Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, November 2
Today was a free day for our group. Most of us slept later than normal, had breakfast, then caught a ride into the Old City. Some shopped, some walked around, some stayed at the hotel and just had a relaxing day of rest - but everyone had a great day. Tonight we'll have our farewell dinner with the Immanuel Tours staff and our guide Irit, and we'll board a VERY early flight back - see y'all tomorrow in D.C.!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sunday, November 1
Our last day of seeing the biblical and historical sites!
We began the day by going to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found beginning in 1947. This is at the excavation site of the settlement at Qumran.
Cave 4, where the largest cache of scrolls were found
Our ever cheeful Israeli guide, Irit
And our always helpful driver, David
Our next stop was Masada, the winter palace of Herod the Great and the location of the last stand of the Jewish rebels in 70-73 A.D.
It's a long way down from the cable car ride up to the top!
At the synagogue excavation on the top of Masada
We then went to En Gedi, where you can get in the Dead Sea and experience the healing properties of the mud and salt.
Next stop, Genesis Land, where camel rides caused a great deal of laughter among the group!
The moon shining over the Judean desert
"Abraham" at Genesis Land
We began the day by going to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found beginning in 1947. This is at the excavation site of the settlement at Qumran.
Cave 4, where the largest cache of scrolls were found
Our ever cheeful Israeli guide, Irit
And our always helpful driver, David
Our next stop was Masada, the winter palace of Herod the Great and the location of the last stand of the Jewish rebels in 70-73 A.D.
It's a long way down from the cable car ride up to the top!
At the synagogue excavation on the top of Masada
We then went to En Gedi, where you can get in the Dead Sea and experience the healing properties of the mud and salt.
Next stop, Genesis Land, where camel rides caused a great deal of laughter among the group!
The moon shining over the Judean desert
"Abraham" at Genesis Land
Saturday continued...
Gladys teaching at Ein Karem
Golgotha, the place of the skull
The Garden Tomb
Pat going in to the tomb
It is empty! He is Risen!
Jodi Snapped this shot of me teaching at the Garden Tomb, just before we celebrated the Lord's Supper together
Golgotha, the place of the skull
The Garden Tomb
Pat going in to the tomb
It is empty! He is Risen!
Jodi Snapped this shot of me teaching at the Garden Tomb, just before we celebrated the Lord's Supper together
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 31
First, let me say - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL BRIDE CHARLOTTE! She is more beautiful than the day I met her! We sang happy birthday to you at Bethlehem today!
This is actually from yesterday, but what a great group shot by Jodi Prosser!
This is a pic of the kibbutz hotel where we are staying, Ramat Rachel.
Fountain at Shepherd's Field
In the cave at Shepherd's Field
Inside the Church of the Nativity - the star marks the traditional site of Christ's birth
The Church of the Nativity
Gladys, me, and our Palestinian guide Ibrahim in Bethlehem (we had to switch guides and drivers for the morning while we were in Palestinian Authority territory)
The Israeli Knesset (Parliament)
Inside the Israeli Museum - one of the Jars that the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in
The Shrine of the Book, where we saw several of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the Isaiah and Habakkuk scrolls!
The Model of First Century Jerusalem at the Israel Museum - absolutely amazing to see
Ein Karem, traditional site of the Birthplace of John the Baptizer
Blogger's having some difficulties tonight - have to post the rest tomorrow. To be continued!
This is actually from yesterday, but what a great group shot by Jodi Prosser!
This is a pic of the kibbutz hotel where we are staying, Ramat Rachel.
Fountain at Shepherd's Field
In the cave at Shepherd's Field
Inside the Church of the Nativity - the star marks the traditional site of Christ's birth
The Church of the Nativity
Gladys, me, and our Palestinian guide Ibrahim in Bethlehem (we had to switch guides and drivers for the morning while we were in Palestinian Authority territory)
The Israeli Knesset (Parliament)
Inside the Israeli Museum - one of the Jars that the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in
The Shrine of the Book, where we saw several of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the Isaiah and Habakkuk scrolls!
The Model of First Century Jerusalem at the Israel Museum - absolutely amazing to see
Ein Karem, traditional site of the Birthplace of John the Baptizer
Blogger's having some difficulties tonight - have to post the rest tomorrow. To be continued!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 30
Today we continued our journey - pics below!
We began at the southern excavations of the Temple Mount
Some of us went down into the Western Wall tunnels (a.k.a. the rabbinical tunnels) - you can see the foundation stones from the time of the Second Temple. A tight squeeze - amazing to see. We saw the spot believed to be the closest one can come to where the Holy of Holies used to be on the Temple Mount.
The Western (wailing) Wall
Many of us got to pray at the wall - here's one of me praying there.
Many orthodox Jews were there this morning praying.
Gladys teaching at the steps by the Hulda Gates
The Hulda Gates, perhaps named for the prophetess Hulda from 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34
The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem (no pictures allowed inside the museum - the Hall of Names was immensely moving to me)
Teddy Kolleck Stadium in Jerusalem
Statue of King David near David's Tomb and the Upper Room (the traditional site for both - likely that neither are actually "the" places - though we found it interesting that the Upper Room is above David's Tomb)
The Upper Room
The dungeon below Caiphas' house where Jesus was taken and beaten after his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane
The Pit below Caiphas' house into which Jesus was likely lowered
Gladys teaching at the church of St. Peter Gallicantu (remembering Peter's denial and the rooster crowing)
We began at the southern excavations of the Temple Mount
Some of us went down into the Western Wall tunnels (a.k.a. the rabbinical tunnels) - you can see the foundation stones from the time of the Second Temple. A tight squeeze - amazing to see. We saw the spot believed to be the closest one can come to where the Holy of Holies used to be on the Temple Mount.
The Western (wailing) Wall
Many of us got to pray at the wall - here's one of me praying there.
Many orthodox Jews were there this morning praying.
Gladys teaching at the steps by the Hulda Gates
The Hulda Gates, perhaps named for the prophetess Hulda from 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34
The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem (no pictures allowed inside the museum - the Hall of Names was immensely moving to me)
Teddy Kolleck Stadium in Jerusalem
Statue of King David near David's Tomb and the Upper Room (the traditional site for both - likely that neither are actually "the" places - though we found it interesting that the Upper Room is above David's Tomb)
The Upper Room
The dungeon below Caiphas' house where Jesus was taken and beaten after his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane
The Pit below Caiphas' house into which Jesus was likely lowered
Gladys teaching at the church of St. Peter Gallicantu (remembering Peter's denial and the rooster crowing)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 29
Today was a busy day - our first in Jerusalem! Here's a shot of our first daytime view of the Temple Mount - notice the Eastern (Golden) Gate to the right in this picture.
The church Dominus Flavit
Gladys teaching at Dominus Flavit (no pics of me teaching as I'm, well, teaching and not taking pics at that time) :)
The Garden of Gethsemane, the most powerful experience of the day
Inside the Garden church - traditionally this is the rock where Jesus prayed
The Garden of Gethsemane - we spent some time in quiet prayer and meditation here
The Lion Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem
Our guide Irit uses a purple umbrella so we can see her in a crowd; occasionally she gives it to one of the taller guys to hold up high. Here we see John Grindle!
The excavations of the Pool of Bethesda (where Jesus healed a man lame for 38 years in John 5)
John and Loria leading us in singing inside the church at the Bethesda site
The Old City
Restaurant where we stopped for lunch in the Arab Quarter - excellent falafel and pizza!
Market in the Arab Quarter
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (traditional Catholic site of the crucifixion of Jesus)
Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The wide wall - an excavated wall of Jerusalem dating to the 8th century BC, the time of Isaiah
We visited the Temple Institute today, but no photography allowed at all - sorry!
Street sign in the Jewish Quarter
The church Dominus Flavit
Gladys teaching at Dominus Flavit (no pics of me teaching as I'm, well, teaching and not taking pics at that time) :)
The Garden of Gethsemane, the most powerful experience of the day
Inside the Garden church - traditionally this is the rock where Jesus prayed
The Garden of Gethsemane - we spent some time in quiet prayer and meditation here
The Lion Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem
Our guide Irit uses a purple umbrella so we can see her in a crowd; occasionally she gives it to one of the taller guys to hold up high. Here we see John Grindle!
The excavations of the Pool of Bethesda (where Jesus healed a man lame for 38 years in John 5)
John and Loria leading us in singing inside the church at the Bethesda site
The Old City
Restaurant where we stopped for lunch in the Arab Quarter - excellent falafel and pizza!
Market in the Arab Quarter
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (traditional Catholic site of the crucifixion of Jesus)
Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The wide wall - an excavated wall of Jerusalem dating to the 8th century BC, the time of Isaiah
We visited the Temple Institute today, but no photography allowed at all - sorry!
Street sign in the Jewish Quarter
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