Today was a truly incredible day. We started the day with what has so far been one of the most touching events of the trip. We visited the home of Caiaphas, the high priest in whose home Jesus was held prior to his crucifixion. Amazing. We went down into the cistern which is believed to have held Jesus the night before his execution. On the walls were early first century crosses which had been carved into the wall. We also found the shadow which is on the north wall of the cell that appears to depict the image of a man kneeling in prayer... how it appears there cannot be explained. That was a highlight of the trip so far to say the least.
Next we went through the "Burnt House Museum" which detailed the high priest of the Jewish temples final days prior to the roman destruction of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This was pretty cool and quite informative.
This was our first day inside the old city walls of Jerusalem. We had lunch on our own at a little pizza place in the Jewish Quarter of the old city. This was quite an experience... as you know, Jews are Kosher... this means they don't mix dairy and meat and they certainly don't eat pork.... The first thing Tina asks as she approaches the counter is for two slices of pepperoni pizza. Ha~! You should have seen the look on the guys face... he just sort of scowled and shook his head... we all laughed after that and it will not be soon forgot! The kosher pizza did turn out to be quite good and we enjoyed our first meal on our own.
After lunch we visited the Temple Institute, which is a small museum in the Jewish Quarter which houses artifacts, models, and paintings of what the 2nd Jewish Temple looked like, and what they think the future holds for their 3rd temple. Very cool... the young Jewish girl who gave the presentation was quite a little firecracker and had a lot of spunk. The Jewish people are really incredible.
Next we visited the site of "The Upper Room" where Jesus and his disciples had their passover meal and the Last Supper. This is likely the same room where Jesus Appeared to the "disciples and Thomas" after his resurrection. While the room we were in does not date back to first century, the structure below it did and is quite possible the correct location.
In the afternoon we visited King David's Tomb. This is not where King David was originally entombed, but a location where he is believed to have been moved later. It was a very "religious" place in that the women and men had to enter separately and the men all had to put on yamakas (head covering). There were Rabbis and other men there praying and studying. It was an interesting experience and the first real close encounter with traditional orthodox Jewish customs.
Walking through the old city this first day was such a fun experience! Being Monday, one of the traditional days for Barmitzvas and the first reading of the Jewish Torah (first 5 books of the bible) for thirteen year old boys, the city was abuzz with activity. Large groups of people were dancing through the old cobblestone streets singing and carrying on. It was so cool to watch this active community in real life. Very cool.
Late in the afternoon, we decended the Mount of Olives. We walked through old olive groves and areas of tombs and graves and ended up in the Garden of Gathsemene. This was the place where Jesus prayed while his disciples slept on the night that he was betrayed. Next to the garden, which was filled with ancient olive trees, quite possibly the very same trees on which Jesus and his disciples leaned as they napped and prayed, is a large Christian church which is built over a large stone slab. The stone is believed to be the stone on which Jesus knelt and prayed, in such agony over what was to come, that he sweat drops of blood. This was another very spiritual place for both of us as we beheld the rock and the imagery of the suffering and the sacrifice to come.
Our long and eventful day was wrapped up with a quiet evening back at the hotel. As usual, we fell asleep as soon as we hit the pillow! Tomorrow proves to be another exciting day as we are scheduled to see the Wailing Wall, the holocaust museum and walk on the old steps of the temple mount.
Stay tuned....
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