Two mornings ago, our day began MUCH earlier than usual.  Here’s why…

This was not scheduled initially, but a special opportunity arose; and half of our group decided it was worth the cost.

The price?  One very early morning—on the bus at 4:45 AM.

The payoff?  A once-in-a-lifetime witnessing of the Jewish festival of Shavuot.

Next question: What on earth is Shavuot?

For a concise summary, I turn to Wikipedia: Continue reading →

Our morning itinerary was light today.  Walking was less than usual, as was the heat.  Everyone seemed to enjoy both of those reductions.  Our guide today was Claire Pfann, wife to Steve, who led us to the Israel Museum last week.  She is a renowned New Testament scholar, occasionally appearing on religious documentaries, and I can hardly tell you how much I enjoyed listening to her.  A wonderful speaker with a sharp mind and warm spirit, Claire was a treat!  Today’s sights centered on the life of John the Baptist—two churches and a monastery. Continue reading →

Literally “the way of the sorrows”, this is undoubtedly the most famous street name in the Old City.  While portions of the path could be easily debated for historical accuracy or validity, it cannot be denied that this route of walking and meditation has been profound to Christian pilgrims for way over thirteen hundred years.

The true pilgrim would slowly and thoughtfully proceed along the way, stopping at each station, some very briefly and others for lengthy periods.  All sorts of devotional materials exist to lead one through the Stations of the Cross, the cheapest of which is a booklet that any guy on the street will sell you for $1.00.

Our walk was not that of the pilgrims. It was that of the time-pressed, we-can’t-dare-miss-our-bus tourists.  Continue reading →

Today we made our way to Jerusalem’s Old City.  Entering through the Dung Gate, we passed through security on our way up to the top of the Temple Mount.  The Temple Mount only opens twice a day, and our guide referred to it as the most “heated” piece of real estate in the world.  Why?  Because the Temple Mount is the land under the Dome of the Rock.

Our Jewish guide, Hannah, was an absolute treat!  Warm, passionate, informed—yet another wonderful teacher.  The morning schedule was packed to overflowing, so our pace was fast.  We saw the sights, but no doddling allowed this time around!

A few things the average wandering tourist might not know… Continue reading →