Israel Pastor's FAM Trip
January 2-13, 2019
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A crescendo
Today seemed to be a crescendo to the sights that we have been experiencing all week long. Many of the locations on this trip have been remote and we have been been pretty much on our own as a tour group. Today we plunged head first into some of the most notorious sights Israel has to offer.
We started by visiting the Temple Mount and seeing the Dome of the Rock where we witnessed the tension between the Jewish and Muslim communities here in Jerusalem. Then we explored the archeological findings under the city along the Western Wall. Because it was Thursday, we even got to see Bar Mitzvahs taking place at the Wailing Wall!
Rabbinic Tunnels
The tour of the western wall tunnels is one of the most popular tourist sites in Jerusalem. These underground tunnels connect the western wall prayer area to the north-west side of the temple mount, passing along the side of the temple mount and under the present day houses in the Old City. Along its path are remains from the second temple period, as well as structures from later periods.
Before leaving the Temple Mount we headed over to the Southern Steps where we got to sit where Jesus would have walked and taught as he entered the temple.
Southern Steps
An enormous flight of steps leads to the Southern Wall from the south. They were excavated after 1967 by archaeologist Benjamin Mazar and are the northernmost extension of the Jerusalem pilgrim road leading from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount via the Double Gate and the Triple Gate, collectively called the Huldah Gates. These are the steps that Jesus of Nazareth[2][3] and other Jews of his era walked up to approach the Temple, especially on the great pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. [2] The stairs that lead to the double gate are intact and "well-preserved."[4] The steps that lead to the triple gate were mostly destroyed.[4] / The risers are low, a mere 7 to 10 inches high, and each step is 12 to 35 inches deep, forcing the ascending pilgrims to walk with a stately, deliberate tread.[2] The pilgrims entered the temple precincts through the double and triple gates still visible in the Southern Wall.[5][2] Together, the double and triple gates are known as the Hulda Gates, after the prophetess Huldah.[2]
After lunch, we hopped over to the Israel Museum and got to see the Dead Sea Scrolls! Our day ended by visiting Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) which was a moving experience that made us thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus to restore humanity.
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