{"id":374,"date":"2015-09-28T14:05:07","date_gmt":"2015-09-28T19:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/?p=374"},"modified":"2015-09-28T15:34:52","modified_gmt":"2015-09-28T20:34:52","slug":"jerusalem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/?p=374","title":{"rendered":"Jerusalem"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, after a pretty rough night’s sleep, we set off into Jerusalem for a day of touring. \u00a0We decided to start at the Via Delarosa… the commemorated walk that Jesus made from Judgement through 14 stages to the cross.<\/p>\n

\"092815WayOfCross\"<\/a>
Some people walking Via Delarosa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today is the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a big deal to the Jewish people & makes things a lot hectic in the city. \u00a0We decided not to even try to go near the Western Wall… it was JAMMED.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"092815DomeAndWall\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We set out to find that there are many streets that are guarded by police and they won’t let anyone through. \u00a0There are gates only Arabs can go through and the city streets are more like tunnels than actual streets. \u00a0It is very easy to get turned around, especially when your way is blocked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"092815Narrowstreets\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"092815JerusalemStreets\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A boy asked us where we wanted to go, led us for a way, then told us to go up and right and we would be there. \u00a0He demanded money, Saying this was his ‘business’. \u00a0Chris gave him the equivalent of $1.25 or so & he fussed at him that it wasn’t enough. \u00a0We walked away. \u00a0Then we realized we were horribly lost inside the maze of the Muslim Quarter. \u00a0Thankfully, a nice man helped us and walked with us all the way to the beginning of the walk (for no charge).<\/p>\n

He and Chris were talking most of the way about how the Jews were trying to take his home, and how they (Muslims\/Arabs) like the Christians & Americans. \u00a0Along the way we encountered police escorting some Jewish boys through a crowd of screaming Muslims and a group of teenage boys yelling & running crazy recklessly. \u00a0The man had us quickly smoosh into the wall on the side to avoid being trampled. \u00a0The tension in this place is palpable.<\/p>\n

The crazy thing is that as a tourist, we are exempt from the tyranny. \u00a0Both Jews and Arabs are fine with us… but they are NOT fine with each other.<\/p>\n

We discovered that the Via Delarosa is really just a bunch of idols set along a random road in Jerusalem – nothing documented, nothing original. \u00a0And my heart hurts for this place.<\/p>\n

\"092815ChurchOfFlagilation\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"092815ChurchInsideArt\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"092815Door\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I had no idea before what praying for the Peace of Jerusalem meant. \u00a0Now I know, and it brings tears to my eyes.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A sign in the garden of the tomb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think Jesus would be (or is) grieved by what people have turned this into… it’s a ‘shrine’ in set places in the name of religion. \u00a0“Holy Sites” made up by man… many arguing over who has the right location of biblical events. \u00a0Muslims sell Nativity scenes and crosses on the streets for money, but it means nothing else to them. \u00a0And Jews look at everyone not ‘like them’ and sneer.<\/p>\n

We all wanted nothing more than to get out of the walls of this city.<\/p>\n

\"092815InsideDimascusGate\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We exited the Damascus gate, got some lunch (very yummy lamb kabob in a pita with salad, pickles & some green sauce that was terrific stuffed inside)<\/p>\n

\"092815Lunch\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The cats here are like seagulls…<\/p>\n

\"092815Gatos\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"092815LunchWithCats\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We then headed to the garden tomb, which was closed (but we know there’s nothing in there anyway :))<\/p>\n

\"door<\/a>
door on the garden tomb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We were met at the door by some volunteers that gave us communion glasses & the elements because they thought we were there to attend a Portuguese service being held in the garden. \u00a0We walked through the garden and found a bench, prayed & had communion together on this day of the FEAST OF TABERNACLES.<\/p>\n

\"092815FamilyCommunion\"<\/a> \"092815TheNaefsInJerusalem\"<\/a> \"092815Garden\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We then walked on and saw Golgotha – it really does look like there’s a skull carved in the rock.<\/p>\n

\"092815Golgatha\"<\/p>\n

On to David’s Citadel (which wasn’t David’s, but set up by the Crusaders)<\/p>\n

\"092815Citadel\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"092815WallFlags\"<\/a><\/p>\n

we found a lovely jewelry shop and the girls each got a keepsake souvenir.<\/p>\n

\"092815MagenWithEarings\"<\/a> \"092815EmmaNeclace\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We decided to come back to the hostel & rest before setting out again later in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

On our evening excursion we shopped for a bit in the streets, stopped and enjoyed the view of the Mt of Olives,<\/p>\n

\"092815MtOfOlives2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

pet a couple of local cats,<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One of the friendly ones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

then exited the city gate<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Dung Gate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

& walked and walked and… saw the beautiful moon,<\/p>\n

\"092815MoonFlag\"<\/a><\/p>\n

and walked, and THEN we stopped for a bite to eat… I love food.<\/p>\n

(Chris needs to download this picture…)<\/p>\n

Back through the Damascus Gate & to our hostel for one more night… pray for quiet or no street life tonight.<\/p>\n

On to Ein Gedi tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So, after a pretty rough night’s sleep, we set off into Jerusalem for a day of touring. \u00a0We decided to start at the Via Delarosa… the commemorated walk that Jesus made from Judgement through 14 stages to the cross. Today is the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a big deal to the Jewish people & … Continue reading Jerusalem<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=374"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":415,"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374\/revisions\/415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/israel.naef.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}