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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Sunday, 19 November 2006 |
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Hi all....I am completely exhausted. I think today was the most I have pushed myself walking wise. I had a lot of ground to cover today and the sun sets at 4 pm....so I had to get an early start and not dawdle. The one thing about Jerusalem is security....they check your bags and you walk through x-ray machines just to go into a store, a restaurant, market..etc. It is a hassle and cumbersome but I guess necessary. Last night...after 2 weeks on the road...I finally had ice cream! I was in heaven. I went to bed early about 10 pm and then got up at 6 am and got ready. Today was an incredible day of visiting the sacred things of Jerusalem. My hosts live in New Jerusalem, which is a nice upscale area about a 10 minute walk from the Old City. I entered the old city and headed to Mt. Zion. There I visited the Upper Room (Caericulum) or the room of the last supper. Also at Mt. Zion was the tomb of King David...3000 BC Men and women have separate entrances into the tomb. I then walked by the House of Caiaphus to the Zion Gate. I then stopped at the Church of St. Peter where supposedly Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed. I then walked along the outside of the city wall to the City of David. What a climb....it was a hill straight down to the Pool of Shiloah here Jesus cured the blind man. I then walked up the hill half way and went to the Hezekiah Tunnel. At this point I had to stop and take a break. I then went into the old City to the West Wall/wailing wall. I had to go through security and then was given a yamaka to go to the wall. Men and women are separated. I had always seen this and it was wonderful to see the last remnant of the temple of Solomon and the Jews lamenting and praying. I was touched by the faith...the hope that they had. From there I walked "the LAST WALK" toward Gethsemane....on the way I passed the tomb of Zechariah and the Tomb of Absalom. Finally I made it The Garden of Gethsemane. I truly loved the Garden of Gethsemane. I entered the church place upon Jesus last prayers and solitude and they have the supposed Rock that he prayed on. I touched the rock and was profoundly moved. There was a tourist group singing amazing grace and I got caught up in the moment and began to cry myself....partly gratitude for being able to visit this spot and partly there was a feeling of sorrow I had...I had about myself....my life. After recovering from this moving moment...I climbed the hill from hell to the Mount of Olives. At the top of the hills was a stunning view of Jerusalem as well as the chapel of the Ascension where Christ ascended into heaven 40 days after Easter. I went to the tomb of the prophets but it was closed. I then walked back down the hill...Mt. of Olives to the Tomb of Mary. This is where Virgin Mary was laid to rest but then was assumed into heaven. It was a dark underground chamber/grotto..but very interesting. From here I went to ST. Stephens Church where St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was killed. From here I entered St. Stephens Gate and entered the old city again and began my walk along the Via Dolorosa...The sorrowful way and stopped at all the Stations of the Cross. At station #5 I had to take a break from my Christian journey and go over to the Temple Mound and explore some Muslim Religion. The Temple Mound..Haram El Sharif is only opened to the public from 12:30-1:30 so I had to go during that window. What a beautiful mosque! This is where Mohammed supposedly ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of Allah. After an hour there....I went back to Station Five of the Cross and completed the via dolorosa arrive at the church of the holy sepulcher....which was founded in 300 AD by ST. Helen (mother of Constantine)....this church covers the original site of the crucifixion. To enter the sepulcher you have to bend down and can only hold 5 people at a time. It took a while..but I made it this far I didn't want to miss this. The church also contains some holy rocks of Jesus Tomb. After this I was getting tired so I stopped for a bite to eat....I had Shwarma (which I love), hummus, cabbage. I then pressed on in the Old City and exited out the Damascus Gate to the Garden Tomb. This is the garden/tomb that Joseph of Arimethea owned and where Jesus was buried and where Mary Magdalene came to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. It was a very peaceful garden and a nice time to contemplate all that I had seen...all the Christian, Muslim, and Judaic things I had visited....I can't help but notice all the similarities between these three religions...yet it seems all people want to do is focus on the difference. The Dome of the Rock is on the site of the old Solomon Temple and Wailing Wall...both believe in the prophets Abraham, Isaac, etc. The other interesting thing today was all the different tour groups...from Poland, Japan, Christian, Jewish, Russian, Muslim, English.....so many nationalities, so many religions and beliefs...and it seems that the basis of all three religions are the belief in God, to love one another, to be kind and patient...and yet it seems it divides people so much. I'll get off my soapbox now. So now the sun is setting and I am taking a break and going to have coffee. Gadi and Elyashiv get home about 6pm so I will head back then and I believe they want to take me out tonight. Sorry this is such a long email but there was so much that I covered today.....When I was eating lunch...I was thinking about some of the stuff I saw in Turkey and it seems so long ago that it was a different trip! I am thinking tomorrow of trying to find a way to Bethlehem in spite of warnings...I've made it this far it would seem such a shame not to make it to Rachel’s Tomb and Manger Square. I will drop a line tomorrow night. Take care and hope all is well with you. With peace,Keith
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