Day 07 - Jerusalem: City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Church of Peter in Gallicantu, Old City Shopping, Israel Museum

Rainy winding cold day in Jerusalem….

Reflective devotion by Cindy this morning about Peter’s denial, although Peter fell the story didn’t end there….he had restoration with Jesus.

Peter knew temptations and succumbing to that…but Jesus brought him back, we are reminded as well to cast ALL our anxieties on him because he cares for us. Resist the devil, stand firm in the faith.

God will make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:7-10 We can do this because we belong to a merciful and forgiving God, He cares for us!

Our Worship song was PEACE-it’s the promise he keeps

Sleet as we left the hotel. Yikes! Only 1-2 times a year does it rain like this, but sleet! Another first on this tour.

We all were resolute that we would press on.

And as usual God did not disappoint as did Ronen…

We began our day with a drive across the city. Jerusalem is biggest city and is the capital, US embassy is here. 1 million people live here. 1/3 Arabs, 1/3 ultra Orthodox Jews, from Eastern Europe, 1/3 is the rest, making this a complicated place. The first 2 do not work or pay taxes. Arabs avoid paying taxes at all costs. Orthodox Jews just stay students, no tax no military service. They choose to be very poor.

We drove through the neighborhood of ultra Orthodox Jews. We learned of dress codes and education.

We continued our tour of the city. National bird of Israel is……the construction crane…that was a good laugh.

Going to western side of city…across the city.

In 1949 the bones Theodre Hertzl the author of “old new land” were brought and buried here on what is now Mt of Hertzl.

1953 Israel is here to remember the Promise Land, but they wanted to remember the Holocaust.

Isaiah 56: 5 I will give in My house and within my walks a memorial. A memorial and a name.

We then arrived at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, built in 2006.

Ronen taught us that this memorial is not made to help the survivors but to teach the future. It is dedicated to the few that risked their lives, save other human beings….who are the righteous above nations.

The outside of the museum is lined with carob trees that are planted for the future, many honor those who’s sacrifice during the Holocaust is remembered. People like Raoul Wallenberg who gave 10,000 Swedish passports to Jews in Hungary. Also Oscar and Emily Schindler, and many more like them.

Remember we are taught to love the Lord, but also love our neighbor as ourselves….strive to be like those and do good…

Each of us were allowed to walk the museum alone, we were not allowed photographs. Many emotions from each of us, tears and praying.

Terms like “scatter the Jews”, “Jewish conspiracy” , “ Jewish problem” “ a destructive race” all the way to the “final solution”

All of the evil, started with just words….the inhumanity to man.

“All of Europe has turned into a monster” Albert Memmi.

Over 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. 6,000,000.

So much sadness and loss. Really hard to describe the emotions beyond grief..

But we are called to remember…

Remember our 12 stones (memorial), the sabbath, to learn. It’s our mission to make the world a better place.

We listened to a song by Matisyahu called “Jerusalem Song” on the bus….

We the journeyed through Ben Gurion hill. All parts of government here. We saw the construction of the new library where all literature in Hebrew will be housed.

Next stop the Israel museum. We were set to see two exhibits.

The first is a model of 1st century Jerusalem started in the late 1950s in the backyard of the Holy land hotel. In the 1960s changes were made based on multiple sources, with final edits in 1967…..for now. In 2006 it moved to Israel museum. It is a 1:50 scale and made with Lyme stone, the pictures are amazing, although taken in sleeting wind and rain!

These pictures will be our guide for the next 2 days.

Next exhibit is the Shrine of the book- the Bible-back to Qumran and the Dead Sea scrolls, written more than 2000 years ago.

Originally sold for $29 in 1947 then finally sold to Israel for $256,000 in 1950. This area is a special addition to museum.

The original scrolls and the scrolls of the sons of light vs sons of darkness are here.

Exhibit is shaped like the caves.

Actual vessels that included scrolls-six scrolls around a replica of Isaiah in center. Real Isaiah is on a world wide tour.

We learned more of the Hebrew language history. The Hebrew language even the current generation is still fluent as in ancient times. All due to synagogue. Abraham was the first Hebrew, he was from Mesopotamia, he came from the other side…beyond the Jordan.

Even though Israel and Judah split the language continued.

Writing and scriptures are a big deal.

It is written right to left because initially on stone with hammer/chisele, the characters are originally from animals. 

In order to really learn we must read it, write it, teach it….Music helps too.

We were able to walk and see some of the scrolls, some as far back as Genesis. And although we were not to take photos, one of our group was allowed to take photo of replica Isaiah scroll.

After our tour we started driving to southern portion of city.

Drove past two stadiums…football and basketball….

Heading to Bethlehem.

30000 people Jerusalem in biblical times.

Old city of Bethlehem (100s people) 5-6 hours walking from Jerusalem.

From 1948-1967, west Jerusalem controlled by Israel, Bethlehem controlled by Jordan.

Now in West Bank, it is in Palestinians controlled (police state), they do not control their own borders.

Only a few Bible stories from here.

First story, Rachel favorite wife of Isaac. Tomb of Rachel is here. The second is of Ruth and Naomi, who met Boaz here, he said eat lunch with me…their offspring included Obed then Jesse who fathered David….

14 generations later….Mary.

Jerusalem is 1 week journey from Nazareth. There was no room in Insula (upper room).

This is now the location of the Church of Nativity. 3 denominations in 1 church, Greek orthodox, Armenians and Catholics.

City is very dirty city, lots of trash.

There is a local Christian named Johnny helps keeps us coming here, they are olive wood carvings experts, ancient coins, Roman glass, and Jerusalem crosses (pilgrimage) and much more We had falafels for lunch! Another great time of laughs and bonding….and a lot of shopping.

We then made the raining ride back to the hotel. The rain has definitely been a factor for us all. But we will press on….into the old city tomorrow.