It is a Friday evening in Jerusalem and that means there isn't anything to do at 9:30 pm, so a group of rogue travelers are hiding in my room helping me write this post and recap the day in clear violation of Shabbat law.
The morning began with our 5:30 wake-up call. Depending on which room you woke up in you either heard Christmas Church bells, the Muslim call to prayer, or the Fox News channel you left on the night before. We headed down to the Western Wall site to tour the tunnels and learn about the history of the Temple mount. While passing through underground passages your mind begins to wander. How many people have walked this path before you? How many prayers have these stone walls heard whispered into their cracks? While some of us became overwhelmed by religious sentiment another remark how they saw a Western Wall Casino with little old Jewish ladies playing the dime slots.
I encourage you to click through all the photos of our day but below are the key highlights of our tour:
1. The biggest stone in the world was used to build the wall, 600 tons, and the 2nd Temple was built by King Herod
2. Since there is no archeological proof of the physical remains of the second Temple, some claim it never existed. Scholars and archeologists are certain if they were allowed to excavate proof would be found, but Muslims will not allow for any such work to be done underneath the Dome of the Rock.
3. Women's prayers have more meaning then mens (according to our guide Rabbi David)
4. God can find you a husband
5. The City of David: Where it all Began (as shown in 3D)
6. When given a choice order the falafel not the turkey shwarma
After our exhausting day of touring and walking we returned to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. A few travelers quickly changed and ventured to the nearby Beit Knesset Moreshet Yisrael conservative synagogue while others attended a candle lighting ceremony at the hotel. Tomorrow we all get to sleep in and enjoy a quiet and mindful Shabbat in the Holy Land.
PS: Attn Brotherhood Hebrew School students: The close-up photo of the notes in the Wall are your messages.
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