Walls, Fortresses, Water
This morning we saw Jerusalem's Southern Wall Excavation at the Davidson Center, which included a computerized virtual model of the Second Temple. (Jesus lived during the Second Temple period.) After that we visited the Western Wall (Kotel), which is Judaism’s most sacred site. I joined other women from many nations and creeds praying at the Western Wall. I never knew there was a women's section, having seen only photos of the Orthodox men. The white stuff in the wall is tiny scraps of paper with prayers written on them and tucked in the cracks. Did I leave one? Of course!
Other events included...
* Jewish Quarter – Rebuilt Jewish section of the city
* Cardo – Main Street from the Roman-Byzantine times
* Temple Steps – The actual steps used by Jesus and the people of His time to enter the temple. If you notice in your Bible that some psalms are labeled "Psalms of Ascent," these are the songs sung or psalms recited as pilgrims ascended up to the temple to worship. It's a long hike up, so I imagine they quoted them all! I learned that Jesus, along with the other worshipers, would have entered at the Huldah Gate. See 2 Kings 22 for Huldah's story. She's one of my she-roes.
* City of David – Ongoing excavation in the ancient core of Jerusalem built by King David, including sophisticated underground water system and possible 2009 discovery of David's Palace
* Pool of Siloam - Where Jesus cured a blind man with a mud mixture and told him to go wash it from his eyes (John 9). Excavation since 2004 has revealed that what was thought to be the Pool of Siloam is probably from a later period. Within the past five years, a sewage pipe broke in a Kidron Valley neighborhood near Hezekiah's Spring, and a bulldozer working to fix things ended up unearthing the Pool of Siloam from Jesus' time.
Tonight's dinner is hosted by the Ministry of Tourism at a Jerusalem restaurant. They are feeding us a lot, but then there is also a lot of walking.