Jerusalem and Bethlehem
by Gil on Apr.05, 2022, under Happenings
Because it’s the Sabbat, (Sabbath) we rearranged our schedule and visited the National Art and History Museum and got a taste of both. We sampled Israeli art, which reflects its tumultuous history. We viewed artifacts from that history, including synagogues from around the world and significant ruins marking periods including the Biblical period. We then had a very interesting lunch with Khaled Abu Toameh, a Palestinian journalist who gave us his perspective on Jewish/Palestinian relations. We then met our Palestinian guide Kamal, who takes us into the West Bank Territory to the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus.
- Museum of Art and History
- Israel Art
- Symbolic sculpture
- Artifact pointing to biblical history
- King David’s symbol
- Model of the second Temple
- Dead Sea Scrolls
- Lunch with Journalist
- Kamal and Joyce
- West Bank
- Church of the Nativity
- Small Entrance
- Where Jesus was born
Our second day in Jerusalem, Israel’s capital city, began with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives. Where we saw the City of David and the walled city of Jerusalem. We visited two Catholic Churches on the Mount of Olives both architected by Antonio Barluzzi. The first, Dominus Fleuit Church, is shaped like a tear to commemorate Jesus shedding tears with his disciples before his arrest. The second is the Basilica of the Agony where a rock marks the spot of shed tears. In the adjoining olive garden are trees that date over 2000 years that could have been there at the time of Christ.
- The Walled City of Jerusalem
- City of David
- Dominus Flevit Church
- Basilica of the Agony
- Tears Shed by Jesus
- 2000+ year old tree
We then drove to the street that separates the City of David which is below the ancient walled city of Jerusalem. We explored a portion of Davids City that is under excavation with discoveries connected to biblical events, then crossed the street to the entrance of the old city of Jerusalem. We visited the Western Wall where Orthodox Jews pray. We then walked the Via Dolorosa, (Latin Sorrowful Way). We start at the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition, the Church of the Flagellation described in the Bible as where Jesus was tried, put on the cross, and flogged by the Romans. We then proceed under the Ecce Homo arch mentioned in the Bible and up the winding street by the stations of the cross (14 in all). Each station is marked on the wall with a metal marker with the numeral and a casting depicting the station such as each of the three falls. The last five stations are in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, entombed, and according to the bible was resurrected. We then visited the site that is said to be where the Last Supper took place. This is a long walk back into biblical history and it’s a long day of walking, Joyce’s step meter registered over 12,ooo steps, mostly uphill.
- The Entrance to Jerusalem
- Within the Wall
- The Western Wall
- Orthodox Jews pray
- Discussing their religion
- The description of a station
- The Church of the Flagellation
- Jesus bears the cross
- Ecce Homo Arch
- Mark at each Station
- Site of the Crucifixion
Yad Vashem Holocaust Center is Israel’s location for researching, documenting, and telling the incredible facts relating to the murder of 6.000.000 Jews during WWII. David Olesker is our guide for this experience. He takes us through the pre-war antisemitism that existed in Europe, the Nazi obsession with “racial purity” and their dispossession, concentration, and systematic murder by the Germans and their collaborators. The museum uses individual experiences to illustrate man’s inhumanity to man on an unprecedented scale. Housed in the large circular multistory room are row upon row of books containing the information about those who were put to death. There are also pictures of some of the victims, In the garden outside the museum are trees planted to honor those who helped to mitigate the massacre, including one made famous by the movie Schindlers list. No photography was permitted in the museum.
- The Holocaust Museum
- Entrance Building
- Some of the victims remembered
- Schindlers honored
- David our guide
The market area of Jerusalem is a great photo op and to make it more interesting we are guided by Deda along with Jeremy to sample ethnic foods from both Israel and surrounding countries.
- The Market area
- Lebanese delights
- Yumm
- At typical stand
- A special fruit drink
- Hummus
- Deda serves the next treat
- Fresh
- Welcome to my store
- Spices
- The ultimate desert-Pistachio
- Jeremy’s favorite