November 13, 2015- Cruise 2015
- Jae Wiens
- Jun 29, 2021
- 9 min read
Well, it has been an extraordinary day here on my Mediterranean adventure. Today I traveled to Jerusalem. And now, we are gradually sailing our way north again as we leave the Holy Land!
This morning I was called to the excursion ticket office. Once again, I was told that my planned excursion had to be cancelled due to conflict in the areas where I was hoping to visit. The sweet Lady who told me, cringed as she did, knowing that this was the second time in as many days that my tours were cancelled.
I had planned on going to Bethlehem and to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end) of Jesus’ life. Very disappointing, but it just wasn‘t meant to be! Based on the second option of my previous day’s trip to the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding area, and how fabulous that went, I was willing to make another adjustment.
The options though were fairly limited this late, so I chose to visit Yad Vashem, which is the History of the Holocaust and the Children’s Memorial museums. As well, there would be a stop to the University of Jerusalem’s campus to visit the Israel Museum and the Shroud of the Book, which holds the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then there would be lunch at a kibbutz, and a visit to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Since it is Friday and Friday evenings mark the beginning of Sabbath for Jewish people, we would finish out the day with a visit to the Wailing or Western Wall.
I was interested to take in the Jewish perspective of these monuments and sacred places while I was here. In fact, I would be curious to get the perspective of each of the other main religions here - Muslim and Christian. I imagine there are more similarities than differences.
Yad Vashem with the History of the Holocaust Museum and the Children’s Memorial were really intriguing, and an hour and a half was not enough time to take it all in. What I did see on my rush through was perplexing, startling, and so astounding.
The History of the Holocaust Museum as expected, was a somber account of the horrors inflicted on Jews before and during the second World War. It detailed the suffering, as well as the incredible courage, of those who were killed or witnessed their loved ones' murders throughout this time.
The museum was set up to showcase the years leading up to and through the war. Each year was placed in a separate room linked by a narrow corridor, so that each room was contained. With all the tourists in this place going through together, the rooms became small quite fast. It really added to one’s heightened sense of awareness about the information being presented.
The gradual decline of the Jewish people’s freedoms and the systematic increase of power and evil by the Nazis, really made me think in terms of our present day leaders. How vigilant we still need to be even now to protect our freedoms, especially for those who are being persecuted based on perceived “differences”.
This situation could just as easily happen in our present day if we don’t stand up to hate, if we are indifferent to the plight of others, or if we accept without question and are apathetic to the agendas of those in authority.
JANUSZ KORCZAK CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL AT YAD VASHEM
JANUSZ WAS A HERO WHO ACCOMPANIED 200 ORPHANS TO THE GAS CHAMBER IN TREBLINKA
My next stop at this museum was the Children’s Memorial. This was the most difficult part of the museum to go through!
Upon entry, I found myself in the dark and it took my eyes a while to adjust to the flickers of candles. It was actually five candles burning in front of many mirrors at varying angles. As my eyesight took this in, then I became accustomed to my hearing, and listened. A speaker was announcing the name of a child, his or her age, and the gas chamber where this child was killed. The name may or may not be accompanied by a photo.
It is said that the list of names being read out, for 1.5 million children and young people, continues for about 3 months - without stopping. This is how many children, they know of, who were murdered by the Nazis.
The next stop on this tour was to the University of Jerusalem campus, where the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book were located.
In the Israel Museum was a model of Jerusalem, which was so intricate and detailed. This miniature of Jerusalem depicts the city in its Second Temple period.
At this time, Jerusalem was at its peak before the Great Revolt against the Romans in 66 A.D. During this battle, the Temple and the Old City were destroyed. The Old City of today is about 450 acres less than the city pre-dating this devastation.
This model was built by Professor Avi-Yonah, and dedicated in 1966, 1900 years after the Great Revolt.
Our tour guide must have lost track of time or something, because we only had about 10 minutes to visit the Shrine of the Book to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. And, wouldn’t you know it, but there was no way to even take photos.
I would have loved to get a deeper sense of the messages the writers were wishing to convey, since the small portion of what I read left me wanting to read even more. What I did see of these ancient writings was very thought provoking!
The Dead Sea Scrolls, also called the Qumran Cave Scrolls, are Hebrew or Jewish manuscripts written on paper, papyrus and also copper. They are religious documents dating back to around the 11th century B.C.
In 1946 and 1947, these documents were found by three Bedouin shepherds, who were throwing stones into a cave and heard the sound of breaking pottery. They explored and discovered these ancient writings rolled up inside jars hidden in the cave.
Some of the writings, which these shepherds removed, were passed around, sold, and eventually the caves were found again by archeologists. Since then, many more documents or fragments were discovered. Archeologists continue to find more even to this day!
After lunch at a kibbutz on the outskirts of Jerusalem, we headed to the Old City. We stopped first at a lookout point and were able to get a panoramic view of this ancient city.
From this viewpoint, I tried to imagine the periods of history that I knew of, and those which stood out for me. From the ancient Caanites and Egyptians, the biblical days of Joshua, David, Solomon and onwards, the time of Alexander the Great, the occupation of Rome, the time of Jesus and the first church, the early Muslim period, the Crusades, the Ottoman period...there are so many eras of prominent history that have shaped this magnificent Holy City to what it is today.
Jerusalem is one of the oldest, as well as one of the most historical and religious cities in the world. Some sources place its history as starting in the Bronze Age (3000 - 2800 B.C.).
One day is definitely not enough time to experience this ancient landmark. I am just so captivated by this city. It is such a remarkable place to explore with its rich history, diverse faiths and beliefs, and resilient people.
(In doing research on this city from Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, and www.history.com, there is so much information on this amazing city, that it was difficult to narrow it down.)
That being said, according to Wikipedia, “Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 times”.
The name of Jerusalem had similar meanings from various ages, tribes, faiths. These include:
In Ancient Egypt, writings from the 19th century B.C., the name Urušalim is mentioned.
In Arabic, Jerusalem is called Baital Muqqadas or al-Quds, and means “The Holy Sanctuary” or “The Holy”.
In Greek, the city was called Hierosolyma. Hieròs in Greek means “holy”.
In Hebrew, Jerusalem is translated from Yerushalem or Yerushalayim. According to Wikipedia, this name is “a combination of two names united by God, “Yireh” (Abiding Place…) and “Shalem” (Place of Peace…).
It is sadly ironic that this great city seems to have seen anything but peace over its long history, with its many battles for control, recurring conflicts and changing hands of power.
And still to this day it stands as a reverential beacon for so many, including me.
Leaving this panoramic lookout, our bus headed down into the valley and back up again to drop us off at the Zion Gate of the Old City. There was a sense of awe and wonder about being here. How many people through the ages felt the same as me in walking through this or the other gates?
I felt like I had “arrived” to a place that would cause my life to change forever. I had this sense like a kid in a candy store seeing this historical fortress come to life before my eyes. Such elation!
My tour’s guide disappeared soon after entering the gates but I wasn’t about to rush, wanting to take it all in. I lingered here and there, taking photos but trying not to be intrusive with the local inhabitants, as they made their way to the Wailing or Western Wall on the eve of their Sabbath. I knew I wouldn’t get too lost as long as I followed the crowds making their pilgrimage to this sacred site.
At one point though, I did panic for a little while when I found myself alone on a narrow street. There was absolutely no one around in either direction. In no time at all, this panic turned to excitement. I stopped and thought about all the history that had taken place here.
How Jesus may have walked the same streets I was on now! How those throughout the ages probably never could have imagined that one day a lost tourist would stop to remember the steps they may have taken!
I found an older couple from my same tour wandering in the direction we needed to go, and eventually we made our way to the spot overlooking the Western or Wailing Wall.
Across the way, the Haram esh-Sharif or Temple Mount, with the Dome of the Rock, (known as Kippat ha-Sela in Hebrew, and Qubbat aṣ-Ṣakhra in Islam), stands overlooking the Wailing or Western Wall. The Al-Aqsa Mosque lies beside it in this compound.
The Dome of the Rock, and the Western or Wailing Wall, are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
These sacred sites are venerated by Christians, Jews, and Muslims, for different but similar reasons. As a result, it is a highly sensitive area for each of these great faiths.
I was trying to be so poised and sophisticated, but deep down I was doing the craziest, happy dance! To know that this place brings together so many people of different faiths makes this holy location even more beautiful! Truly, what a gift of the ages!
Before the sun set, I headed down to the Dung Gate where a major security checkpoint awaited every person heading to the Wailing or Western Wall Plaza. After a few minutes of thorough screening - bag x-rayed, body pat down, and a body scan x-ray - I was released and radiated, making my way out to the square. I could only take photos up to a certain point in this plaza in order to provide respect to those in prayer, and for the area itself.
In Jewish tradition, I learned, the women and the men are separated in prayer. At the wall, they are also separated but there is no division, if that makes sense!?! Although they can’t pray together, they are united in their common beliefs and reverence.
I too joined in, with the permission of my tour’s guide, and wrote a couple of prayers on small pieces of paper before finding openings in the wall to place them for safe keeping. Such gratitude in these prayers for the safe journey I have been on throughout this trip and through life, and gratitude for what life may bring going forward.
In no time at all, the wailing and anguish of worshippers turned to dancing and celebration. It was like someone had flipped a switch and the mood changed to one of jubilation and elation. It seemed like life had come full circle.
Soon enough, my tour group was rounded up and we made our way towards the bus stop, where we waited by the city gates for our bus to make its way through the dense traffic surrounding this site.
At this time as well, the call to prayer for Muslims went out from the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It was so powerful to hear these prayers ring out over the Kidron Valley. It seemed to extend to each minaret along this valley, echoing off of one to call the next to prayer. Soul-stirring and haunting!
And it seemed that as soon as this call to prayer was complete, then the bells of the Christian churches began to ring, reaching out across the valley to call their own worshippers.
I was really impressed by the respect these faiths showed one another, each of them giving the other their time for acknowledgment. There was no overlap or interruption during the time for worship or in each of their calls to prayer. A peaceful recognition and awareness!
Finally our bus made it to our stop with cheers from our group. And sadly, but with exhausted smiles on our faces, we made the 90 minute trip back to Ashdod and to our ship.
Jerusalem certainly has left an indelible impression on me and without a doubt, I need to return at some point again. So grateful to have been able to see as much as I have today. So much more to explore! What an absolutely astounding day, which I will remember for so long to come!
Heading to bed soon after this event-filled day! I will write to you again as soon as I can. Please be well in the meantime!
Love, Jae
P.S. As a side note, I would like to give a big thank you to www.britannia.com, www.history.ca, and Wikipedia for their historical and invaluable information, which helped me to answer many questions on these areas I have visited!
AL-AQSA MOSQUE AND THE DOME OF THE ROCK ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT OVERLOOKING THE WAILING OR WESTERN WALL PLAZA
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