le sixteen Jerusalem

... lunch on a picnic table in the shade surrounded by olive trees and a re- invigorating cool breeze. Everyone chilled out, and the nervous energy of Mini Israel faded. A critical battle point in the fight for Jerusalem in 1948, it is easy to see why Latrun was so significant – a fortified location encompassing the monastery and the nearby British police station dominating the surrounding countryside and the road to besieged Jerusalem. We walked the lush grounds, sat ...

... maandag niet meer.. We gingen namelijk een kijkje nemen in de historische stad, binnen de stadsmuren. Het is echt bizar hoe daar een hele hoop culturen naast elkaar leven. Het ene moment loop je op een drukke arabische Suq, het volgende sta je voor een synagoge met allemaal zwarte-kousen-orthodoxe joden, en twee straten verder sta je dan weer op de Via dolorosa, tussen de gestoorde christelijke toeristen die een kruis de berg op sjouwen. De sfeer was - op de ...

... on your beliefs and to encourage them to use the opportunity of the German civil service to do something worthwhile and inspiring.

The Brazilians left yesterday and the rest of the summer camp group, this morning. A group of 5 Germans working on the farm are here for another week and otherwise its me, Megumi, Lars and the family. I am very, very happy to be staying here for another few weeks – watch this space and here’s to the next section of my Tent of Nations experience.

... starving and we had only enough food to keep us alive what should we do. We all said that we would share. Sarah added that she would ask and believe God could provide miraculously. He told us according to the law this was wrong. That in this situation, G-d had provided for us and we did not be in the place of G-d becoming the provider for the other person. Our action did not give G-d the chance to be the other person’s provision ...

... und im Laufe der Geschichte wieder zerstoert wurden. Die Klagemauer zum Beispiel ist der klaegliche Rest des zweiten Tempels und ist in einen maennlichen und einen weiblichen Teil aufgeteilt. Als glaeubiger Jude ist es Brauch, seine Sorgen auf ein kleines Zettelchen zu schreiben und sie in die Ritzen zwischen den Steinen zu stecken.
Auf dem Tempelberg selber befinden sich wiederum muslimische Staetten, die ebenso weltweit bekannt sind: zum einen der Felsendom, der um den Stein ...

... and Kevin and I walked down the road to enjoy the sunset over the Mediterranean and a view of Tel Aviv. When some women neighbors came by (more guests!) in the late evening for a study session (it's traditional to stay up and study the holy books on Shavuot until dawn, though the women did not plan to be up that late), we made our goodbyes, called a cab to meet us at the town's gate, and headed back to Jerusalem.
(I'm so behind on this blog...trying to catch up as time permits.)

... distance, my commander would later tell me that this was the only time in the entire course when her laughter had gotten the best of her.

Of course, touring Jerusalem could not be completed without taking a guided tour of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. I had already seen this remarkably well-designed museum two years ago, but once we walked in with our uniforms and people looked at us, I knew this would have a different feel. Beyond that, there really is not a whole lot for ...

... to and from Bethlehem today. Bethlehem is behind the wall that Israel put up several years ago. So there is a very secure checkpoint to pass through to re-enter Jerusalem and Israel. Two armed soldiers even boarded the bus and looked at everyone's passport. While we were being inspected, a Palestinian ambulance pulled up with light flashing and stopped right next to us. Then an Israeli ambulance pulled up, and they transferred a patient ...

Preparing for Shabbat in Jerusalem

Until finishing Geraldine Brooks's "People of the Book" a few weeks ago, I have never completed a fiction book, unless forced to by school. I spent a few hours on the bus reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by the guy who wrote The Kite Runner, and I must say I'm quite impressed with this novel concept. It made for a good read on an otherwise boring bus journey.

Back at the Luries' house, Lori has a rule for Shabbat – ...

... long line of tourists, probably from Kenya, waiting to leave Egypt. We are given a free 14 day visa for the Sinai area only of Egypt. We ask them to stamp outside of our passport and then do, it just took about 15-20 minutes to get it done. When our bags went through the scanner, the guard asked about Len's silver pen, he really wanted it, but did accept one of my plastic Canada pens instead. We went out to the mini van/bus area. Here you can wait in ...