Jerusalem and the Last Week of Jesus

Our Jerusalem day began on the Mount of Olives with a beautiful overlook of the city. The golden Dome of the Rock now sits on the site of the former Jewish Temple. We walked down the road toward the Kidron Valley, following the path Jesus took into the city on Palm Sunday, stopping at the Church of Dominus Flevit (the Lord Wept) and the beautiful modern chapel built there.

Continuing down the hillside we reached the Church of All Nations built over the older Byzantine Church at Gethsemane and set in small garden of olive trees like that where Jesus prayed to be spared his fate. A small church once commemorating the burial of the Virgin Mary was nearby and we descended into its depths.

We the walked across the boot of the Valley, seeing the monumental Tomb of Absolom that dates to the first century CE. Climbing up e other slope of Mount Moriah, we entered the ancient walled city through the Lion Gate, stopping at the St Anne’s church and the site of the Pools of Bethesda in the Gospel stories. Nearby, we say the Lithostratos (pavement) of the Antonia fortress where Jesus was tried by Pilate and the traditional Eccentric Homo Arch.

We enjoyed a nice quick lunch and then joined throngs of pilgrims in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Golgotha, waiting in line to enter the newly restored Edicule built over and around the ancient burial place of Jesus.

Lots of walking, lots of sites, lots of fun with one another….And even some Old City Shopping!!!

Taking to the Hills

Today we moved out of the Jordan Valley and into the Central Hill Country of ancient Judah. We began at the Israelite fortress of Arad, home of an ancient temple to YHWH that was designed like its sister temple at Jerusalem..

Courtyard and altar, Arad

Arad "Holy of Holies."

Beit Guvrin

Beit Guvrin dovecots

The Tombs of the Sidonian Kings

After a wonderful lunch at the Grotto Restaurant in Bethlehem that followed a visit to the church at traditional Shepherds' Field, we enjoyed the under-restoration Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

A night at the gorgeous Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem will be followed tomorrow with a day dedicated to the ministry of Jesus, his passion, and resurrection

The Dead Sea Area and the Bedouins

Internet at this hotel is spotty, so just the sites we visited and a few photos today.

Ein Gedi Nature Reserve - waterfalls, David v. King Saul, animal life

From Ein Gedi, we had a short stop for several to float in the Dead Sea.....

Next up, the climb to Masada!

We ended the day at Kfar Hanokdim, a Bedouin learning experience, camel ride, and meal.

North, South, and Crusaders In-Between

We'll miss you, Yael!

We said goodbye to the Galilee today, stopping for a wonderful visit at Magdalena and the first century synagogue and menorah there. The gorgeous modern church of Duc in Altum, dedicated to the women of the Gospels was a fabulous visit.

Menorah stone at Magdalena

Our next stop was the Crusader castle of Belvoir, overlooking the Jordan Valley. It is an excellent example of a Kinights Of St John  (Hospitallers) fortress.

Moat at Belvoir 

We moved on to Beth Shemesh and the ruins of the ancient Canaanite city towering above the later Roman town below. Our visit to the ancient latrines say everybody get together for the ancient Roman form of social medi and chin wagging!!!

Roman theater at Beth Shean

Ancient Tell (ruin) of Canaanite city overlooking
the Roman ruins

Ancient Potty Stop, group style

We sadly said goodbye to our guide Yael, dropping her at the train station to catch a ride home in preparation for her own family holiday. We so enjoyed her teaching and insights, and look forward to getting to know our new guide, Ronen.

A long drive down the Jordan Valley and we reached Qumran, the discovery site of many of the Dead Sea Scrolls and home of the Essene sect of first century Judaism.

Now in the spa hotel of Ein Gedi we are enjoying a nice desert night, wonderful food, and a relaxing environment. Tomorrow: desert adventure, Bedouins, the fall of Masada, and camels!

Around the North

We began our morning with a boat ride into the Sea of Galilee/Lake Kinneret. Here we enjoyed a glimpse of the life of the ancient fisherman at the Sea's north end and personal reflections on Jesus' ministry.
From here we visited ancient Hazor, boasting a large Canaanite palace, the Israelite gate and wall system, the deep water system. We enjoyed the insights into the site Joshua and his army conquered and burned.
Next we visited Tel Dan, walking through the Deep and gloomy trees of the national park, past families with lots of little children enjoying an outing, splashing in the headwaters of the Dan River. The Israelite high place and the Middle Bronze Age gate complex were fabulous reminders of the biblical story

From Dan a drive to Caesarea Philippi reminded us not only of the god Pan, to whom the site was sacred and several temples graced the site in antiquity, but also the confession of Simon Peter in response to Jesus' question, "Whom do men say that I am?"

A drive up into the Druze villages spread us a table of delicious Arab traditional food and an reunion for Randy, Russell, and Gwen with a former church friend and Druze young woman. We learned much about this fascinating sect.

Tired to the bone, many happily arrived back home at the hotel. Tomorrow we make our way south toward the Dead Sea, see you then!

Rebbe Randy Shapiro

Frank Stirk

Gwen sees the Disciples

Randy 

Grey looks out onto the water

Randy and Sheryl Lunz

Te