We are in countdown mode as we make some of our final visits to specific locations in Jerusalem. JUC has already held their pre-departure meeting to get all of us ready for leaving the country and giving us tips on what to expect when we go through Israeli security at the airport. They really have a good and very stringent security system without "body scanners." At least, I've been told they don't use body scanners but there are several steps we go through and they do pull some people out of line and perform strip searches. Such is life in these turbulent days.
I wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving. JUC will celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday evening during our regular Shabbat dinner. It will be very American as Israel brings in turkeys for the expatriates and I'm in charge of the American style Green Bean Casserole for 80 people! A few more to prepare for then I usually cook for! Larry and I look forward to Skyping with our kids and grandchildren. Our treat!
I'm joining Larry's class for a tour of the Temple Mount area in the morning and know that it will be an interesting time. Last Wed. evening I joined Rabbi Moshe's class for a tour of the Rabbinical Tunnels near the Western Wall and very close to the Temple Mount area. We left JUC at 9:15 pm and returned at midnight. I was amazed at the number of people still at the Western Wall praying late at night and the number of children who were still up and around. There are synagogues located in the tunnels plus cisterns, stairs, and huge Herodian stones. We saw several women in a specific location praying the Psalms. They were as close to the location of the Holy of Holies as they could get. We entered one room that looked like a Rabbi's Study with bookcases at both ends of the room, red velvet covered theatre seats, and a huge closet that held the Torah scrolls. It was a beautiful cherry wood piece that was at least seven or eight feet tall. Rabbi Moshe told us that on his last tour several women fainted because it is very narrow in sections and if you are claustrophobic it can be a little overwhelming. Factor in the warm temperatures, the dampness and the smell and you can understand why. Just think of exploring a cave and you will understand. Rabbi Moshe grew up in New Jersey but I do not know how long he has lived in Israel but he loves it here. He told us that he preferred to pray in a synagogue with windows and light and yet this location was very meaningful to him because it was so close to where the Holy of Holies was in the Temple when it stood in all its glory. We had numerous groups pass ours during the tour including a group of junior high age kids. They schedule these tours later in the evening because some of the rooms they show us are usually open and not as crowded at that time. It was another really interesting experience.
I was walking to the store the other day towards Jaffa Gate (right by the Old City) and passed a group of orthodox young women on a field trip with their school and again was somewhat taken aback when I saw one of the teachers/guards bring up the rear with a rifle slung over his shoulder. Every outing students have includes a guard of some type. They are not dressed in uniform. That's the reality of living in a land that has suffered bombings, wars, and so much death. It all has become a way of life for those who live here but I'm still a little startled when I see so many weapons.
Monday afternoon several students joined Larry and me as we toured the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. This synagogue was restored last year and is the largest syngagoue in the Old City. We had a wonderful guide who gave us the tour and we found the synagouge to be simple and yet very beautiful. She told us the earliest syngagogue was here over two thousand years ago and then provided the history of its many destructions--as I recall, about seven times in its history with the last destruction occurring in 1948 by the Jordanian Legionnaires when they captured the Jewish Quarter during Israel's War of Independence. It was burned and the huge arch was brought down. After the Six-Day War (1967), the arch was restored but nothing else until last year. It took four years to build. It is huge and has a fantastic view from the roof. One can see all over Jerusalem including the Mt. of Olives, the Temple Mount and on a clear day over into Jordan. There is a huge wrought iron railing inside that encircles the synagogue at the top and the guide told us that every Shabbat evening all the children climb the stairs and sing a special song to Welcome Shabbat. I can imagine all these children winding their way up these narrow stairs to sing. It must be a very moving experience. Men were in the central part of the synagogue praying while we were there on the fringe. The synagogue overlooks a huge plaza in the Jewish Quarter that is a gathering place for many young people and families.
My friend, Annie, came to Shabbat dinner last Friday night. She had never been on JUC's campus and thought the school was like a castle. She loved it and wants to rent a room here!
I told her it was only for students so now she wants to take a class. I invited her to remain for our Vespers service and she told me she had already done her "Mitzvot" (good deed) for the day but she did join in for the singing and then decided to leave so we walked her back down the hill.
I was so pleased that our friend from South Africa who has lived in Israel for nine years was able to talk with her and will be able to keep in touch with her after we are back in the U.S.
I'm attending two sessions of our Palestinian Society and Politics class this week as we are doing make up classes. Dr. Sabella's son, Zack Sabella, joined us on Monday evening. He had worked for several years with the Palestinian Authority's Commission on Planning and provided a great overview about the plans that are needed to provide all the institutions and infrastructure necessary for a Palestinian state. They want to be ready when and if a Palestinian state is declared. Zack completed his MA in Planning in the UK several years ago. I am very grateful to hear firsthand from both Sabellas information about the Palestinian National Authority and how it functions. My conclusions, again, are that it is all very complex and complicated. If someone thinks there are easy answers to resolving the difficulties here, I feel they have not been exposed to the really hard issues on both sides. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for a just settlement.
I continue to thank God for this opportunity to live, study, and work at JUC during these last three and a half months. What a privilege for us! God's faithfulness and strength have helped us to persevere when we were physically and emotionally stretched. As we have traveled this land and walked many miles, I have a much greater appreciation for how many miles Jesus and the disciples walked as they reached out and ministered to people in the villages and throughout this land. Several impressions: they were strong, committed (even though they faltered on occasion) in all kinds of weather, and they are examples for us. I am amazed as I reflect on how Jesus humbled himself by taking on human flesh in order to identify with us and then to be our sacrifice. Words cannot describe how grateful and unworthy I feel when I realize I am his child and he did this for me. . .and for you! All I can do is bow down in worship and from my heart whisper "Thank you, Jesus."
Joyce Helyer's Blog
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Exploring Jordan
What an amazing trip! We arrived back in Jerusalem Sunday night around 7:00 pm tired and dirty. Four days of riding on the bus, visiting various historical and biblical sites, and enjoying each other's fellowship filled out our days. We left at 6:00 am on Thursday to make our way to the crossing into Jordan at Beth Shean. It took two hours for us to maneuver through the protocol for leaving Israel. Once we got through passport control, we picked up our luggage and then rode a shuttle bus to the Jordanian side and then retrieved our luggage, met our tour guide, got through Jordan's passport control, and loaded our luggage on a Jordanian bus. We are required to have a Jordanian guide, along with Dr. Wright, for all our travels in Jordan. Nasser was a very helpful Muslim guide who makes his home in Amman. He told me that he used to be a computer programmer but when his company wanted him to go to Baghdad and work he asked for an astronomical wage because he felt it was too dangerous. "I have my family who counts on me," he said. At that point he decided to become a tour guide and he has not had a day off since the end of August because this is the high tourist season. It will be like this until early December he told us.
The highlight that day for me was visiting ancient Gadara in the Gilead area (you might want to check one of your Bible maps for these place names). It is a huge site and could possibly be the home of the Gerasene demoniac mentioned in the Gospels. It is recorded that as Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee and came to the east side he encountered this man who was demon possessed and Jesus freed him from this bondage. When he asked to go with Jesus, Jesus encouraged him to go back to his home town and tell them the great things God had done for him. I thought of this as we climbed all over the remains of this city and wondered if this was the exact location. A special lunch was planned for us at the restaurant at the top of the hill and we each had a cheeseburger, fries, fruit and a coke--a real American lunch! The view was fantastic as Gadara is situated on a high hill and overlooks a valley (Wadi). This was the kind of place where you want to come and have a relaxing dinner late in the day with a beautiful view. Such a treat to be there!
We spent the night in Amman--a huge city of 2.6 million people. One of the things we all noticed as we traveled throughout Jordan were the number of pictures of the King of Jordan and his family. Dr. Wright saw for the first time that the King's son is now being included in the photos. He is 16 years old but some day will be King. Our guide told us that all the people love the King and his family and that because they are Sunni Muslims we can feel safe in Jordan. "We are not like the Shites." He said, "You can be out at 2:00 am on the streets in Amman and be safe." We stayed in a lovely hotel called The Geneva and tasted a wonderful buffet dinner.
On Friday we traveled to Iraq Al Amir, which means Fortress of the Prince, and was built by an outlawed Jewish family member during the second century BC. During the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, Hyrcannus Tobiah is the one who built this beautiful building. It is not absolutely for certain but either it is a fortress, a country estate, or some have even said a "pleasure palace." There were caves near the sight that we were able to see. This is located in a valley out of Amman with lots of fig and olive trees plus grape vines. As we looked at a house nearby, Dr. Wright pointed out that it really is a fulfillment of the verse in the Bible that says, "Every man under his own vine and fig tree." We rarely see lawns by houses here but trees and plants grow right up to the front door of many houses. Water is scarce and rain is desperately needed in Jordan as it is in Israel.
One of the largest sites I have ever seen is at Jerash in Jordan. It is filled with temples, theatres and remains of shops, and other signs of a large city that had both Greek and Roman influence.
We were told that each night our accommodations would be less than the night before. It took us almost four hours to reach the modern city of Petra where we spent the night before exploring ancient Petra. If you get a chance, Google Petra, and look at some of the most amazing photographs of this Nabatean city. It has been declared one of the "modern" seven wonders of the world. We walked about two miles to enter the main city and then walked to see the various buildings. One cannot see it in a day because it is so huge so we just scratched the surface. We were inundated with tourists and Bedouins wanting us to ride camels, horses, and buy trinkets. Little children, some as young as four years old were trying to sell us postcards. I thought, "Shouldn't they be in school?" Our guide assured me that education is compuslory in Jordan but it was close to a holiday and besides they only go to school until 1:00 pm. The Bedouins lived among these ruins for years until the Jordanian government built a village for them not far from this site. They moved them off their land so it could be preserved and provided a different location for them. Uhmmm.....does this story sound familiar? The guide told me that the Bedouin are very rich. Interesting!
Two of the gals on our trip returned to the bus very excited. "Guess who we saw?" was their first comment. Amy said she thought she saw the actor Leonardo DiCaprio but wasn't sure so she went up to him and said, "I don't want to be rude or obnoxious but are you Leonardo...?"
He just smiled and his bodyguard smiled and nodded yes and they walked away. That made their day! We all had a good time laughing with them and realized Petra attracts everyone.
Larry and I walked most of the way out of Petra but did have a short ride on a horse part of the way. As I waited for the bus, I felt something in my shoe and when I took it off I poured out quite a bit of sand that had worked its way under my socks from walking in Petra. After doing the laundry today, those socks will never be white again!
After several more stops, we made our way to Kerak to spend the night. Because of the great distances between the sites that Dr. Wright wants us to see, it takes awhile to get there and some of these sites the average tourist does not visit. The "Rest House" we stayed in that night was very interesting. At least the sheets were clean and the bed was comfortable but it was a very dingy place. I finally noticed that women here do not serve as waitresses/servers but men serve in this capacity and in maintaining the hotels. That is not always the case but in the more conservative villages that is true. I began to look for women on the streets as we drove through various towns but rarely saw them. When I did they had children with them or they were in a store and a brother or husband was waiting for them outside. Since Jordan is 94% Muslim and 6% Christian, most all of the women wear the Hajib (scarf) on their heads even if they are dressed western style. Some women were in Burkas (totally covered except for their eyes) but not many. It would appear that women seem to stay at home most of the time but there are always exceptions. It was interesting to see sheep in small fenced enclaves by the road. Our guide said that families purchase a sheep to sacrifice as they begin the Al Haj holiday. It can be very expensive for them--sometimes $250.
We saw lovely huge homes but culturally what is outside the home does not seem to bother them. We had heard that inside the homes are lovely and clean but outside we saw lots of trash on the side of the roads and in general a lot of debris everywhere. As I think of the efforts in America to keep the roadsides clean and the groups that have been formed to pick up trash, etc., I realized that movement has not yet reached many countries in the Middle East. I think there are efforts to build infrastructure to handle all of this but it's a huge educational task.
As we traveled west toward the Jordan River Valley, we were delighted by wonderful views of the Jabbok River and then the Arnon River and to think about how Moses led the children of Israel through this area to the Promised Land. We wrapped up the day standing on Mt. Nebo where Moses was allowed to view the Promised Land but he could not enter. I was surprised at how emotional I felt at this spot as we read the last chapter in Deuteronomy. As I looked across to Israel and north toward Galilee and south toward the Negev, I tried to imagine how Moses must have felt. He had been disobedient to God by dishonoring His name in front of the Israelites over their cries for water and assumed that it was his responsibility to provide it. It was a reminder to me of how God views disobedience and how important it is for religious leaders, and all of us, to be obedient to God and to honor His name. It's a huge responsibility.
The Bible tells us that Moses died on Mt. Nebo, one of God's great servants but one who failed in this area. It was very humbling to be there and to contemplate the significance of this event.
It took us almost two hours to cross from Jordan back into Israel. We were tired but grateful for this wonderful opportunity to have been in Jordan. We crossed this time at the Allenby Bridge crossing (that's the old name) and I noticed the foilage around the Jordan River was very dense and prolific. Lions and other wild animals used to wander through this area. I can see how difficult it would be to flush them out from this thick foilage. When I think of lions I usually think of forests in Africa but they did roam this land at one time.
As I read the OT, I see in my mind's eye these various locations and realize how brave and courageous the Patriarchs were to travel through this "forbidding" land. I feel as though I need more time to process all I am seeing and experiencing and look forward to some quiet snowy days back in Upland when I can contemplate, read and review all that God has been teaching me over these last three months.
We fly out on the evening of December 5th for home and look forward to seeing family and friends. I finished cataloging the Lindsay Collection the day before we left for Jordan. That's a good feeling! Larry only has three more class sessions and during one of those we will be visiting the Temple Mount area. Tomorrow night we will be going with a Rabbi who teaches Rabbinical Thought at JUC to explore the Rabbinical Tunnels under the Western Wall near the Temple Mount area. Still much to see and experience. I will let you know about those experiences next time.
The highlight that day for me was visiting ancient Gadara in the Gilead area (you might want to check one of your Bible maps for these place names). It is a huge site and could possibly be the home of the Gerasene demoniac mentioned in the Gospels. It is recorded that as Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee and came to the east side he encountered this man who was demon possessed and Jesus freed him from this bondage. When he asked to go with Jesus, Jesus encouraged him to go back to his home town and tell them the great things God had done for him. I thought of this as we climbed all over the remains of this city and wondered if this was the exact location. A special lunch was planned for us at the restaurant at the top of the hill and we each had a cheeseburger, fries, fruit and a coke--a real American lunch! The view was fantastic as Gadara is situated on a high hill and overlooks a valley (Wadi). This was the kind of place where you want to come and have a relaxing dinner late in the day with a beautiful view. Such a treat to be there!
We spent the night in Amman--a huge city of 2.6 million people. One of the things we all noticed as we traveled throughout Jordan were the number of pictures of the King of Jordan and his family. Dr. Wright saw for the first time that the King's son is now being included in the photos. He is 16 years old but some day will be King. Our guide told us that all the people love the King and his family and that because they are Sunni Muslims we can feel safe in Jordan. "We are not like the Shites." He said, "You can be out at 2:00 am on the streets in Amman and be safe." We stayed in a lovely hotel called The Geneva and tasted a wonderful buffet dinner.
On Friday we traveled to Iraq Al Amir, which means Fortress of the Prince, and was built by an outlawed Jewish family member during the second century BC. During the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, Hyrcannus Tobiah is the one who built this beautiful building. It is not absolutely for certain but either it is a fortress, a country estate, or some have even said a "pleasure palace." There were caves near the sight that we were able to see. This is located in a valley out of Amman with lots of fig and olive trees plus grape vines. As we looked at a house nearby, Dr. Wright pointed out that it really is a fulfillment of the verse in the Bible that says, "Every man under his own vine and fig tree." We rarely see lawns by houses here but trees and plants grow right up to the front door of many houses. Water is scarce and rain is desperately needed in Jordan as it is in Israel.
One of the largest sites I have ever seen is at Jerash in Jordan. It is filled with temples, theatres and remains of shops, and other signs of a large city that had both Greek and Roman influence.
We were told that each night our accommodations would be less than the night before. It took us almost four hours to reach the modern city of Petra where we spent the night before exploring ancient Petra. If you get a chance, Google Petra, and look at some of the most amazing photographs of this Nabatean city. It has been declared one of the "modern" seven wonders of the world. We walked about two miles to enter the main city and then walked to see the various buildings. One cannot see it in a day because it is so huge so we just scratched the surface. We were inundated with tourists and Bedouins wanting us to ride camels, horses, and buy trinkets. Little children, some as young as four years old were trying to sell us postcards. I thought, "Shouldn't they be in school?" Our guide assured me that education is compuslory in Jordan but it was close to a holiday and besides they only go to school until 1:00 pm. The Bedouins lived among these ruins for years until the Jordanian government built a village for them not far from this site. They moved them off their land so it could be preserved and provided a different location for them. Uhmmm.....does this story sound familiar? The guide told me that the Bedouin are very rich. Interesting!
Two of the gals on our trip returned to the bus very excited. "Guess who we saw?" was their first comment. Amy said she thought she saw the actor Leonardo DiCaprio but wasn't sure so she went up to him and said, "I don't want to be rude or obnoxious but are you Leonardo...?"
He just smiled and his bodyguard smiled and nodded yes and they walked away. That made their day! We all had a good time laughing with them and realized Petra attracts everyone.
Larry and I walked most of the way out of Petra but did have a short ride on a horse part of the way. As I waited for the bus, I felt something in my shoe and when I took it off I poured out quite a bit of sand that had worked its way under my socks from walking in Petra. After doing the laundry today, those socks will never be white again!
After several more stops, we made our way to Kerak to spend the night. Because of the great distances between the sites that Dr. Wright wants us to see, it takes awhile to get there and some of these sites the average tourist does not visit. The "Rest House" we stayed in that night was very interesting. At least the sheets were clean and the bed was comfortable but it was a very dingy place. I finally noticed that women here do not serve as waitresses/servers but men serve in this capacity and in maintaining the hotels. That is not always the case but in the more conservative villages that is true. I began to look for women on the streets as we drove through various towns but rarely saw them. When I did they had children with them or they were in a store and a brother or husband was waiting for them outside. Since Jordan is 94% Muslim and 6% Christian, most all of the women wear the Hajib (scarf) on their heads even if they are dressed western style. Some women were in Burkas (totally covered except for their eyes) but not many. It would appear that women seem to stay at home most of the time but there are always exceptions. It was interesting to see sheep in small fenced enclaves by the road. Our guide said that families purchase a sheep to sacrifice as they begin the Al Haj holiday. It can be very expensive for them--sometimes $250.
We saw lovely huge homes but culturally what is outside the home does not seem to bother them. We had heard that inside the homes are lovely and clean but outside we saw lots of trash on the side of the roads and in general a lot of debris everywhere. As I think of the efforts in America to keep the roadsides clean and the groups that have been formed to pick up trash, etc., I realized that movement has not yet reached many countries in the Middle East. I think there are efforts to build infrastructure to handle all of this but it's a huge educational task.
As we traveled west toward the Jordan River Valley, we were delighted by wonderful views of the Jabbok River and then the Arnon River and to think about how Moses led the children of Israel through this area to the Promised Land. We wrapped up the day standing on Mt. Nebo where Moses was allowed to view the Promised Land but he could not enter. I was surprised at how emotional I felt at this spot as we read the last chapter in Deuteronomy. As I looked across to Israel and north toward Galilee and south toward the Negev, I tried to imagine how Moses must have felt. He had been disobedient to God by dishonoring His name in front of the Israelites over their cries for water and assumed that it was his responsibility to provide it. It was a reminder to me of how God views disobedience and how important it is for religious leaders, and all of us, to be obedient to God and to honor His name. It's a huge responsibility.
The Bible tells us that Moses died on Mt. Nebo, one of God's great servants but one who failed in this area. It was very humbling to be there and to contemplate the significance of this event.
It took us almost two hours to cross from Jordan back into Israel. We were tired but grateful for this wonderful opportunity to have been in Jordan. We crossed this time at the Allenby Bridge crossing (that's the old name) and I noticed the foilage around the Jordan River was very dense and prolific. Lions and other wild animals used to wander through this area. I can see how difficult it would be to flush them out from this thick foilage. When I think of lions I usually think of forests in Africa but they did roam this land at one time.
As I read the OT, I see in my mind's eye these various locations and realize how brave and courageous the Patriarchs were to travel through this "forbidding" land. I feel as though I need more time to process all I am seeing and experiencing and look forward to some quiet snowy days back in Upland when I can contemplate, read and review all that God has been teaching me over these last three months.
We fly out on the evening of December 5th for home and look forward to seeing family and friends. I finished cataloging the Lindsay Collection the day before we left for Jordan. That's a good feeling! Larry only has three more class sessions and during one of those we will be visiting the Temple Mount area. Tomorrow night we will be going with a Rabbi who teaches Rabbinical Thought at JUC to explore the Rabbinical Tunnels under the Western Wall near the Temple Mount area. Still much to see and experience. I will let you know about those experiences next time.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Life in Israel--November is Here!
Life in Israel continues to be interesting and full of opportunities. I have met a woman who owns the local pharmacy near Jaffa Gate. She was born in Nazareth, grew up in Brazil and lived in Southern California for years. Now she is back in Israel. She is always so helpful to me. This is one of the highlights for me--meeting the people who live in the land.
My artist friend, Annie, and I met for coffee last week but she could not come to our Shabbat dinner because she became ill. She is now trying to decide whether she wants to move to Belgium or Japan. She's very much into the environment and wants to look out on green spaces not tall buildings.
We hosted a former Taylor student and her boyfriend for Shabbat dinner at JUC on Friday. Allison Barlow graduated from TU in 2009 and teaches at the Anglican School here in Jerusalem. She loves living here. It has been good to get acquainted with her. We worship together at Christ's Church in the Old City. By the way, a choir from Tanzania was at church on Sunday and we heard the most beautiful music filling this Victorian styled neo-gothic church. They were dressed in choir robes and sang with such gusto. The messages on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem in Luke's Gospel have been very meaningful to me.
Larry was surprised on Friday night when the JUC cooks brought out a lovely huge chocolate birthday cake for him at the end of our Shabbat meal. The students loved it. They had made a huge birthday card for Larry with photos of him from some of our Field Studies on the front and
each one signed a note. They are a great group! On Saturday, Larry's birthday--yes, another year older, we wandered through the Old City and revisited David's Tomb, the Upper Room, and the Dormition Abbey. What a beautiful church with some gold mosaics. It's so intriguing to have all of these sites within walking distance and to observe tourists (pilgrims?) from all over the world coming to visit. Jerusalem truly is a crossroads. That evening we celebrated Larry's birthday with a dinner at The Grotto in Bethlehem right next to one of the three "Shepherd's Fields." The Wrights joined us for a good evening of conversation and great food--Lamb, Chicken and Beef shishkabob and all these little salads. I told Larry he will never forget celebrating his birthday in Bethlehem. The economy there is beginning to turn around as evidenced by more businesses and more tourists.
Last Thursday a Westmont college student and I spent our afternoon baking two Pumpkin Rolls for our Ladies Tea on Saturday afternoon. Other staff members made other "goodies." I shared briefly at the Tea on "Seven Tips/Lessons I Wish I Had Known as a JUC Student." I tried to give them some tips I had learned over the years that would have helped if I had known them sooner but that is life. You have to live it to learn some important lessons. I just wanted to give them a head start. The gals are great and were so generous in their feedback.
I'm wrapping up my project of cataloging the Lindsay Collection and should be finished by next week--after our trip to Jordan. We catch the bus at 6:00 am in the morning and we will have long days in Jordan. I'm particularly excited about seeing Petra.
I finished a book by Peter Hellman titled Avenue of the Righteous. Hellman selected four people from many who have been honored at Yad Vashem for their hiding Jews during WWII. The stories were amazing and how they survived. They are also referred to as "Righteous Gentiles"
by some. Hellman personally interviewed these families and recorded all they had gone through. Their commitment to those they hid, inspite of danger, is an example to all of us. He has written more in this area but this was the first of his books I have read.
Students here are wrapping up papers and projects as there are only two weeks of classes left and then finals week. Amidst all of this our dinner cook formed a class to teach whoever wanted to learn how to crochet a hat. I'm trying to tackle this and thought it would be good to crochet on the flight home--if I cannot sleep on the plane. We will be on the plane all night. Ugh! I'm trying to be positive and think in terms of all the good reading I can get done, etc.
Till next time. Jordan here we come!
My artist friend, Annie, and I met for coffee last week but she could not come to our Shabbat dinner because she became ill. She is now trying to decide whether she wants to move to Belgium or Japan. She's very much into the environment and wants to look out on green spaces not tall buildings.
We hosted a former Taylor student and her boyfriend for Shabbat dinner at JUC on Friday. Allison Barlow graduated from TU in 2009 and teaches at the Anglican School here in Jerusalem. She loves living here. It has been good to get acquainted with her. We worship together at Christ's Church in the Old City. By the way, a choir from Tanzania was at church on Sunday and we heard the most beautiful music filling this Victorian styled neo-gothic church. They were dressed in choir robes and sang with such gusto. The messages on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem in Luke's Gospel have been very meaningful to me.
Larry was surprised on Friday night when the JUC cooks brought out a lovely huge chocolate birthday cake for him at the end of our Shabbat meal. The students loved it. They had made a huge birthday card for Larry with photos of him from some of our Field Studies on the front and
each one signed a note. They are a great group! On Saturday, Larry's birthday--yes, another year older, we wandered through the Old City and revisited David's Tomb, the Upper Room, and the Dormition Abbey. What a beautiful church with some gold mosaics. It's so intriguing to have all of these sites within walking distance and to observe tourists (pilgrims?) from all over the world coming to visit. Jerusalem truly is a crossroads. That evening we celebrated Larry's birthday with a dinner at The Grotto in Bethlehem right next to one of the three "Shepherd's Fields." The Wrights joined us for a good evening of conversation and great food--Lamb, Chicken and Beef shishkabob and all these little salads. I told Larry he will never forget celebrating his birthday in Bethlehem. The economy there is beginning to turn around as evidenced by more businesses and more tourists.
Last Thursday a Westmont college student and I spent our afternoon baking two Pumpkin Rolls for our Ladies Tea on Saturday afternoon. Other staff members made other "goodies." I shared briefly at the Tea on "Seven Tips/Lessons I Wish I Had Known as a JUC Student." I tried to give them some tips I had learned over the years that would have helped if I had known them sooner but that is life. You have to live it to learn some important lessons. I just wanted to give them a head start. The gals are great and were so generous in their feedback.
I'm wrapping up my project of cataloging the Lindsay Collection and should be finished by next week--after our trip to Jordan. We catch the bus at 6:00 am in the morning and we will have long days in Jordan. I'm particularly excited about seeing Petra.
I finished a book by Peter Hellman titled Avenue of the Righteous. Hellman selected four people from many who have been honored at Yad Vashem for their hiding Jews during WWII. The stories were amazing and how they survived. They are also referred to as "Righteous Gentiles"
by some. Hellman personally interviewed these families and recorded all they had gone through. Their commitment to those they hid, inspite of danger, is an example to all of us. He has written more in this area but this was the first of his books I have read.
Students here are wrapping up papers and projects as there are only two weeks of classes left and then finals week. Amidst all of this our dinner cook formed a class to teach whoever wanted to learn how to crochet a hat. I'm trying to tackle this and thought it would be good to crochet on the flight home--if I cannot sleep on the plane. We will be on the plane all night. Ugh! I'm trying to be positive and think in terms of all the good reading I can get done, etc.
Till next time. Jordan here we come!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Visit to Ramallah and More Info About Galilee Trip
What a day we have had! My class, Palestinian Society and Politics, visited Ramallah with Professor Bernard Sabella. We were treated like VIP's. Ramallah is the current headquarters for the Palestinian National Authority. We were able to meet with Dr. Sabella's daughter who works for Al Haq, a non-profit human rights group monitoring human rights violations in Gaza, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The very dedicated staff explained their mission to us and gave examples of how they document violations and how they distribute the information. From there we visited the Holy Family Catholic Church and met with the priest who treated us to Arab coffee and cookies while explaining some of the issues his parishoners encounter. From there we visited the PNA Headquarters and met with four of the Parliament members and we were allowed to ask questions and hear their reasons for why they feel the recent peace talks have not succeeded. The facilities there are very new with a lot of security. It was fascinating to hear from these individuals including a woman who works in the areas of education and promoting awareness of women's issues. We were taken to several different locations and found Ramallah to be a thriving city--congested and under a great deal of construction. I remember being here in 1968-69 and there is little that resembles that small town then.
Dr. Sabella wanted us to visit Yasser Arafat's memorial so that was the next stop on our tour.
The Japanese government funded the construction of the memorial that overlooks a reflecting pool and military guards surround the tomb. A wreath was provided to the class to place by the tomb. I must admit I had mixed feelings about this aspect of the trip. Arafat is considered to be the "father" of the Palestinians. Again, I was impressed with the personnel they had at each site and the Director of Protocol who was with us the whole time. They dress in suits and ties and maintain a professional attitude in all they do. We were just a group of students dressed very casually but we were made to feel very welcome. We then proceeded to the office of the Negotiations Unit who provide information and position papers for the Palestinian peace negotiators. They gave us a power point presentation while we drank delicious sweet tea and they reviewed all their points justifying the Palestinian cause and the issues they confront with the Israelis. These two sides are still very far apart and in a conversation with one of the staff I was told one of the greatest obstacles is the lack of respect shown to the Palestinians by the Israelis at checkpoints, by the military, and some of their leaders. I personally feel that it is difficult for the Palestinians to grasp how concerned Israelis are about their personal safety in light of their history. It's certainly a dilemmna that should call all of us to prayer for both the Israelis and the Palestinians. So much good could be accomplished in this land that would benefit everyone. May God grant wisdom, integrity and justice to all those who make day-to-day decisions for both peoples. I really felt privileged to have the opportunity to hear the longings and desires of the Palestinians while also trying to understand the importance the Israelis attach to their security after surviving the Holocaust and believing there are leaders and nations who threaten them and want to see them destroyed. We ended our day with a wonderful Arab meal in a restaurant in Ramallah featuring barbequed kitchen Middle Eastern style. Very tasty.
November is upon us with a rush of activities. Sunday night at JUC's Fall party we were judges for the costume contest. The students were really creative and it was fun to see what they put together. The "party" included a walk through the Protestant Cemetery right behind the school where famous archaeologists are buried along with many British soldiers, and the school's founders, Dr. and Mrs. G. Douglas Young--president when we were students here. With flashlights in hand we maneuvered our way to various areas while listening to Dr. Wright's many stories about those who are buried here.
Monday we toured the Israel Museum and the 2nd Temple model of Jerusalem with a Rabbi who teaches here at JUC. The Israel Museum is very modern and recently renovated with great displays. The temple model is amazing and gives one a great perspective for the size of Jerusalem during the time when Jesus would have visited the Temple. I'm sure you can find some photos of this on the Web.
As a follow up to our Galilee trip, I just wanted to mention a few things that I thought were humorous, at least to me. While we stayed at Kibbutz Ein Gev they provided delicious meals for us. The first night Larry and I had wonderful roast beef in a great sauce, at least we thought it was roast beef. The next morning the students told us that we had eaten "tongue." I was surprised, needless to say, but have to admit it was very tasty. Chalk up another "interesting" experience. My other funny experience has been with the W.C.'s in Israel. In other words--the Water Closet. When we were at Capernaum I had to pay two shekels to use the WC and when I went inside I thought it was a little messy but knew they had over 1,000 tourists that day so wasn't surprised. What did surpise me, however, occurred when I was just getting ready to leave the stall and the door flew open and here was the man who took my two shekels with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth asking to add more paper to each stall. Not even a knock on the door! When I visited the Israel Museum which had very modern and nice facilities I came out of the stall and almost bumped into a young man mopping the floor in the ladies WC. Everything is so laid back here that it takes a little getting used to, but I'm learning to go with the flow and feel that's all part of the experience! C'est la vie!
I finally had tea and croissants with my artist friend, Annie. Her photo taken in September is posted on my blog. She still plans to leave Israel and cannot decide between Belgium and Japan. She is coming to have Shabbat dinner with us this week and we look forward to hosting her.
We leave for Jordan next Thursday and will be gone for four days--our last field study trip. This Saturday JUC is hosting a tea for our women students and I will be sharing "Seven Tips I Wish I Had Known When I Was A JUC Student." Several of us are preparing food and I will be baking a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll. Dianne Wright's kitchen is great for cooking for large groups. The weather now feels like an Indiana fall to me and it's getting cooler but still in the low 70's. We miss our kids and grandkids and enjoyed Skyping with them over the weekend.
I want to wrap up this segment of my blog by sharing with you an experience I had last week that reminded me again of how much God cares about us even in the little things in life. Last Wed. morning as I went to insert my right contact lens I discovered it was not in my case. The left one was there but not the right one. I was shocked and wondered what did I do? After our return from Galilee, I was so tired that I thought I must have dropped it without realizing it. Needless to say, I searched several restrooms to see if I had dropped it in one of them. No contact lens. I even found out which eye doctor I would go to about a replacement and wore my glasses all day. About 5:30 pm when it was dark I went back into the restroom and a glint caught my eye. There on the counter was my contact lens! All I could say was Thank You, Lord. How it got there I do not know. The cleaning lady had cleaned the counters that day, I had been in and out and never saw it but I did that evening. God was merciful to me in my tiredness and sloppiness. Isn't it great that nothing escapes God's attention. As a tender-loving Father he takes care of all our needs. I am so grateful!
Dr. Sabella wanted us to visit Yasser Arafat's memorial so that was the next stop on our tour.
The Japanese government funded the construction of the memorial that overlooks a reflecting pool and military guards surround the tomb. A wreath was provided to the class to place by the tomb. I must admit I had mixed feelings about this aspect of the trip. Arafat is considered to be the "father" of the Palestinians. Again, I was impressed with the personnel they had at each site and the Director of Protocol who was with us the whole time. They dress in suits and ties and maintain a professional attitude in all they do. We were just a group of students dressed very casually but we were made to feel very welcome. We then proceeded to the office of the Negotiations Unit who provide information and position papers for the Palestinian peace negotiators. They gave us a power point presentation while we drank delicious sweet tea and they reviewed all their points justifying the Palestinian cause and the issues they confront with the Israelis. These two sides are still very far apart and in a conversation with one of the staff I was told one of the greatest obstacles is the lack of respect shown to the Palestinians by the Israelis at checkpoints, by the military, and some of their leaders. I personally feel that it is difficult for the Palestinians to grasp how concerned Israelis are about their personal safety in light of their history. It's certainly a dilemmna that should call all of us to prayer for both the Israelis and the Palestinians. So much good could be accomplished in this land that would benefit everyone. May God grant wisdom, integrity and justice to all those who make day-to-day decisions for both peoples. I really felt privileged to have the opportunity to hear the longings and desires of the Palestinians while also trying to understand the importance the Israelis attach to their security after surviving the Holocaust and believing there are leaders and nations who threaten them and want to see them destroyed. We ended our day with a wonderful Arab meal in a restaurant in Ramallah featuring barbequed kitchen Middle Eastern style. Very tasty.
November is upon us with a rush of activities. Sunday night at JUC's Fall party we were judges for the costume contest. The students were really creative and it was fun to see what they put together. The "party" included a walk through the Protestant Cemetery right behind the school where famous archaeologists are buried along with many British soldiers, and the school's founders, Dr. and Mrs. G. Douglas Young--president when we were students here. With flashlights in hand we maneuvered our way to various areas while listening to Dr. Wright's many stories about those who are buried here.
Monday we toured the Israel Museum and the 2nd Temple model of Jerusalem with a Rabbi who teaches here at JUC. The Israel Museum is very modern and recently renovated with great displays. The temple model is amazing and gives one a great perspective for the size of Jerusalem during the time when Jesus would have visited the Temple. I'm sure you can find some photos of this on the Web.
As a follow up to our Galilee trip, I just wanted to mention a few things that I thought were humorous, at least to me. While we stayed at Kibbutz Ein Gev they provided delicious meals for us. The first night Larry and I had wonderful roast beef in a great sauce, at least we thought it was roast beef. The next morning the students told us that we had eaten "tongue." I was surprised, needless to say, but have to admit it was very tasty. Chalk up another "interesting" experience. My other funny experience has been with the W.C.'s in Israel. In other words--the Water Closet. When we were at Capernaum I had to pay two shekels to use the WC and when I went inside I thought it was a little messy but knew they had over 1,000 tourists that day so wasn't surprised. What did surpise me, however, occurred when I was just getting ready to leave the stall and the door flew open and here was the man who took my two shekels with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth asking to add more paper to each stall. Not even a knock on the door! When I visited the Israel Museum which had very modern and nice facilities I came out of the stall and almost bumped into a young man mopping the floor in the ladies WC. Everything is so laid back here that it takes a little getting used to, but I'm learning to go with the flow and feel that's all part of the experience! C'est la vie!
I finally had tea and croissants with my artist friend, Annie. Her photo taken in September is posted on my blog. She still plans to leave Israel and cannot decide between Belgium and Japan. She is coming to have Shabbat dinner with us this week and we look forward to hosting her.
We leave for Jordan next Thursday and will be gone for four days--our last field study trip. This Saturday JUC is hosting a tea for our women students and I will be sharing "Seven Tips I Wish I Had Known When I Was A JUC Student." Several of us are preparing food and I will be baking a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll. Dianne Wright's kitchen is great for cooking for large groups. The weather now feels like an Indiana fall to me and it's getting cooler but still in the low 70's. We miss our kids and grandkids and enjoyed Skyping with them over the weekend.
I want to wrap up this segment of my blog by sharing with you an experience I had last week that reminded me again of how much God cares about us even in the little things in life. Last Wed. morning as I went to insert my right contact lens I discovered it was not in my case. The left one was there but not the right one. I was shocked and wondered what did I do? After our return from Galilee, I was so tired that I thought I must have dropped it without realizing it. Needless to say, I searched several restrooms to see if I had dropped it in one of them. No contact lens. I even found out which eye doctor I would go to about a replacement and wore my glasses all day. About 5:30 pm when it was dark I went back into the restroom and a glint caught my eye. There on the counter was my contact lens! All I could say was Thank You, Lord. How it got there I do not know. The cleaning lady had cleaned the counters that day, I had been in and out and never saw it but I did that evening. God was merciful to me in my tiredness and sloppiness. Isn't it great that nothing escapes God's attention. As a tender-loving Father he takes care of all our needs. I am so grateful!
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