Jerusalem

Wrapping things up

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:10:16 GMT

I sit here and look around my, mostly packed, room and realize that this is the last night I will spend in this room, my room, in Jerusalem. Actually, it isn't even night anymore, it's more like 2am. Last night I said goodbye to two people I've known since my very first days here in the Land. It was a fun time of acting like the night was just like any other night we might have hung out together. Only after they left did it really hit me what I'm leaving behind here.

Tonight was filled with goodbyes to a variety of people I've met over the last several years. We went out to a couple of places in town and then took a mid-night stroll down to the Old City and to the Western Wall. It was a beautiful evening filled with what I'm sure will become lovely memories of fun times with friends here in Jerusalem.

In 25 hours the van to the airport will arrive. I know I have to go and I know it's the right timing. It just doesn't make it any easier.

Atonements

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:26:30 GMT

The streets were filled with people on foot, kids on bicycles rather than cars and buses from the evening of Sunday the 1st till the evening of Monday the 2nd.
The Day of Atonement brought a halt to almost every function in the country. Even most of the TV stations were off the air. The religious in the Land went to great lengths to ensure that not one drop of water nor piece of food would touch their lips. The whole evening and following day was spent in the Synagogues, in prayer for forgiveness. To hope to ensure that their names would be written in the book of life for it is on this day that the book is sealed.

Leviticus 23:23-32 deals with this holiest day of the year and despite most peoples beliefs it does not say one must abstain from all food and water. It does however, command a practice of 'self-denial'. I looked up the root for the word - it has to do with humbling oneself before God, making oneself poor in His sight and can include fasting along with this. Also, interesting, I thought was that the the word translated 'atonement' is actually plural. What, if any, significance this may have I'm not sure of. (but will keep looking) I did also find where it seems the practice of no food and no water comes from - the book of Jonah. When the people of Ninevah repent and call out to God, the king calls for this type of fast. It is even imposed on the animals. I'm certianly not claiming that it's improper to hold this kind of fast - my annoyance is only when people don't know why they do what they do or believe in reasons and traditions as Scripture that are not actually written.
-Know why you believe what you believe and why you do what you do!-
(yes, I'm still working on this too)

The book of Hebrews also deals some with atonement and Jesus as High Priest who entered the heavenly sanctuary and offered Himself once and for all as the sacrifice for our sins and does not have to continue doing this as He is "not like other high priests that had need to offer sacrifices day after day first for his sins and then for the sins of the people"(7:27)
I just thought this was awesome.

Let it rain

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 21:58:37 GMT

I am rarely a person that feels a need to go to a certain place or location in order to pray or feel closer to God. Tonight, however, I discovered this strong need for such an experience. The opportunity to join a friend at the Kotel, Western Wall, here in J'lem presented itself and I found myself rushing out at 9 in the evening to make my way to the bus stop that would get me near the Old City in order to wind down the narrow passages through the Christian, Armenian and Jewish quarters. Then past security and all the Muslims out partying because it's the month of Ramadan in which they fast all day and feast all night. Once near the Wall I encountered the myriads of Jews out praying because it's also the Days of Awe between the New Year, Rosh HaShana, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonment, which means it's the time for some serious repentence and getting your life straight before God's judgement is passed on the year.

There is something special about having the center of the religous world in your own backyard. To sit before stones that were in place when Jesus walked these streets, to know that the Temple once and will again stand in the very mountain on which you sit. To pray where so many have called out to God and where God calls out to the people. It's so easy to lose that sense of awe when you live here. Wish I could say I had a special visitation tonight and now know that every problem in my life and every question I have is solved but I can't say that. I do know however that no matter what, He is still with me and will still love me despite my continual screw ups and lack of faith and I find that this is enough.

The journey home brought with it the season's first rain here in the Holy City. Rain is many times a symbol of God's blessing and mercy and begining of times of refreshing and cleansing. May it be that once again.

thanks!

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:38:37 GMT

Thanks for making my birthday really great. Your calls, cards, ecards and thoughtful gifts remind me just how blessed I am and that the best gift is your friendship.
Love,
Joy

City of David

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:16:17 GMT

this latest little adventure was delayed due to a cold... having recovered I bring to you this update:
Last Thursday there was a conference at the City of David Excavations which is located just outside the current Old City walls, down in the Kidron valley. It is the location of Jerusalem from David's reign (II Sam 5:9) and is also talked about in II Chronicles 32. The Shiloach inscription that was found at the site related back to vs 30 " This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David..."
The point is that part of the events included a tour of the underground water systems. We actually walked along where Hezekiah's men redirected the water and crawled through the tunnels that they used.
Best I can do is point you the the web site the foundation has built. It's pretty amazing.
City of David website

Here's a couple of pictures. One taken inside a naturally formed cave along the water route and the second is of the outside near the site looking up towards the Mount of Olives. The gold roofs you see are on the Russian Orthodox church.

Mountain of El

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:00:39 GMT

Har El
I did have the opportunity to go on a short camping trip. 12 of us went to a site outside Jerusalem near Beit Shemesh called Har El. It was a really nice time. A short break to clear the head and just do something different usually helps me get refocused.

Half of the group biked to the site from the city and half of us drove. I was able to do a lot of the planning and set up which is something I greatly enjoy. We were near Beit Shemesh at a beautiful lookout point over the surrounding valleys. We could see the vineyards below us laden with grapes ready for next week's harvest. This year's wine is expected to be of especially good quality. The weather was beautiful so we built a fire, cooked chicken, and the great rice dish in something the South Africans called a "poykey pot" (I'm SURE I didn't spell that right but it's basically a cast iron pot that you set in the fire). Later we enjoyed the multitudes of starts that were out as well as some good conversation and music.

Clouds!

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:38:26 GMT

We have clouds!
For J'lem in the summer that's amazing. Instead of the glaring blue skys that allow the full strength of the sun to pound on you all day long, a sky full of clouds makes life nice and cool.
Since there's no rain here in the summer I hope this cloudy day is the harbinger of refreshing fall showers heading our way soon!

P.S. I may be going camping this weekend! Yeah!

What would you do?

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:00:10 GMT

What would you do if you had a big bully in your neighborhood who hates you for no reason other than the fact he can't bear seeing you alive, sends his buddy to vandalize your house and property, and hurt your family, so you hit back at the bully's pal. Your other neighbors tell you, "OK, we sort of understand why you're hitting back at the buddy, but don't hurt him too much because it's not fair to hit back harder than he hit you" and all the while, the big bully keeps his distance but keeps threatening, "Just wait, I'm going to wipe you out and when I'm finished with you, I'll get your neighbors as well?" and all the other neighbors have to say, "Oh, that's not nice."

What if your name was Israel and the bully was named Iran and the bully's pal was named Hizbullah and your neighbors lived in a neighborhood called the UN?

What would you do?

(got this in an email today - have no idea who wrote it, but LOVE it!)

Last course

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:48:54 GMT

It's come to it at last. I'm in the midst of the last course I will take here.
The outcome of that course ...well I won't think about that today.
Still working on staying in the present. Doing today's work and letting the rest stay in the future.

My trip home was highly odd yet great in it's own way. The jet lag upon my return to J'lem hit me with a vengence though. Perhaps I'm finally recovering from it though. Then again the heat here hasn't helped either. We're in the midst of those few weeks in which I really which we had air conditioning and I've very thankful that the libraries and university does. Hoping that thought will keep me in the library this week!

The other main story here is of course the war, or now cease fire which no one is happy about. Don't get me wrong we're all glad that there's no fighting (or very little) at the moment. However, the conditions for the cease fire and the fact that nothing seems to have been accomplished by it all is very frustrating. They still have the Israeli soldiers! Anyway, it's all craziness.

Life in Israel...it's never boring.

For better or for...who cares?!

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:40:58 GMT

The first summer session was officially over when at 12:15 this afternoon I drug myself out of the final exam for Advanced Biblical Hebrew.

It was a grueling one covering everything from cave inscriptions from the 8th Cen. B.C.(Iron Age), Biblical texts, Qumran Scrolls, Rabbinic Hebrew, and Bar Kochba letters.

Now however, I am packing while reading the news that 6 more rockets just landed in Tiberias. No, I'm not running away from the violence but I am running away from the stress of studies. I'm gonna make a quick visit home before returning for a final class which will run from the 2nd week of August thru the end of September. I just need a break. Then again, this trip will bring some stress of another kind but hopefully it will be really nice as well.
Just a bit weary.

Eye of the Storm

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:08:09 GMT

Recived this email from the University today.
Also we're housing people due to archeological digs up north that have been cancelled.
Despite an attempted suicide bombing in downtown Jerusalem yesterday (that was thankully stopped due to the high security level) we seem to be in the eye of the storm.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has announced that it will temporarily accommodate 140 foreign students attending academic programs at the University of Haifa, which closed operations on July 16 following continued Hezbollah rocket attacks on Haifa and elsewhere in northern Israel.

About 250 students, many from the United States, were attending a summer Hebrew language intensive at the University of Haifa. The students arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, and will participate in educational programs there until the University of Haifa determines to resume or relocate its classes.

The Rothberg International School of The Hebrew University, which also has a summer program in session, is posting regular online updates for parents of attending overseas students. Click here for the latest information.

intensity

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 08:44:57 GMT

things have gotten worse...

from jpost.com
And this doesn't include the attacks in Haifa that have killed 8 people!

If it looks like a ... and sounds like a....

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 06:03:49 GMT

Well, it looks and sounds and feels like a war.
I'm again amazed at how it's being reported.
8 Israeli soldiers were killed yesterday and 2 more kidnapped (that means we're up to 3 now). Today one woman was killed and 12 people injured when a rocket hit in the center of a city called Nahariya. This is not some border military town. It's a beautiful coastal city that is so clean it looks brand new all the time and you have to drive a ways to get to the border.
So, yes Israel is attacking sites in Lebanon. After all this, wouldn't you?
in Nahariya
News Updates

Summer school

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 23:36:02 GMT

OK so I'm officially in the second week of the summer school madness. In which they cram a full semester's worth of work into 4 weeks, 6 days a week, 4 hours a day. Plus that little thing they call homework i.e. add another 2-5 hours a day.

So, if I disappear you'll understand why.

In fact the only reason this is getting written is due to a bit of insomnia.
Woo hoo! Just what I needed!

(ignore me, I just needed to vent)
:)

For goodness sake!

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 16:58:19 GMT

Now not only is the 19 year old still being held captive and those responsible want ALL female and minor Palestinian prisoners FREED before they will even give INFORMATION about him but an 18 year old teenager (not a soldier) was taken an murdered this past week as well. They shot him in the head! No one did anything til a day or so ago because the report wasn't even believed at first.

This is within Israeli borders! I finally have friends who were pro-disengagement (from Gaza) fiinally changing their minds and seeing that this did no good what-so-ever. It's not enough that they shell the Israeli town of Sderot daily but now they're crossing the borders physically to murder and take hostages.

Where is the outrage? .
Article: Eliyahu Asheri, 18, shot dead soon after his abduction
Thousands attend Asheri's funeral

They've taken a baby!

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 22:35:45 GMT

Two Israeli army soliders were killed early this (Sunday) morning in an attack inside Israel. It's being said that the attackers dug a tunnel in from Gaza.
When they retreated after having two or three of their own killed in the attack they took as hostage another one of the soldiers.
He's 19!
Haartez article with picture

Needless to say things are not quiet in Israel today. Though this occured down closer to the Egyptian border the ripple affects were felt and heard here in Jerusalem, from the constant news coverage on tv, to the roar of helicopters overhead and increased security all around.
Please be praying for Gilad Shalit for little to none is know about his condition or what is being done to him, please pray for the families of the other two soldiers who were killed, and please pray for the prince of peace to rule and reign in Israel.

Ah the season for weddings...

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:12:09 GMT

Tonight I attended the wedding of a friend here in Israel. Shelley, the South African/Israeli married Dan, the Chicagoan. It was an amazing ceremony, which had to start late due to the traffic jams for the Pink Floyd concert that was also tonight. The event took place at a Biblical Garden/Nature Reserve between Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. The highlights included a processional by all the guests from the point of entry, where yummy appetizers and drinks were served, to the site of the ceremony. Now this wasn’t just some boring processional, no! There was a troupe of drummers leading the way! It was so amazing and all along the walk were signs with scriptures about love and marriage.

The ceremony itself was also very beautiful and personalized. It took a bit longer since most parts were spoken in both Hebrew and English and combined many Jewish and Christian elements. Shelley also had written a song for Dan and sang it for him. It was beautiful and I have no idea how she held herself together emotionally to get through it but she did a lovely job. Afterwards there was an amazing dinner set up under the trees and large dance floor with a DJ and a return appearance by the drummers. All in all a great evening and the start of what I believe will be a very strong and happy marriage.

The storm god and Rembrandt

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:34:55 GMT

This morning (Friday) I went with my Canaanite Literature and the Bible class to the Israel Museum. It was one of the many times I�ve been, for class and otherwise. We focused, of course, on the Canaanite sections from the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1200 BC). There�s a special section on the Canaanite storm god Baal (decried) in the Bible. Also, there are some excellent examples of the literature/documents of the city of Ugarit (present day coast of Syria). Their literature was all written in an alphabetic language though with cuneiform characters on clay tablets and one can tell what type of document it is based on the size and shape of the tablet.

Anyway, it was fascinating and then went wandered over to the art where the museum has acquired a Rembrandt. Amazing. It�s of St. Peter kneeling in prayer with the �keys to the kingdom� lying beside him. The light in it is beautiful and I love the little detail that his sleeves are pushed up just a little and the contrast between his hands which are darkly tanned and lined and his wrists, pale and smooth. Fascinating.

3 weeks

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 21:44:25 GMT

Just under three weeks now till the Spring Semester final exam.
These last few weeks have flown by like few I've known. A great deal is going on, in and outside of school.

I've started reading for my final seminar paper for my class on "Canaanite Literature and the Bible" and I'm almost through with my reading assignment and essay for the Modern Hebrew semester project.

The summer Biblical Hebrew class that I spoke of a few months ago is turning into a tutorial rather than a class which should turn out even better since the class hours will be much less and the instruction more personalized.

There's a lot left to be done here but I'm really looking forward to going home.

..though it is beautiful here and the jasmine is blooming just outside my window.
Life is good.

You know you're in the Middle East when...

Wed, 24 May 2006 20:55:25 GMT

Yesterday afternoon I babysat for some friends here in town. Their little girl is 6 years old and such a sweetie. I had to pick her up from school and then take her to her swimming lesson later in the afternoon. While we were waiting for the bus to go back to her house after the lesson two young boys came riding up the street....not on a bicycle or a skateboard but on a donkey! In the middle of the city!