with the Tenth Legion, auxiliary units and thousands of Jewish prisoners-of-war. The Romans established camps at the base of Masada and laid siege to the fortress. They constructed a rampart of thousands of tons of stones and beaten earth against the western approaches of the fortress and, in the spring of the year 74 CE, moved a battering ram up the ramp and breached the wall.

The zealots put up a valiant fight but knew that they couldn’t win. Two surviving women told Josephus the story of how the defenders – about 1,000 men, women, and children – decided to burn the fortress and take their own lives rather than be taken alive and become slaves to the Romans. The Zealots cast lots to choose 10 men to kill the remainder. They then chose among themselves the one man who would kill the survivors. That last Jew then killed himself.

The story of Masada inspired many Jews to work on the dig to uncover its secrets. Masada has become a symbol of the determination of the Jewish people to live freely in their own land. Israeli soldiers take an oath there, “Masada shall not fall again!” “Never again.”

This is the sign indicating where the people going down the stairs are headed. It is a drop of about 900 feet. Herod’s palace was built on three levels.

To signify the end of their basic training, these Israeli soldiers have hiked all night from Jerusalem to Masada. I guess this is where they take their “Never again!” pledge. Once the ceremony is over, they get their red berets.

I love this picture… We saw so many t-shirts over there that said, “America, we’ve got your back!” I think that’s comforting to know, since they are probably one of the few true friends America has.

It must be nice…not one palace, but two.

This is a model of the three tiered palace.

This is the original plaster from Herod’s palace.

Judy’s hat was the envy of many on the trip, and believe me we needed our hats!

This was Herod’s immersion pool. He could put torches in the niches so that he could swim at night.

A close up of the designs in the wall…

Another gorgeous mosaic that is almost 2,000 years old…Back then in order to create these mosaics, they had to travel far and wide to find rock that was the right color. There were no dyes to color stone. It could take many years to complete a mosaic.

The ridge you see running down the middle of the picture is the siege ramp that the Romans built.

This is an amphitheater in which they reenact parts of the Masada story. To the right of the amphitheater are the remains of one of the Roman camps. A solid wall was built surrounding Masada and connecting the 8 Roman camps. It was 6 feet thick and 7 miles long and built to prevent escaping. An estimated 9,000 soldiers plus support personnel and slaves conducted the siege. The first Roman siege camp was discovered in 1932.

This synagogue was found in the first season of the excavations. No Second Temple period synagogues were known at the time. Many coins from the Jewish Revolt were found here, including an ostracon that was found on the floor with inscription, “priestly tithe.” Everything below the black line is the original structure and everything above has been reconstructed.

We’re all looking a little hot and sweaty and ready to move on so we can have a swim.

Do you understand why mom came home in a wheelchair? Ha!

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

Qumran

2011-06-12T19:44:00.002-05:00

Today we are leaving Jerusalem for a bus trip through the wilderness of Judea to Qumran and Masada. I know that this is a very hazy picture, but if you look closely you can see a ridge of mountains. It was this mountain on which Satan tempted Jesus. The city of Jericho lies at the base of the mountain. Jericho was also the place where Jesus healed the blind man. Luke 18:35-43

This is a clearer picture of Jericho and the mountain from the south that I borrowed from the internet.

In 1947 a shepherd boy came across a cave while looking for his goats. The story goes that he was throwing rocks at the cave, when he heard a crack. He went in to investigate and found a pottery jar in which there was a scroll. He left the cave and returned later with a friend. They found several jars containing rolls of aged leather manuscripts. The scrolls came into the hands of dealers in antiquities who offered them to scholars. The first scholar to recognize their antiquity was E.L. Sukenik, who succeeded in acquiring three of them for the Hebrew University. Later they were offered for sale in the United States (in a usual newspaper ad, five lines long, under "Miscellaneous" for sale). Yigael Yadin, the son of E.L. Sukenik and also an outstanding archaeologist, succeeded in buying them and bringing them back to Israel. The Israel Museum in Jerusalem constructed a special site for exhibiting the scrolls - the Shrine of the Book – which we will see later in the week. Strict atmospheric conditions are observed there to minimize the possible damage to the scrolls.

In the meantime, a group of scholars under the leadership of R. deVaux began to search and excavate the cave where the first scrolls were found, as well as some 40 caves in its vicinity. Many scrolls and thousands of fragments were found in 11 caves.

The scrolls were dated about 100 B.C. Later they were dated to be 1900 years old. Before 1947, scrolls had been found dating back only to the ninth century A.D. None are as old as the ones that the young Bedouins found at Qumran.

There are numerous caves in the hills and it is expected that there may still be some treasures to be found.

Kenny is explaining about the life of the sect, the Essenes, who lived here and laboriously copied the scrolls. Each scroll had to be perfect. If there was a mistake, you started over.

This is the tower.

Another one of the caves…

This is an elaborate mikvah – a ritual purity bath - that the Essenes used for ceremonial cleansing. They practiced immersion twice daily.

This is the room in which the scrolls were copied.

The refectory, or dining hall, was used for communal meals. Three rows of tables were apparently in place where the Essenes ate in silence.

In the next room over, more than 1000 complete vessels were found including 708 cups, 210 plates and 108 salad bowls. All of these were serving vessels as they were never fired.

All of this area, of course, is part of the Judean wilderness.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1

Judea is also the land of John the Baptist. In fact, some have speculated that John was an Essene, but that is all speculation because there is no proof.

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the LORD, make His paths straight!’” Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. Matthew 3:1-6

This is the cave in which the Bedouin boy found the scrolls.

I purchased this hat in Boulder at Easter. It served me well in Israel. I thought about leaving it behind to make more room in my luggage, but couldn’t do it. It was getting a little bedraggled (along with its wearer)!

The scrolls prove that the Hebrew Scriptures have not been substantially altered during centuries of copy. For example, the Hebrew Isaiah manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls (100 B.C.) and the Massoretic Text (A.D. 900), spread across nearly 1000 years, are extremely close, containing stylistic differences as minor as spelling (e.g. “honor” v. “honour” in English) and the presence or absence of conjunctions (neither which changes the meaning). Every book of the Old Testament except Esther was found.

There were people that were actually climbing up trails into the caves. More power to them!! Ha!

The potter’s workshop…

After we left Qumran, we traveled alongside the Dead Sea. This morning in Jerusalem we were at 2500 feet above sea level. We are now 1200 feet below sea level. There was some ear popping as we drove down to the sea. It is really a desolate area.

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Free Day in Jerusalem

2011-06-12T14:10:00.003-05:00

We started our free day by heading to the cleaners which was down the block from the Inbal Hotel. These pictures were taken in the front of the hotel.

Have you ever seen such beautiful hydrangeas?

From the look of my eyes, I should have probably stayed in the room with cucumbers on my eyelids. Ha! Did I mention that our first day in Jerusalem was a very long and tiring day?

You can see the entrance to the hotel behind me. There was always a security detail at that podium who checked our nametags/identification before we entered the building. We saw a rabbi being checked with a metal detector. There was never a delay or a problem entering the building. It is just a way of life.

We decided we would walk downtown to Ben Yehuda Street, the shopping district, so that we could get some of the local “character” of the city. This was a hotel that we passed. I loved the flowers growing from every balcony.

It was an overcast and rather chilly morning.

We bought a few t-shirts and looked at additional luggage (which I should have bought since my suitcase weighed 70 lbs.!)

We kept an eye out for the golden arches and a Burger King, just in case we needed their facilities.

Iced coffee is very popular in Israel. There were a lot of little cafes where you could purchase one. They typically cost about $5. We went to the moneychangers for the first time here because we wanted some coffee and this was the first store that did not take American dollars.

As you can tell from my pictures, I love shutters and flowers on balconies.

When we were through downtown we walked back toward the old city. It drew us like a magnet. The part of the wall you are looking at is the Armenian quarter.

This is the Citadel, or Tower of David, the highest point in the old city. A series of fortifications built here in the course of more than twenty centuries, protected Jerusalem from the west and also overlooked and controlled the entire city.To the left of the tower is the building that houses David’s tomb. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized what these buildings were. Oh well, another reason to go back!

We’re about to enter the quarter through the Jaffa gate, which is actually to the left. Looking straight ahead is the Citadel. A series of fortifications built here in the course of more than twenty centuries, protected Jerusalem from the west and also overlooked and controlled the entire city.

This is again looking toward the Citadel. Many concerts and events are held outside the wall in this area.

This is looking across the valley to the “new” part of the city. There is a windmill that you can faintly see on the horizon to the left of the picture. Our hotel was near this windmill.

Inside the Armenian Quarter… It’s good if you know how to bargain and you need to know how to say “no” firmly, but nicely.

We walked through the edge of the Armenian Quarter back to the Jewish Quarter where we met up with people in our group for lunch at Hurva Square. We had pizza that really hit the spot along with a coke. I think I need to leave my sunglasses on to hide those puffy eyes! Ha! It was a lovely lunch. The birds were singing and you could hear the children playing in the square behind us.

We did have a little time for shopping. We bought a few things at Shorashim’s Biblical shop which opened onto Hurva Square. Moshe Kempinski is a favorite of Kay’s. (Check out the website for some very interesting articles.) Of course, there were many stores in which you could buy Judaica. There were a lot of our tour members who went home with shofars and prayer shawls.

We’re walking back toward the Jaffa Gate.

Still having a problem with my eyes…but you can at least see the flowers!

This is the King David Hotel where kings and presidents have stayed down through the years. There is a lot of history associated with this hotel.

Orange trees in someone’s yard on the way back to the hotel.

Back at the hotel, I was sitting in the lobby waiting for dinner.

Guess who ate at our table? What a precious lady. (At least I had my eyes open for this one!)

The Southern Steps

2011-06-12T10:54:00.006-05:00

Our last stop of our first day in Jerusalem was at the southern steps of the Temple Mount. This is one of the newer archaeological discoveries and one of the most important. It is also significant since there can be no archaeological excavations on top of the Temple Mount, so a lot of the new information we have from the time period comes from this excavation. The southern steps are circled in this drawing.

Ben-Dov, the archaeologist who worked on the southern wall of the temple mount, recalls that he was once asked by Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut, to show him an area in Jerusalem where Jesus might have walked. Ben-Dov took him inside the Hulda Gates in the Southern Wall and Armstrong said that he was just as thrilled to stand on this staircase as he had been when he took his first steps on the moon.

Unfortunately, by this time of the day I was extremely tired and had just about decided I had enough pictures (to my regret now), so I borrowed some general pictures of the area off of the internet The following photos from www.BibleWalks.com shows a general view of the southeastern side of the temple walls. On the left side and in the center are the Hulda gates. The monumental staircase below them leads to the Herodian temple mount. On the bottom right side are some of the ritual baths and cisterns found in this area, part of the installations that were used by the visitors to the temple. This is all part of an archaeological park now.

This is a good picture from the Mount of Olives.

The staircase consists of 15 pairs of alternating broad and narrow steps. Although most of the steps were reconstructed, this is one of the remains of the southern entrance. Archaeologists believe that at the base of the steps there was a large plaza area. As you can see in the drawing above, pilgrims would enter through the eastern Hulda gate and exit through the one to the west. Those entering the temple mount would have stopped at the mikvahs, which can still be seen to the east of the stairs, so that they could have a ritual bath and enter the temple area in a state of ceremonial cleanliness. Of course, we know that the only way to approach God with a clean heart is through the righteousness of Jesus, our Savior. This is also where the Gentiles would have entered the temple mount.

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:3-6

Without a doubt, Jesus would have walked up these steps. Luke 19:47 And He was teaching daily in the temple… He and His disciples probably taught on these steps since it was a bustling and large area. We sat and listened to Kay teach just as the people listened to Jesus here on these steps. If that doesn’t give you a thrill, I don’t know what will!

Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Psalm 24:7-10

A closer look on the stairs is seen below, with the Mount of Olives on the background. You can easily see the pattern of the broad and narrow steps. Perhaps this was done so that people would have to look down to see where they were stepping, bowing their head in anticipation of entering the holy area.

This is our whole group sitting on the southern steps underneath a part of the western Hulda gate.To our left we saw the Mount of Olives and straight in front of us was the City of David.

Another group arrived at the same time we arrived. We waited quietly while they had their lesson and prayer before Kay started teaching from Daniel 9, emphasizing the prophecy of events yet to come.

O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” Daniel 9: 18-19

Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’” How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, they shout joyfully together; for they will see with their own eyes when the LORD restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. Isaiah 52: 6-10

The Jewish Quarter

2011-06-11T13:56:00.001-05:00

This is Zion Gate, the entrance to the Jewish and Armenian Quarters in the Old City. It faces Mt. Zion and Hebron and is also known as the Gate of the Prophet David because the tomb of David is supposed to be on Mt. Zion. The gate is built in a tilted way with a very sharp angle for the purpose of stopping any enemy attack. It was built for Suleiman the Magnificent in 1540. In the 19th century, an area close to the gate was the gathering place of lepers.

It is hard to believe, but at one time cars both entered and exited the Old City through Zion Gate. Now, cars only exit through this gate.

Psalm 9:14: That I may tell of all Your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.

Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122:2

Our feet were standing upon these bricks as we entered the gate.

In 1948, during the Israeli War of Independence, the Palmach – the elite fighting force of the Haganah - unsuccessfully battled for control of the Jewish Quarter at the entrance of the Zion gate. This left the stones surrounding the gate pockmarked by weapons fire and bullet holes that you can see in the picture below. The Jewish Quarter eventually had to be evacuated.

Just off the plaza is the Cardo, which was a Byzantine road, roughly the equivalent of an eight-lane highway, that ran through the heart of the city. Today, a small area is preserved with some of the original Roman columns. Just beyond the columns is an underground mall with a number of Jewish stores and art galleries.

You can barely see the top of the yellow umbrella walking through the maze of the streets. That yellow umbrella was our compass. We always wanted to be in sight of it. If we did get lost, however, we could get a cab to the hotel for about $20. Can you believe that cabs could actually drive through these streets!

I believe that we were waiting in line for the restroom here…along with these schoolgirls.

Reconstruction work following the 1967 war allowed archaeologists to excavate various areas in the Jewish Quarter. One of the most significant finds from the Old Testament period was the Broad Wall. Built by Hezekiah in the days before the 701 B.C. invasion by the Assyrian king Sennacherib, the Broad Wall enclosed the Western Hill and increased the walled area of Jerusalem five-fold.

And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David and made weapons and shields in great number. He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the One with us is greater than the one with him. 2 Chronicles 32: 5-7

You can see in these the “measuring stick” against the wall showing you the level of the city in the first temple period.

If you look carefully, you can see the City of David and its relationship to the Old City and the Temple Mount.

This is the rebuilt Hurva Synagogue that was dedicated in March of this year. The synagogue was founded in the early 18th century, but it was destroyed by Muslims a few years later in 1721. The piece of ground on which the synagogue was built lay in ruins for over 140 years and became known as the Ruin, or Hurva. In 1864, it was rebuilt and retained its name as the Hurva. It became Jerusalem’s main Ashkenazic synagogue until it was also reduced to rubble by the Arab Legion during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The synagogue was rebuilt in the style of the original. For those who read the Thoene’s books, the Hurva Synagogue played a key role.

An entrance to a home…

The Herodian Quarter – The Wohl Museum of Archaeology

The Herodian Quarter – The Wohl Museum of Archeology is a six-house compound, situated on the slope of the hill facing the Temple Mount within the Jewish Quarter.

Populated by aristocratic families and Temple priests, the homes were built on terraces, one above the other on the slope, the roof of one house forming the basement of the house above. This allowed all the homes to have an unrestricted view of the Temple.

The exhibit focuses on three houses: The Western House, the Middle Complex and the Palatial Mansion. These were apparently the homes of aristocratic families during the Herodian period, probably Temple priests and their families. The homes were designed in the Hellenistic/Roman style popular at the time.

Special attention was given to the quarter’s bathing rooms. The flooring was composed of colorful mosaics, and frescoes adorned the walls. The utensils, the artifacts and the luxuries revealed in the excavations, such as the decorated plates and imported wine jugs, all attest to the wealth of the residents.

A unique find is the seven-armed menorah carved on one of the walls. This is the oldest explicit depiction of the menorah, and it is likely that it was carved by a person who had actually seen the original menorah, still at use at that time in the Temple.

And speaking of the Menorah, this is the one that has been designed and created for the third temple. It is hollow and is made of pure 24k gold. It is currently on display overlooking the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. It is also vey close to the entrance of Yeshiva Aish HaTorah, a Jewish Ashkenazi organization and school. It was constructed by The Temple Institute of the Old City in preparation for the third temple.

Back where we started, to end the day at the Southern Steps.

The City of David

2011-06-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

These are a few parting shots from the buildings that look out on the Western Wall plaza. We are now on our way to the City of David. If you watched 60 Minutes on June 5 you saw a segment (a very biased segment) on the archaeological dig taking place at the City of David.

And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 2 Samuel 5:9

The modern-day location of the City of David is outside the city walls, south of the Dung Gate and the Temple Mount. Originally, Jerusalem was built around the Gihon Spring which supplied Jerusalem with its water. It was expanded during the reign of Solomon. The City of David is surrounded on the east by the Kidron Valley and on the west by the Tyroppean/Central Valley.

The establishment of Jerusalem as the new capital of Israel was a great geo-political move. By making the Jebusite stronghold his capital David, showed no favoritism to any one tribe.

This is a model of what the ancient City of David might have looked like. It was created by NOVA filmmakers.

Much of where we walked was covered with iron grill because we were walking on top of excavations.

This photo was taken looking down on “Area G,” what archaeologists have identified as the Royal Quarter.

The City of David is adjacent to Silwan, a mostly Arab neighborhood located across the Kidron Valley. In the last few years more Jews have moved into the area, making it one of the most contended and controversial areas in Jerusalem.

Since this is an ongoing project, archaeologists continue to dig tunnels and excavate underneath the neighborhood and a small number of families are going to have to be relocated. The city fathers feel like the historical significance of the site warrants having to relocate some families in the area.

This structure is one of the largest Iron Age structures in Israel. It has been revealed to a height of 60 feet, and it is dated to the end of the Jebusite city (12th century B.C.). Archaeologists believe that this structure supported David’s palace. You can see that David would have had quite a view looking down onto the rooftops and homes of the city. It certainly would have been easy for him to spy Bathsheba.

More pictures of Silwan…

In this picture you can see the sloped retaining wall, or millo, in which homes were built. The structure in the corner with the wooden supports is Ahiel’s house. The square stone with the hole in the center that you see to the right of the center of the picture is the ancient toilet. In the area next to Ahiel’s house Bullae (wax seals) dating back to the times of Jeremiah (as determined by names on the bullae) were found.

In the wall above Ahiel’s house there are remnants of the wall of Nehemiah built when the Jews returned from Babylon.

Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the King’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” So I answered them and said to the, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2: 17-20

Some members of our group chose to come back to the City of David during their free time to go through Hezekiah’s tunnel.

When the city was defending itself from the approaching Assyrian army in the 8th Century B.C., King Hezekiah decided to protect the water by diverting its flow deep into the city with an impressive tunnel system. It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did. 2 Chronicles 32:30

This model shows the water system of the day. Residents of the area would walk down through the tunnel, identified in gold, to Warren’s Shaft (named for the archaeologist who discovered it) where they would lower containers into the Gihon Spring.

This engineering feat was accomplished by digging a 1,750-foot (533 meter) tunnel into the mountain. An ancient stone carving found near the entrance describes this incredible operation.

This is a picture of Warren’s Shaft.

This is a picture copied from the City of David site, since we didn’t go down into the tunnel. We’ll just have to do this the next time we are there!

Lunch and the Western Wall Tunnels

2011-06-05T20:54:00.002-05:00

As we were driving into Jerusalem, Kenny asked us the question,”If you knew that you were having your last meal on earth, would you want an omelet, tuna, or cheese?” We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were deciding on our lunch for the next day. We had about 30 minutes at the Western Wall and then we were to meet in the arch/tunnel which is the last arch on the left facing south on the plaza. It is in the bottom of the three story building. Kenny met us there with sandwiches for lunch: tuna, cheese, or egg. Since I like omelets, guess what kind of sandwich I had!

I had to take the picture of this cat because everywhere you go in Israel, and in Jerusalem especially, you see wild cats – in the trash cans, trying to beg food from tourists... They are everywhere. There are several internet sites that are devoted to the cats of Jerusalem. This site even has an art project that includes photos of 248 cats.

This one seemed to sense that there was something afoot in the tunnel.

It was omelet sandwiches for Judy and me.

And leftover bits from someone on the tour.

The name you see below on the plaque is the late Rabbi of the Western Wall.

Once we were through with lunch, those who wanted to could explore the Western Wall tunnels.

The part of the Western Wall that you have seen is the part that is visible at ground level. The rest is underground and was discovered by the British archaeologists Charles Wilson and Sir Charles Warren who, in 1867, sunk shafts along the lengths of the western and southern walls, revealing 18 courses reaching down to bedrock. Further excavations in the 1970’s have uncovered remains dating from the time of King Solomon. Today you can tour the ancient Herodian street at a depth of 50 feet below ground level, along the length of the wall.

At the start of the tour Kenny showed us a model of Mt. Moriah.

He then showed us how the temple mount was built on top of Mt. Moriah and how the city grew around the Temple Mount.

The Secret Passage…

I believe that this room is used for prayer and study because it is close to the Holy of Holies.

This is the great hall.

We entered a room with benches where we could look at a model of the Temple Mount so we could see exactly where the tunnels were located as Kenny turned on the lights.

I was glad I found this labeled picture on the internet. It helps me understand better where everything is.

I read somewhere that the temple was approximately 10 stories high.

This would be Robinson’s Arch.

The base stones of the wall are incredibly huge. This one is the largest object ever lifted by man. It is 44.5 feet long, approximately 12 feet wide, and weighs an estimated 600 tons. The rectangular holes in the stone were added in the middle ages. Their purpose was to hold the plaster which was applied onto the walls when this section was transformed into a water reservoir.

Of course, since this is part of the Western Wall, people leave their prayers in any crevice.

Lion’s Gate and the Western Wall

2011-06-04T21:33:00.000-05:00

We exited the Temple Mount and the Muslim quarter through Lion’s Gate, the gate that leads to the Via Dolorosa. It is also known as St. Stephen’s Gate and, in Jesus’ time, it was the Sheep Gate. Christian Arabs call it St. Mary’s gate because the Virgin Mary is buried in the Kidron Valley below it. The Lion’s Gate is the only gate located on the east wall that gives access to the Old City. The East Gate has been sealed for centuries by the Muslims in order to prevent the Messiah from entering through this gate. (More on this later.)

During the Six Day War in 1967 when the Israelis recaptured the city, the 55th Paratroop Brigade entered the Old City through this gate and unfurled the Israeli flag atop the Temple Mount. Jews had not had access to the Old City since 1948.

Legend has it that the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent placed the lions on the gate because he had a vision that if he didn’t build the wall around the holy city to protect its citizens, he would be devoured by lions.

We are walking down toward the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives…

so we can get back to where we started.

This is the only entrance that gives access to the Western Wall. Europeans gave it the name of the “Wailing” Wall. The closest gate to the Western Wall is the Dung Gate.

Ultra orthodox women always have on a covering for their head. This is so they will not become vain about their hair.

As you are walking into the area, if you look to the left you see the Jewish area of the “new” city and if you look to the right you are looking at the Western Wall of the Old City.

This is another look at the Southern Wall with the Mount of Olives and the Jewish Cemetery in the distance. In the afternoon we will be sitting on those southern steps listening to Kay teach.

This is the way we entered the Temple Mount.

The protrusion you see on the side of the wall is Robinson’s Arch. This is all that remains of a great stairway, set on arches, that passed over the busy market street at the foot of the Western Wall, and led directly into the Great Stoa on the southern side of Temple Mount.

Of course, the security is very tight.

I don’t know how the men can stand to wear those long coats with vests and prayer shawls underneath. It is warm during the day.

I don’t know why there are men in the women’s line. Apparently there was no one on the men’s side. Kenny always went first to prepare our way. I think we had to walk through a metal detector. The yellow umbrella you see was always held by Diane so that it was easily seen and we always knew where the front of the line was.

This is the Western Wall, or Kotel, Plaza. To the right is the women’s section of the wall and to the left is the men’s. The Western Wall is the only fragment left of the Herodian retaining wall that was built in 20 BC to enclose and support the Second Temple. Jews believe that the Divine Presence has never departed the Western Wall.

In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple. During the Ottoman Period (beginning in the 16th century), the wall became the Jews' chief place of pilgrimage, where they came to lament the destruction of the Temple.

For centuries, the Western Wall was located in a narrow alley just 12 feet wide that could accommodate only a few hundred densely packed worshipers. But in 1967, immediately after the Six Day War, Israelis leveled the neighboring Arab district to create the Western Wall Plaza, which can accommodate tens of thousands of pilgrims.

At the same time, the Israelis made the wall about 6 1/2 feet higher by digging down and exposing two more tiers of ashlars (squared stones) from the Temple Plaza's retaining wall that had been buried by accumulated debris for centuries.

This is another view of the way we entered the Temple Mount.

We did enter the women’s side, but didn’t stay long because we didn’t want to intrude. The large stones that you see at the bottom are from the time of Herod. They were carved with such precision that they rest on top of each other without mortar.

Every crevice is filled with tiny slips of paper upon which prayers are written.

Buildings on the other side of the plaza across from the Western Wall. ..

The men’s side of the wall…

I left the area with a melancholy feeling.

O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7

St. Anne’s and the Pool of Bethesda

2011-06-04T13:00:00.002-05:00

We’re leaving the area around the Dome of the Rock and headed toward St. Anne’s church, which is still in the Muslim quarter.

It was built in 1138 by the widow of King Baldwin I, the first titled king of Jerusalem. Currently, it belongs to the French government and is administered by the White Fathers, so named because they wear white robes.

The church also graciously allowed us to use their facilities, which is why you see everyone milling around. The gardens are lovely.

The lady you see in the picture is a chemistry professor.

Some tour groups wore brightly-colored hats to distinguish them from other groups. I’m glad we weren’t one of those groups! The extraordinary thing about this church is the perfect acoustics inside. Everyone wants to go inside to “sing a joyful noise into the Lord,” because it truly sounds angelic.

When we entered the church some group was singing “Amazing Grace.” We tried to join in, but they were singing it in a different language. No matter, it was beautiful! There was a group of Chinese who left after the song, walking back down the center aisle with tears streaming down their faces. They wanted to hug each one of us or shake our hands and say “Hallelujah!” A precious moment…

When it was our turn to move toward the front and sing, we chose “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

The Pool of Bethesda is very close to the Church of St. Anne, near the Lions Gate. The name, Bethesda, in Aramaic means house of mercy or house of grace. In the Syriac version of the language it means both grace and disgrace. So the invalids coming to the pool were in disgrace because of their infirmities but in the pool they found healing, or grace.

There has been some controversy about the Biblical story. Until the 19th century, there was no evidence outside of John’s Gospel for the existence of this pool. Scholars argued that the gospel was written later, probably by someone without first-hand knowledge of the city of Jerusalem, and that the ‘pool’ had only a metaphorical meaning, rather than historical, significance.

Then in the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of a pool exactly matching the description in John’s Gospel, thus confirming the historical accuracy of John’s account. There was once a gate there called the Sheep Gate, near where a sheep market was held, and animals to be used in the city's sacrifices were washed in the pool.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. John 5: 2-9

These are the ruins of a Byzantine church.

In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9

The Temple Mount

2011-06-03T19:13:00.006-05:00

The Temple Mount, less than 50 acres of land, is the center of the world and the hottest piece of real estate anywhere on earth. It is the holiest site on earth for the Jews, the third most holy site for the Muslims, and, for Christians, its most exciting history is still ahead. The Temple Mount is the northern edge of the city of Jerusalem. Mount Zion, which is sometimes used to refer to the whole of Jerusalem, is on the west and Mount Ophel is on the east. They are separated by the Tyropoeon Valley.

In light of its significance to Jews and Muslims, it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world. Controlled by Israel since 1967, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority claim sovereignty over the site, which remains a major focal point of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel has turned over management of the site to an Islamic council, known as the Muslim Waqf. In an attempt to keep the status quo, the Israeli government enforces a controversial ban on prayer by non-Muslim visitors.

The Temple Mount, or Mount Moriah, is traditionally the place where the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground Gen. 2:7 and where Abraham bound Isaac for sacrifice. Genesis 22:1-14

This is our first up close and personal look at the Old City wall as we approached the Temple Mount. We entered at the Morocco or Mugrabi Gate. It is the only gate that allows non-Muslims to enter the area.

You are looking at the southwest corner of the wall around the Temple Mount. The Pinnacle of the Temple, where Jesus was tempted by the devil, has been traditionally associated with the southeastern corner of the Temple Mount because of the great height above the Kidron Valley below. The recent discovery of an inscribed stone at the southwest corner, however, indicated that corner was "the place of trumpeting" (blowing of the Shofar) and has raised the possibility that the second temptation of Jesus took place there. At the time of Jesus the wall would have been higher.

Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him “On the other hand, it is written, You shall not put the LORD your GOD to the test.” Matt. 4:5-7

We had to go through additional security in order to enter the Temple Mount. We had a very long day ahead of us. Precept always plans to go to the Temple Mount the first day they are in Jerusalem, because it is never a sure thing that visitors will be admitted. If they are not admitted the first day, then they try each day that they are there. We were lucky to be admitted our first day, even if it meant a longer day with more sites to see.

This is our first glimpse of the Western Wall. We walked by it as we entered the Mugrabi Gate. However, we will be back later in the morning.

Although this is not my picture, it does show the way we entered the Temple Mount.

Entrance to Al Aqsa mosque… This is the first building you come to upon entering the temple mount. Visitors are strictly limited to certain areas and times of day. The mosque is situated on the lower platform of the Temple Mount which is built over massive vaults and pillars. The southeast corner of the lower platform next to the mosque is where Solomon’s stables were located. The stables were added to during the time of the Crusaders. Visitors may not access these areas.

During the Crusades, the Dome of the Rock was given to the Augustinians, who turned it into a church, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque became the royal palace of Baldwin I of Jerusalem in 1104. The Knights Templar, who believed the Dome of the Rock was the site of the Temple of Solomon gave it the name "Templum Domini" and set up their headquarters in the Al-Aqsa Mosque adjacent to the Dome for much of the 12^th century.

I surreptitiously took these pictures.

The Dome of the Rock.. Some rabbinical scholars place the holy of holies of the Temple where the Dome of the Rock stands. It was built to rival the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The arches are called the Graceful Arcade.

The al-Kas ablution fountain on the southern portion of the lower platform.

The exterior walls of the Dome of the Rock are covered with Persian blue tiles, originally installed by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the mid-16th century. In 1994, under the auspices of Jordan's king Hussein, the dome was completely reconstructed and re-gilded with 176 lbs. of 24-karat gold.

Inside the Dome of the Rock is a large stone on which it is said Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. The first and second temples were supposedly built either over the rock or next to the rock.

David purchased this piece of land, “the threshing floor,” from Ornan the Jebusite for 50 shekels of silver to build an altar to the Lord. His son Solomon took seven years to build a small but beautiful Temple here. Inside, stood the Ark of the Covenant containing the tablets of stone which Moses had received on Mount Sinai (I Kings 6,7).

The rock in the Dome of the Rock…

Kenny had to be serious and scrupulous in his “guiding” while we were on the Temple Mount. One year he was thrown out because he was either laughing, or laughing too loudly. One of our bus mates had on a too short skirt and she was not allowed to enter the area. She was able to buy a scarf and tie it around her knees and then she was allowed to join the group.

Orthodox Jews do not visit the Temple Mount. There are differing opinions about where the holy of holies lay underneath the pavement, so they don’t want to risk inadvertently walking on top of it. Kenny was discussing some of the different viewpoints. Some of the pictures below are pictures of where some of the scholars say that the holy of holies might lay. No one except Muslims are allowed to pray on the mount.

There are various other domed structures on the upper platform: the Dome of the Chain, constructed in the 8th century; the Dome of the Ascension; the Dome of the Prophet; the Dome of the Prophet Elijah; and the Grammar Dome.

The plaza on top of the Temple Mount is as large as 12 football fields.

This is the back of the Golden Gate, or Mercy Gate, or the East Gate. It is very significant to Christians.

Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation; where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me. For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, O LORD, are our Father, Our Redeemer from of old is Your name. Why, O LORD, do You cause us to stray from Your ways and harden our heart from fearing You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage. Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while, our adversaries have trodden it down. We have become like those over whom You have never ruled, like those who were not called by Your name. Isaiah 63:15-19

Jerusalem

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Psalms of ascent were to be sung when the children of Israel came to Jerusalem and ascended to the top of Mount Zion three times a year, where they would hold a feast before the Lord. Psalms 120-134 are psalms of ascent.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. Psalm 121

Words fail me and tears come when I try to describe our entry into Jerusalem. We read a psalm of ascent and then we listened to the grand old hymn, “The Holy City,” as we went through the Mt. Scopus tunnel and turned to the left to see the city for the first time. It is an incredible sight and experience. Welcome home!

I believe that this is Hebrew University.

After our initial view of the city from Mt. Scopus, we checked into our hotel, the Hotel Inbal.

This courtyard in the middle of the hotel was where we ate all our meals.

And here we are at dinner the first night.

The salad table…

We were on the fifth floor.

The two ladies in the left of the picture by Bob were also sisters. One was from Laredo.

A home across the street from the hotel…

This is the YMCA of Jerusalem. We passed by as we were walking to Danny Eliav’s jewelry store. He is a friend of Precept.

Tomorrow is a big day…the Temple Mount.

On the Way to Jerusalem: The Wilderness

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We followed the ancient road that Jews living in Galilee used to travel to Jerusalem for annual feasts. However, they crossed over to the east side of the Jordan to avoid Samaria. They crossed back over the Jordan at Jericho.

We saw these encampments along the sides of the highway which Kenny told us were modern-day Bedouins.

As you can see, some of them are rather large.

One of the stories that Kenny told us was that the Bedouin males were known for their hospitality. We were then told that we were to have a surprise for lunch. So we turned off the main highway to Jerusalem.

We were greeted by some better-looking camels that we could have ridden for free, instead of the $6 we paid at the truck stop. As an aside, a lady from one of the other buses got sick on the trip with a rash similar to the one I had on my legs from the sun(?) She started running a fever, so the bus host called a doctor. He came to the hotel and asked her if she had ridden a camel. She answered that she had and he told her she had “camel fever” and gave her an antibiotic.

We found out that we were at Genesis Land and were to have lunch with “Father Abraham.” This is his servant, Eliezar.

He explained to us exactly where we were on Abraham’s journey to the Land of Canaan. I wish I had taken notes.

Then we donned our Bedouin robes and set out for lunch.

The camel pen…

Our destination, the Bedouin camp…

We are looking toward the east. The sunrises must be spectacular. It was on one of these mountains that The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev. Genesis 12:7-9

And we met our host, Father Abraham.

And here we are taking our places on the cushions around the low table.

Father Abraham is welcoming us to his tent.

We had meatballs and rice…(Delicious!)

Chicken with a sauce similar to barbecue sauce…

The roof of the tent…

We helped ourselves to hot tea from the tray that this young man was carrying and the tea was accompanied by dates for dessert. It was such a unique and fun experience.

Allison, me, Pattie, and Judy…