The layers of Jerusalem

This is the first real day of touring for our group.  To be honest, this is a tough blog to write because we did so much today!  We walked and walked and explored the Old City in so many different and exciting ways.  I will do my best to represent our journey through thousands of years of history. First of all we were able to learn how lucky we are to be guided by Tzvi, our educator who made it clear that we are not tourists on vacation, we are pilgrims on a pilgrimage to discover ourselves.  We began our day visiting the Jerusalem Archaeological Park which included a visit to the Southern Wall Excavations as well as the Davidson Center.  Here we got to lay our hands on history as we touched stones from the destroyed Temple in 70 CE, we actually touched Tisha B'Av.  

I know my hat is funny looking, but the Israeli summer sun is brutal!

We learned so much about the excavations that took place to create what we were seeing and really felt as if we're standing at the foot of our Temple.  We especially loved the Hebrew we saw inscribed into one of the ancient stones that quoted a passage from our bible that said if we can see this, we should rejoice, meaning we should rejoice because we are still here.  In the face of a destroyed temple, we are still here.  Our three B'nai mitzvah students (our fourth meets us Friday morning for the service) are shining examples of our rejoicing.

Next we got to the Southern Steps that ascended to the Temple.  The very same steps Jews would take to deliver their sacrifices.  We created blessings for each other that families shared on the steps themselves that highlighted our hopes for the journey ahead.  He are some examples of what people created to share with their loved ones on the ancient steps.  

"May you always remember your visit to Jerusalem as a loving family, we are together." 

"Hopefully this visit to Eretz Yisraeil, and Jerusalem will ignite or reignite a sense of spirituality, of "our story," our ancestors, our family, our Jewishness, that will last forever for you and what you will teach your family."

"May we have peace, understanding and happiness in life.  An open heart and mind.  The ability to pursue and achieve our dreams.  And that being Jewish will always remain a. Central part of our lives."

"I hope you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of our history as well as the determination our ancestors had so that we were able to survive the millennia."

"My hope and prayer for you is that experiencing our antiquity will open your eyes to the potential of Judaism.  That walking in the steps of our ancestors allows you to walk with new pride.  That because of our journey you find a deeper connection to God and Judaism."

As you can see, we all found great meaning in this ritual.  Next, we made our way to the Western Wall, where we each had a private moment to place our personal written prayer into this ancient stone.  Who knew how powerful putting a piece of paper into a wall could be.

After this we entered the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount.  We were literally walking underneath the Muslim Quarter!  To see the stonework so closely gave us new respect for the builders who created this almost 2000 year old structure, and a true understanding as to how large the Temple was.

After leaving the tunnel we walked through the Muslim Quarter, visited an Austrian Hostel, made our way through the Jewish Quarter, seeing it from the ground as well as later from the rooftops of the Old City which gave us an understanding of how the various communities live together in Jerusalem.  We visited the Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the world's oldest shopping arcade where we shopped alongside excavated grounds.  We also had the BEST falafel in all of Israel, courtesy of an Arab restaurant in the Muslim Quarter.

Finally, we walked and experienced the City of David's new excavations which have redefined Judaism including walking through Hezekiah's Tunnel, a 2700 year old tunnel that would bring water to Jerusalem.

It was pitch dark in the caves, except for the flash of our cameras and a small flashlight we got to use and keep as a souvenir.  The cool water we were walking through felt good in our tired legs.

It was more than a full day of learning and exploring.  It is impossible to put into words how much we saw today.  All I can say is that you all MUST visit this place and experience it for yourself...

Tomorrow, we make the trek to Masada, the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.