"The city of Jerusalem is like an onion," Zack told the group when we arrived at the City of David, and throughout the day we were able to see the truth in that statement.
Up early, we first stopped at The Promenade overlooking the whole of Jerusalem. Adiya and Yehuda, our tour guides, poured wine for each of us, and we toasted our arrival to the holiest of cities. While many of us have been here before, this occasion was unique because we were in Jerusalem t
ogether as a group for the first time.The heart of the onion that Zack talked about has to be the City of David. Over 4,000 years old, it is the historical core of the holy capital of Israel. The highlight of the tour was Hezekiah's tunnel. This underground system brought water into the city and was particularly necessary in times of war. All of us jumped knee-deep into the waterway beyond the city gates and followed the tunnel that led to the interior of the city to get a sense of the work and labor that went into this ancient marvel.
Since the City of David is still undergoing excavation, the stories of its history and people are also evolving.
We were able to help find pieces of that history later in the afternoon at the Temple Mount Antiquities Salvation Operation. Here, students sifted through actual rubble from
the Temple Mount that was illegally excavated by the Wakf to make way for a basement mosque. More than 400 trucks dumped debris from the construction around Jerusalem. Working in pairs, students helped recover valuable bits of history. Abigail and Leah, Zack and Daniel, and Anton and Sean all found old coins. Jonathan and Jeremy found a large piece of blue and white mosaic. Other groups found pottery, bones, marble, metal and glass.
After sifting through a couple dozen buckets, we left wearing a couple thousand years worth of dust on our clothes. We retreated to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes, and then headed out to dinner at Burger Bar. For any burger lovers out there, this place is worth seeking out. The buns have girth -- and the kids loved them!
Our last stop of the day was at the Kottel Tunnels. This underground excavation has revealed the major portion
Since the City of David is still undergoing excavation, the stories of its history and people are also evolving.
We were able to help find pieces of that history later in the afternoon at the Temple Mount Antiquities Salvation Operation. Here, students sifted through actual rubble from
the Temple Mount that was illegally excavated by the Wakf to make way for a basement mosque. More than 400 trucks dumped debris from the construction around Jerusalem. Working in pairs, students helped recover valuable bits of history. Abigail and Leah, Zack and Daniel, and Anton and Sean all found old coins. Jonathan and Jeremy found a large piece of blue and white mosaic. Other groups found pottery, bones, marble, metal and glass.After sifting through a couple dozen buckets, we left wearing a couple thousand years worth of dust on our clothes. We retreated to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes, and then headed out to dinner at Burger Bar. For any burger lovers out there, this place is worth seeking out. The buns have girth -- and the kids loved them!
Our last stop of the day was at the Kottel Tunnels. This underground excavation has revealed the major portion of the Western wall that was lost when Muslim communities vaulted the land abutting the wall to be closer to the Dome of the Rock. One of the most poignant moments came when we rea
ched the part of the wall closest to where the temple stood. Students took a moment to pray, kiss the wall or just reflect.
We ended our evening by walking up to the Western Wall that remains exposed in the Jewish quarter. Students will be returning there tomorrow to pray during Shabbat.
We're turning in early tonight, though, since we loose an hour -- it's the equivalent to "Spring forward" here in Israel. This can only compound any residual jet lag we're experiencing.
We ended our evening by walking up to the Western Wall that remains exposed in the Jewish quarter. Students will be returning there tomorrow to pray during Shabbat.
We're turning in early tonight, though, since we loose an hour -- it's the equivalent to "Spring forward" here in Israel. This can only compound any residual jet lag we're experiencing.
