Trip to the Dead Sea with Tamar and Eyal 7.7.09
caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
Eyal at work
fresh water nature reserves
amazing how such a dry place can have so much fresh water
looking out toward the Dead Sea
sink hole
Israel Museum 7.13.09
Caroline and Ester
model of Old City during 2nd Temple period
the Temple
Roman palace
classmates
view of the Old City from the 1st Jewish neighborhood outside the Old City walls
the neighborhood was built in 1860 by Montefiore, a wealthy Jewish immigrant from Italy
windmill used as an energy source for making bread
Madeline
the majority of the people who own homes here are wealthy Americans and Europeans who spend a few weeks of the year in Israel
Between the neighborhood and the Old City is Gai Ben Hinon, a valley where children were supposedly sacrificed in the ancient world. Gehenna is named after it.
In a modern park, we suddenly come upon an old burial site. Just another day in Israel!
Classmate Tal's grandfather's house in Ein Kerem, a beautiful community outside Jerusalem. Supposedly Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, lived here.
view of Ein Kerem
heading up to the Church of St. John the Baptist
Gospel Canticle in many languages
Ein Kerem
Mary's spring
Tal and Ester
Visitation Church, where Mary visited Elizabeth and proclaimed the Magnificat
Mary and Elizabeth
The Magnificat
a stone where John the Baptist was supposedly hidden from Herod
“A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” Rev 12:1
“She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” Rev 12:5
above the altar
around the church are depictions of famous women in the Bible
saying goodbye to my new favorite church
Bar Mitzvah at the Wailing Wall 7.20.09
the women, as usual, peer over the divide
Ryan, Elliot, and Caroline on the path to the Temple Mount
archeological dig below
Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount
Al-Kas Fountain, an ablution fountain for ritual washing
Dome of the Rock, built on the Holy of Holies
summer pulpit
only Muslims can enter the Dome of the Rock
Church of the Dormition, where Mary supposedly lived after the death of Jesus and fell into an eternal sleep
above the figure of Mary at rest, Jesus is surrounded by the Bible's famous women
Church of St. Peter Gallicantu
Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olves 7.21.09
friend Kate in the garden
view of the Western Wall from the Mount of Olives
the West Bank-Israel divide
class fieldtrip to old Jerusalem neighborhood 7.22.09
in the Museum of Psalms, where painter Berger has depicted all 150 psalms in paintings
each painting has kabbalistic influence, and includes all the colors of the rainbow to symbolize the hope of peace in Israel
Berger, 85 years old and a former doctor, is still painting
Ester, Tal and Shawn
Outside the Ethopian Church of Gan Eden, in the Ethiopian neighborhood
the church is set in the round
Many Christian and Jewish Ethiopians have settled in Israel and feel a strong tie to the land. They believe themselves to be the descendants of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
depiction of an Ethiopian saint and martyr, who rode on the backs of lions
