In the old city

June 8, Day 5, Friday: On this day after breakfast, we headed to tour the Old City. The views from the bus window were amazing because of the historical significance of the buildings and the mix of old and new. The pictures attached show the diversity of cultures and aging. We started at the Davidson Center, which is accessible and outside of the South gate of the old city. We had a delicious picnic lunch outside under a tree then toured and heard lectures by our intrepid and extremely knowledgeable guide, Elat about the history of the building of the Second Temple as well as the Muslim buildings. We saw the

Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is built on top of the Temple Mount.  

The city is an intriguing blend of Jewish and Arabic peoples and religions and through this trip I can also see how ambiguous the boundaries are.  The lectures were fabulous as we learned about the Old City and tried to visualize what was here before the Romans destroyed the Temple. We got to pray and leave messages at the Kotel, Western "wailing" Wall. The women's side divided by a partition from the men's side is one third in width. I stood next to a woman who was literally sobbing with her arms on the wall. Nikki gave us some more background about the Wall and a ramp that was under construction and being blocked politically by Muslims. The ramp would take Jews to the top of the Temple Mount, but they said that it would soften the structure underneath. I am not really clear about what they mean, but it just typifies the challenges of a city that is so sacred to major faiths. 

After the Kotel, we prepared for a Kaballat Shabbat at the Hotel, then a Shabbat dinner and went to bed.  

June 9, Day 6, Saturday, Shabbat, rest, havdalah service at 2015 at the grand court hotel (free wifi!), shopping & downtown Jerusalem. Bought jewelry on Ben Yehuda street and around there and ate dinner.Pita is really handy for a walk-around food and it is the local fast food. So many orthodox families, as well as lots of Taglit young people. Buzzing of English & Hebrew everywhere. We were there until midnight and closed the place down.  More pictures from there forthcoming.