Much has happened since the last time I wrote...
Last Monday Ashley and I went with Chana (one of our coordinators here in Israel) to the Old City once again but this time to do something neither of us had done.. to go to the Arab quarter and visit the Temple Mount, also called the Dome of the Rock, also known as that huge gold thing you see in pictures of Jerusalem. Now, I must make sure you are all aware of why this is a significant place for Jews and Muslims, and why it is slightly controversial that two Jewish girls were walking around there.
The site of Temple Mount is the place where the first and second holy temples were located, temples so holy and so sacred to the Jewish people that only the most holy Cohenim (rabbis) were allowed to enter, and even then only on the high holidays. It was so important that regular Joe Jews didn't enter that when a Rabbi would enter, a rope would be tied around his ankle just in case something happened to him inside and he could be pulled out. The reason that Jews are not technically supposed to enter the Temple Mount area is because we don't know exactly where the temple was located, and the fact that we could be stepping on a place directly above it is a major problem.
Now the Temple Mount area is a place holy to the Muslim community, where their huge mosque is built and where Mohammed supposedly ascended to heaven.
The interesting thing is that this area is considered by Jews to be the MOST holy place on earth, and by Muslims to be the third most holy place on earth, and yet Jews are not allowed to enter the mosque.
It was actually quite an interesting experience, when we stood in line to try to get in (which we knew we wouldn't be able to do), we were told point blank, No Jews in here, only Muslims. I couldn't help but feel unbelievably unwelcome, judged and actually hated by every Muslim person that walked past me, even though of course that couldn't be true, just probably a projection, but still...
Anyway the area is actually really beautiful, and so interesting to see and hear the history of the place, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it myself.
Later in the week the whole group went once again to the Old City for a Christian-Judeo-Muslim tour.. and we got to see the Church of the Holy Sepulchure, where Jesus's tomb, as well as the rock he laid on as he was dying, along with various stops on the Via della Rosa (sp?) can be seen. I took the liberty of photographing myself with Jesus...
The next day (Friday) was maybe one of the BEST DAYS of the summer, as I was reunited with the LOVE OF MY LIFE Hofit. For those of you who don't know, Hofit Kahana stayed in my house in Columbus while she was a camp counselor at the JCC this summer.. and we met before I left for Israel. How amazing, how wonderful, how weirdly ironic that we began the summer together at my house, and are ending it at hers! We didn't even know each other before June, and in no time we became best friends! AMazinggg...
She took me out in style after her parents hosted me for Shabbat dinner, we didn't get back until 5:30 am Saturday morning!! It was an amazinggg night! Today she started a course for school, but we will be seeing a lot of each other before I leave!
Today I started a new job.. I am working with kids in the cancer unit of the Children's hospital here. It was amazing to see that anywhere you go, kids are just kids and even when they are sick, all they want to do is play and smile. So that's what we did.
Alright, I'm going to get going.. but I miss you all and I will be home before we know it! (Can't decide how I feel about that one...)
Neshikot and harbeh ahavah!
Wow!!! So great to hear about your experience at the Dome of the Rock. I was intrigued with the site when we were in Israel in 2008. Thanks for your description. I didn't know it was impossible to get in.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your experience at the hospital. This is a hard assignment. I know you'll do a great job.
Miss you and can't wait to see you!
Love you, Aunt Sylvia