Blogs from Israel, Middle East - page 12

Wednesday we went on an another outing led by the local guide Shouka. Again about 5 families drove their own cars, following the guide's car with flags clipped to windows. Our objective was to visit the sites of two ancient synagogues, or as they are called 'bet knesset' which means 'meeting house' in Hebrew. First we went to Dir Aziz. The entry to this synagogue has a large stone arch. This leads to a portico with pillars. Much of the base structure has been preserved or reconstructed by archaeologists. The second bet knesset was at Ein Keshatot. In this case the pillared portico leads to an arched doorway into the synagogue proper. Most of these external pillars have tumbled. Inside it is clear that the front part is largely preserved or reconstructed. Likewise the interior pillars ... read more

We were in the Golan at Ramot Resort for the Passover holiday week. We drove up from home through the green hills and valleys of the southern Galilee. Traffic was lighter than expected, probably because we managed to leave about 10am. This despite a bit of drizzle or light rain which diminished as we proceeded on our way. We drove around the northern shore of the Kinneret - the Sea of Galilee - and reached our hotel on the rise above the northeastern shore. after checking in and having a light lunch, we went out to look over the sea. The weather continued to clear. Before our final preparations preceding the Passover seder, we took a picture of the sun about to set over the western shore. For the seder Rabbi Stewart Weiss and his wife ... read more

We had a brief wait in London Heathrow airport before boarding our final BA flight to Israel. We looked at each other, shook our heads and said how much simpler everything could have been if we had originally flown El Al from Tel Aviv to Newark with code-share on AA to Chicago and back, rather than using British Airways. At least last night's flight from Newark would have taken us directly home instead of this stopover in London. Our last flight from London was on time and we made it back home - just two days later and one serious diversion from our original plan. Glad to be back, but at least we finally saw all Don's family even if it took two location stops. .... read more

Today has been a laid back sort of day. We went to the Israeli Museum where we got to see a small portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as many other artifacts. The bulk of the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept in Jerusalem but are not out for the public viewing. The Israeli Antiquities Council provides the care and safety. The museum also has a model of ancient Jerusalem and the temple. It is very interesting to see the places we have visited and to see just how Jerusalem looked in Biblical times. When we left this museum we went to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum of Israel. I had been there before but it is so full of information that one visit would not be enough to see everything. Actually two visits isn't ... read more

Wow! We had a busy day today! following breakfast we boarded the bus for the Mount of Olives where we had a group picture taken. Then we walked down the road that Jesus took into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We stopped first at the Church Dominus Flevit (The Lord Wept). "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:41-42. The chapel was constructed in the form of a teardrop in 1955 on the ruins of an ancient church. It overlooks the Eastern Wall of Jerusalem and the Golden Gate through which the Messiah will appear at the end of time. Surrounding the Eastern Gate are ... read more