This is the excavation going on at the base of the Temple Mound that's been causing so much controversy over here. Basically, whoever can claim rights to the base of the area, it's feared they can claim the whole thing. Muslims of course do not want this, and I could be wrong, but I think Israel isn't supposed to be doing archaeological digs as there might have been an agreement that Jews get the Western Wall and Plaza while the Muslims get the top part, obviously the Dome of the Rock. I'm not sure.
In light of the last thought, this is the menorah made from solid gold for use in the third temple. This requires a lot of faith and anticipation that the Dome of the Rock will no longer exist and Israel will built a third temple. Pretty fascinating. Apparently there are groups making a lot more instruments for use in the Third Temple.
Sign entering Jerusalem.
Well, I couldn't get this silly program to upload any more, so hopefully this link will work:
http://biola.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022410&l=646e7&id=68600129
I think you'll have to copy and paste it.
Asfa (sorry).
Today we went to the Begin Center, named after Menachem Begin, leader of the Zionist movement before the state was declared and sixth Prime Minister. He was also a leader in the settlement movement, where Israeli fortress looking towns are being built in the occupied territories, against international law. We also heard from one of the current leaders as well, which was interesting. You have to believe pretty strongly in what you're doing to be a part of this movement, which unfortunately leads to most of them being pretty forceful and arrogant sounding.
Let's see what else have I done... Friday night was the beginning of Shabbat for Judaism, like Sunday for us, and I hung out around the Western Wall for about three hours, starting a little before sunset and then after, watching what was going on. The place has such energy, and it was fascinating to watch people with such different beliefs than what I've grown up with, similar to the feelings I had when first encountering so many Muslims. I honestly just sat and gawked at the families arriving to pray at the wall... They seem so foreign looking to me, and then I come back to the Arab quarter I'm staying in and I feel so much more comfortable. I met a Jewish family from Arizona here yesterday and mentioned I was studying in Cairo. "Really? You feel safe there?" the dad asked. I told him I actually felt a lot less safe here in Israel than in Cairo. I think I'll face this alot going back home, which will be hard to try to explain. Sigh, I wish Americans were more educated (I readily put myself in this category as well).
Hmmm, what else? I had dinner two nights ago at a Palestinian restaurant that I just loved. There was a guy playing a big tear shaped looking guitar thing (don't know the name for it), and about 10 other Palestinians there. Some of the women started dancing, which my friend Jamie and I quickly joined in. We were served Arabic coffee free of charge after that. They were such nice people. And the hummus was excellent!
Our speakers here have generally been really great, including Haim Watzman (wrote Company C) who was in the Israeli army for 17 years, a rabbi from Rabbis for Human Rights, a Jewish man that talked about streams of current Judaism, and others. Great stuff to listen to.
Yesterday we went to Bethlehem in the West Bank, which is just a hill over from Jerusalem. We met with the President of the Bethlehem Bible College, which is doing great stuff. We went to Shepherd's Field (the Catholic one, there are 4 from different denominations) where the angels were supposed to freak the shepherds out. Our group really likes to sing, and so we sang the doxology and quite a few Christmas carols (think of all the ones relating to angels heralding and Bethlehem). We also went to the church of the Holy Nativity where we saw the "spot" that Jesus was born and the manger he was laid in. I'm a skeptic, so I don't believe that was the exact spot, but it was neat to be in at least the same city.
I don't know how much I want to write right now about my thoughts on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict as I had a conversation with someone very close to me that obviously showed that most people will not be approaching the situation the way I am, so I'd like to get more facts and opinions before I start spouting things off. Let's just say that it was difficult to be in the West Bank and not feel oppressed. I saw the settlements on the hills and felt like
my personal rights were being violated. I get angry listening to the President of the Bible College tell me he is an American citizen with an American passport, and the army will not let him through the Wall to Jerusalem. My heart hurts when I see fully dressed Israeli police walking arrogantly down the crowded streets of the Arab quarter. My head pounds when I listen to Jewish men talk about their God given right to dominate all of this land. When they talk about the "poor" settlers of Gaza who were removed last year after living there for "at least 30 years," I want to scream for the violation of those exact rights for Palestinians who have been living here for tens of generations. I am overwhelmed by how complicated and historically deep this conflict is, aware that I'll never be able to understand it all or have even half the facts. I'm sitting here writing this with a Palestinian freedom scarf wrapped around my neck, knowing full well I would never wear this out on the streets, even in the Arab quarter. I'm a foreigner here, trying to make out complexities way beyond myself, doing silly tourist things that people around the world flock to do. I don't even speak Arabic! I don't want to try and be someone I'm not, to over-identify. And yet I cannot help but feel for the people here, the second class citizens in a land ruled by a religion rooted in the Torah that demands equal treatment for aliens in the land.
Do unto others as you would have done unto yourselves, Israel.
