Blogs from Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel, Middle East - page 7

Ich verstehe nicht, warum ich die Bulder nicht... read more

Geo: 31.7738, 35.2252We left the ship docked in Haifa, Israel early for an overnight trip. The first leg was a three-and-a-half hour drive to Masada. We stopped once along the way for a rest stop at a gas station/convenience store. The drive took us due east out of Haifa, then south through the West Bank along the dry Jordan River and the banks of the Dead Sea. The highway is used by both Israelis and Palestinians even though it is in Palestine. We had to stay on the main road since the Palestinians did not allow any Israelis to leave it and go into occupied areas. Our Israeli guide would have been arrested for going there although the tourists on the bus would have been allowed—not welcomed, just not arrested. I don't know if the Bedouin ... read more

Leaving from his home in Bethany, he traveled down the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley and through the city gates of Jerusalem. After visiting the local synagogue, he proceeded to Mount Calvary, where he spent the night praying and reading scripture. After these things, he journeyed through the Old City, ascending the Mount of Olives and returned home safely to Bethany the following morning. Although this sounds like a scripture verse, it is actually a description of my Saturday evening through early Sunday morning. For me, it was a sacred night spent in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. When I first arrived, I joined a few other pilgrims and the Franciscans for a beautiful procession commemorating the Transistus of St. Francis. At 8 pm the doors were sealed shut by a member of ... read more

I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem. Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about. There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David. For the peace of Jerusalem pray: “May those who love you prosper!” May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.” For the sake of our kin and friends we say, “Peace be with you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord, our God, I pray for your good (Psalm 122). I begin with the words of the psalmist, who is ... read more

The bright sun bursting through the clouds; the heat of the day just beginning; walking through the hustle and bustle of the marketplace (al suq); carts passing to and fro; people coming and going; toddlers crying; children laughing, calling out, riding bikes; the aroma of freshly ground coffee and the pungent smell of a variety of spices; mountains of candy and trinkets, purses, shoes, souvenirs; vendors shouting, welcoming, “going out of business, everything $1.” We come to the plaza in front of the Holy Sepulchre and the activity lessens, but continues…posing for pictures, gathering in groups, taking videos, saying prayers, suddenly the church bells ring out and fill the air with a melodious tune; the conversations continue in Chinese, Spanish, Czech, Italian, and at least dozen other languages. We move inside the Holy Sepulchr ... read more