Today, we hoped to start with tefillah at the Kotel, but steady rain put a stop to those plans. After tefillah and breakfast at our youth hostel, we went to the City of David, the oldest part of Jerusalem. We walked through remarkable archaeological excavations, including the recently discovered foundations of the gates to David's palace. We were welcomed into the home of a woman who has lived in the City of David for the last 12 years; over tea, popcorn, and other treats, she gave us her perspective of Jewish life in what was until very recently an exclusively Arab village.
After the City of David, we davened mincha and ate lunch at the Conservative Yeshiva, where we also received an introduction to Christianity in preparation for our afternoon touring in Ein Kerem. This tour included Mary's Spring, the Church of the Visitation, and the St. John Ba Harim (in the Mountains) Church.
We took some time to rest at our base and then spent a couple of hours at the Malcha Mall, where everyone received money and selected their own dinners. Tonight, the kids are having a quiet New Year's celebration on our floor of the base.
Tomorrow, we are looking forward to more activities in and around Jerusalem, and the cessation of the rain.
Happy New Year!
Caroline Musin
Claudia Linda
Ted Schaffner
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That's the best way to do food; go to a food court and let everyone eat as they please! It's so wonderful to have that kind of thing to do where everything is kosher.
ReplyDeleteI bet the tea was wonderful in Ir David, too!