Last Day

 LAST DAY IN THE HOLY LAND

Most of  us are now at the Tel Aviv airport an hour before boarding our plane for New York, then Atlanta, and finally home to Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. The has been a full day-the last day of a full trip. Honestly, I think we tried to cram too much into this day and at this point, I am exhausted and ready to crawl into bed or seat 2A of flight DL8771, as the case may be.

We began the day at Masada, the royal palace of Herod and later taken over by Jewish Zealots prior to the fall of the 2nd Temple. This is an amazing facility in the middle of the desert, at the top of a high mountain looking down on the Dead Sea. The Zealots held this spot for several years before the Roman army finally build siege ramps and broke down the walls of the palace compound. Rather than surrender to the Romans, the entire community at Masada, except for two women and several children, chose to take their own lives. From that point until 1967, Masada was forgotten. In 1967, however, archaeologists began work uncovering and exploring the area.

Next we went to Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Like Masada, this is an isolated area near the Dead Sea. In the 2nd century, when this religious community was being threatened by the Romans, they took their writings--most of what we call the Old Testament as well as some original writings, and hid them in clay jars in caves in the area. In 1947, just before the founding of the modern state of Israel, the 1st of these scrolls were found.

After lunch, we went to a beach on the Dead Sea to float--you don't swim there. Rather, you simply get to a point where you feel comfortable throwing your legs up in the air. When you do that, you begin to float like a cork. There is no way to describe this very fun, yet strange sensation. Many pictures were taken, but only a few will be seen.

What a trip this has been. We covered many miles and saw many amazing sights. In the end, though, it really was a pilgrimage. We were seeking God--a closer and clearer glimpse of the one who creates, loves and redeems us. We went to places where others before us had been moved, touched and transformed by God. We looked, listened and were still. I believe we were moved by things we expected would touch us. I also believe that God surprised us in many ways.  It was a good trip. It was a holy trip. Nevertheless, I will be glad to be home.

Shalom,
Robert

the mountains and desert on the way from Jerusalem to Dead Sea

clouds over the wilderness mountains leaving Jerusalem

view of the Dead Sea

Mountains around the Dead Sea

Dead Sea looking south

"Snake Path": route up the mountain to Masada--we took cable car...

Masada

Masada

Pilgrims listen to stories of Masada

Masada

Starlings watch Pilgrims listening to stories about Masada

Attentive Pilgrims listen

Pilgrims relax and chill while others listen

view from mountain of Masada

cave where Dead Sea Scrolls discovered

Another cave where Dead Sea Scrolls discovered

Date Palm trees at the oasis of En Gedi, near the cave where David snipped off a piece of Saul's cloak when Saul was chasing David

At the Dead Sea, unfortunately, we weren't there long enough to enjoy their products....

"Look Ma, no hands!" Pilgrims float on water... Some even walk!

Exuberant floating...

Kitty and Walter hold hands and still float....Jon just floats...

A final farewell from the Israeli National Parks Service...

Jerusalem and Bethlehem

Jerusalem and Bethlehem

We began our second day in Jerusalem with a trip to Yad Vashem, the national holocaust museum for Israel. Many of our group had been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., but as I told everyone, there is really no comparison between the two. This, after all, is the story of the holocaust from the perspective of the Jewish people. It is a very, simple and stark building that houses the museum. The building is in an “A” frame shape with a long corridor and exhibit halls running off of the passageway. As you move through each hall, you move toward the light at the end of the corridor and finally emerge looking over Jerusalem below you.

As I walked through the exhibit, two things became very clear. The first was how destructive the power of evil can be when left unchecked or unquestioned. Throughout the later part of the 1930’s most of the world simply stood by and did nothing as the Nazis unfurled and executed their plan to annihilate the Jewish people. The other truth that became even clearer was the resiliency and determination of the human spirit, especially the Jewish people. There were countless stories and examples of people surviving and thriving even in the most inhumane and deplorable conditions. Moreover, there were more stories of self-sacrifice by individuals to allow others to survive.

After two hours, all of us left Yad Vashem emotionally and spiritually drained. We then journeyed to Bethlehem, to the Church of the Nativity, to see the place where our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born. What a contrast to go from the vivid reminder of the most intentional, systematic implementation of evil activity ever conspired by humanity to the birthplace of the Prince of Peace.

In spite of Jesus’ death and resurrection, evil is still very much alive in the world. Our visit to Bethlehem is not a call to question whether Jesus has, indeed, conquered the world. Rather, it is a reminder that we are his eyes, ears, hearts, and hands in the world. We are his body. If there is evil in our midst, he tells us to implement justice. Where there is hatred, show mercy.  Where there is evil, bear love. Hitler was successful because the people of God did not do the things they were called to do in the world. After all, what does the Lord God require of us but “…to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:9

Blessings and peace,

Robert 

as you exit the Yad Vashem Museum (Holocaust Museum) this passage from Ezekiel looks down on you. My camera couldn't capture the whole passage. What a powerful fulfillment of that prophecy to the people of God, especially in light of & following the Holocaust.

 View of the Museum

Statute as you leave the Children's Memorial section of the Museum. Over 1.5 million children were killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust. This remembers a Polish doctor who founded two orphanages in Warsaw and when his children were taken to the concentration camps he insisted on following them.

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Approaching the Church of the Holy Nativity 

 Looking out on Manger Square

 Icon of the Holy Family as you approach the spot of the Nativity

 Site where Christ was born

 Our group looking at the site

Outside the Church

 Manger Square

 Mosque at Manger Square

 Site of the Shepherd's Fields outside Bethlehem

 Hill at the center is site of Herod's palace

 Wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem

 Wall

Sign on Wall.....

Shalom,

robert 

Jerusalem

Our full day in Jerusalem--into the Palestinian area at the Dome of the Rock. Sacred place for all the 3 major religions. Now Muslim area where they believed that Mohamed ascended to heaven. For Jews and Christians this is where we believe that Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac.

Walked to the Western (Wailing) Wall where we observed Bar Mitzvahs and had opportunity to pray and place our prayers in the wall. We then walked the Stations of the Cross (Via de Rosa) ending up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus resurrected.

Walking the stations takes us through all the old city of Jerusalem. It is an incredible place. Another time of sensory overload. Even without the holy nature of the place--and it is incredibly holy, the air is simply thick with God and a Godly presence--I think that Jerusalem would still be overwhelming. But when you throw God into the mix, it is like drinking water from a fire hose. So much to take in. Thankfully, we got in a bit earlier today so there is time to reflect.

We go to Bethlehem and the Holocaust Museum tomorrow.

Blessings,
Robert

 area around the Dome of the Rock

 Near the Dome of he rock

 Dome of the Rock

 View  back toward the Old City from the Dome of the Rock

 Similar View

 Old city, Palestinian school girls

 Close up of he school girls

 Western Wall

 Close up of Western Wall

 People at the Western Wall

 Young boy at Bar Mitzvah

 Man at Western Wall

 Kidron Valley leading out toward the Mount of Olives

 Old City

 Olives ripening in the Old City

 Beginning of the Stations of the Cross

 Walking the Stations

 Gathering at Station 5 where Simon helps Jesus carry his cross

 Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher , below the entrance to the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was laid and then resurrected.