May 14 - Jerusalem Tour - Last Day

Wednesday, May 14 - Last day of Jerusalem Tour
The really sad thing for all of us is that Schmulik was called to lead a new tour group. He prepared as carefully as he could and covered the most important things yesterday. But we all had to use patience and mercy with our guide for this last day, Nicola. She had few of Schmulik's skills, had trouble leading, and made us appreciate Schmulik even more than we had before. However, Nicola was trying, and we all tried to be kind to her.
We first went to the Temple Mount, up on the level where the temple formerly stood. The blue Islam mosque is ugly (in my opinion) and stands only half as high as Solomon's temple did.



We had to be even more reserved in dress than at other holy sites, so I had to wear my long-sleeved sweater. We could take no Bible or had to just "pray in our hearts." No Christian observation is allowed there. No one except Muslims can go inside the domed building since Sharon and his men entered there after the 6-Day war restored control of Jerusalem to the Jews. The Jews have allowed the Arabs to remain here, but the place is under Jewish military control.
David bought this site on Mt. Moriah as a threshing floor. The Israel Kennesset Building is modeled after Solomon's temple. Greenery and trees surround the mosque area, but didn't in Solomon's temple. On Muslim holidays, ¼ to ½ million Muslims gather here, which gives one some idea of the size of the area.
This is the holy place for the Muslims because Mohammed supposedly ascended to heaven from here and came back down with a corrected form of the Koran.
Temple Institute with guide Miriam: This group is rebuilding the utensils for when the Jewish temple is reestablished on Temple Mount. Nicola says her brothers are training to be priests. (Joke??) Miriam showed us many interesting things on display at the Institute, but her information came so fast and bland that it was hard to digest. There were a lot of details about the outward stuff -- utensils, clothes, breastplate with 12 jewels -- one for each tribe -- gold covered acacia wood ---- The most interesting was the Jewish menorah covered with gold.



Seven arms denote the seven days of the week, with the center arm portraying the Sabbath, and all other arms subservant to it. The appearance of the menorah is known from a painting made when Titus removed the menorah in 70 A.D.
Herodian Quarters: The wealthy of Jerusalem lived in luxury. Excavations show such things as the purification water pits-where the entire body had to be submerged, mosaics and frescoes on walls, and restored marble tables with wooden legs.

Bethlehem:
Much of this city seems to be Arab Christians. Many professional and highly educated Christian Arabs have left Palestine and come to the US as refugees. The Jews have heavily built apartments and fine homes on the Jewish side, right up to a 25 ft. high wall built to keep the Arabs from launching suicide attacks on the Jews here. It has been quite successful, as the suicide bombing attacks have declined by 90%.



The Arabs have decorated their side of the wall with unkind comments toward the Jews and the US. The gates of this security wall are only opened for a Jewish procession to pass through on three Jewish holidays. We saw some of the Arab and Jewish animation at the border crossing, where we had to change buses, drivers, and guides for Arab ones. The Arab bus driver (big nose) was especially upset, probably because our tour was over, but our bus wasn't there yet when we got back 20 minutes earlier than the prearranged time. Bethlehem is also the site of Rachel's tomb, where Jacob buried Rachel. She died giving birth to Benjamin.
As we already knew, Bethlehem was gilded and glittered, candled and iconed, and apart from being at the spot where Jesus was born and the spot where the angels sang to the shepherds, it wasn't especially interesting.



The Greek Orthodox, Catholic, and Armenians also argue here, and they have silly rules about who can pray and at what altar, how often, and how long. However, before getting too critical, I must remember that the site has deep meaning for some. I was touched when Becky said, as she climbed down the difficult steps on her sore legs into the tight spot (with her claustrophobia) to the spot where Jesus was probably born, "Lord, help us. We've come so far. We're not going to go back."

Tour Closing Communion Service at the Garden Tomb:




This area was purchased by the Anglican Church of England because it seems likely that this is the authentic place of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. A very kind and impressive young man explained the reasons for the choice of this spot, as he continued to emphasize the fact that the important thing is what happened here, and not whether this is the exact spot. He so emphasized the true purpose of Jesus' death and resurrection and the profound difference He made in a place such as this. It is very possible that this is Joseph of Arimethia's burial and garden spot. We stood in front of a hill that looks very much like a skull with a flat area at the top that could have held the crosses.



It is just outside the city gates, where crossroads passed. (The Romans liked to place these sides in a busy site, to act as a deterrent to others.)
When they excavated the area, an ancient wine press was found (full of rubble), a lovely garden area, and a big cistern hole and ancient water system to water the garden of a rich man. The area was a more ancient quarry, which we know can be made into a garden. There is evidence that early Christians gathered here (foot washing arrangements, and anchor cross carved into the walls). The tomb is 100% carved by man and hewn from solid rock. The stone has never been found, but there is a trench in front. A low doorway has been raised so others can view the place. The inside was never completed -- as if it had been used earlier than expected. This tomb in unlike most of the area burial chambers of the area, which are to the right side of a weeping area. But the Bible says that "an angel was seated on the stone to the right side of the entrance.
But as the fine young man pointed out, we're not here to worship a piece of rock. He is not here. He is risen! Alive! There is hope, because He lives!!!
Our worship service started with singing together, "Up From the Grave He Arose," and "In the Garden." How fitting and meaningful this was! Rev. Shor pointed out that Jesus is not just "King of the Jews." He is King of All!
Twice before we have had bread and wine in worship with Rev. Shor, but these were Jewish celebrations rather than communion. The following is the sequence in the Jewish Passover celebration:
Cup 1: Sanctification
Cup 2: Affliction
Cup 3: Redemption
Cup 4: Praise
The Christian Communion instituted by Christ on his last night with his dear friends introduced the unleavened bread between cup 2 and 3, and omitted cup 4. Leaven signifies sin in the Bible. Rev. Shor says, "Don't bless the food. Bless the God who gives the food."


Notes:
Stone utensils are preferred to pottery, because stone doesn't absorb foods etc. like clay does.
The main north/south street in Roman cities was called the Cardo. When Jerusalem was taken over by the Romans, the buildings were already built, and a straight Cardo street was impossible. We saw remnants of this street, well below the present ground level.
We saw an excavated section of Hezekiah's Wall, where God's angel of death destroyed 185,000 of Sennecharib's men in 720 B.C. after the northern kingdom had fallen.
Nicola told us a story showing an example of the hypocrisy of the observance of some of the Jewish laws. A couple wanted to commit adultery, but the woman had just had her period and needed spiritual cleansing so they went from place to place to try to find a ritual cleansing site.
President Bush is staying at the King David Hotel today. A set of cars with a stretch limousine went by us, but it probably was some of his entourage rather
than him. John McCain was here last week, and Nicola got to shake his hand. We've had worse traffic delays here today than before.
Jerome came to Bethlehem from Rome to translate the Vulgate Bible from Arabic in the 4th Century A.D.
Clint and Kara tried to go shopping, but the shops were closed because of President Bush's visit.