September 30, 2022

Jim met the Farrells (our Branch President and family) and their friends from Jerusalem, Canada, and the Netherlands at the YMCA carillon.  They were very excited about it all.  They invited Jim to lunch afterwards. He also got to ride their E-bike to First Station (formerly the train station, now a park with entertainment and food booths, but no trains).  They had a wonderful, friendly time together. 

The students had a field trip to Jericho that Jim joined in on--you really get the feeling of going “down” to Jericho, which is 850 feet below sea level.  The first stop was the Good Samaritan Inn, halfway between Jerusalem and Jericho, a rest stop for King Herod.  It has some beautiful mosaics from Samaria.  They had a devotional there on the parable of the Good Samaritan.  

Aaron Hart

Bethany Israelsen

Then to a lookout over Wadi Qelt (the setting for the parable of the Good Samaritan) and St. George’s Monastery, from the 6^th century AD.  Elijah is said to have stayed here.  This desolate and forbidding area is not far from the Mount of Temptation, and they had a devotional on the temptations of Christ and were given a chance to meditate for a few minutes on that.  

Eric Huntsman

The lone and dreary world!

Sam, the Security Man for the JC, always accompanies us when we go to the West Bank. St. George's Monastery in the background.

Next was a stop at the traditional baptismal site of Jesus at the Jordan River.  This is an international border, between Israel and Jordan, and there were soldiers with guns at the site (not uncommon).  But interesting to see the Israeli flag on one bank and the Jordanian on the opposite side.  There’s not much flow in the Jordan River because it is mostly siphoned off for irrigation in the area, but everyone got to dip a foot or a hand in the river and hear another devotional on the meaning of baptism (not just forgiveness of sins but the making of a covenant).  

Israel sideJordan side

Hisham’s Palace (8^th century) was an exciting stop—especially to see the extensive mosaic floors and baths. Amazing to think how they managed water in the desert. Some people must have lived pretty well.  Well, some…  Then to the old part of Jericho itself.  There are excavations of parts of the city walls—some pre-dating Joshua, but some from his time.  And did the walls really need to come tumbling down completely, or only enough to make a ramp so the attacking forces to enter the city?  Archaeology tells us what we do know, but it doesn’t tell us everything—plenty still to be discovered.  

  Eric Huntsman

The famous Ein Sultan spring in Jericho has been flowing for thousands of years, making it arguably the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.  

A quick break at the “Temptation” Tourist Center, where you can buy a little lemonade (for $5) or sit on a camel ($10).  For some reason they missed the traditional Zacchaeus tree, a sycamore that the rich publican Zacchaeus climbed so he could see Jesus.  Unlikely that sycamores live for 2,000 years, but it's a nice tradition.  

Camel with a fez

It got really hot in the afternoon (probably 100), but they hiked through dust and past a date palm orchard to the excavations of Herod’s winter palaces.  Again hard to imagine the original opulence with large swimming pools and lush gardens.  This was Herod’s “St. George” winter get-away, much warmer in winter than Jerusalem.  

The walls of Jericho

Roman rock work at Herod's winter palace

Date palm orchard near Herod's winter palace

Then back up to Jerusalem, no issues getting through the checkpoints.  We learned more about Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) in a forum led by Eric Huntsman.  Shana Tova!  This is high season for Jewish holidays. Yom Kippur is next week and they actually block the roads so no traffic enters the Jewish parts of town. Sukkot is the following week.

We had four large tours on Wednesday and again on Thursday, all big groups of Israeli tourists from the center of the country, and only a few of them spoke English.  But they enjoy the video, and they really love the organ concert.  A little Bach, and then the Handel Conquering Hero theme from his oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus"--always a hit.  Jim often plays a Sousa march as they exit. They love the spectacular view from the Terrace, but in the afternoon and with full sun, they start to wither pretty quickly. When their guide starts talking (and talking) about the history of Jerusalem, they turn to us with a look of "make him stop!" One tourist this week, while waiting for the tour to begin, fainted. Luckily one of the staff here grabbed him before he hit the marble floor. It could have been a serious injury. Deanne went over to assess and assist. Her first time to function as a nurse here!  Later in the day, a student came to Deanne as he had jammed his finger when he tripped and fell. (A bad day for accidents!) The medical doctor here has been attending to a student who is in the hospital so everyone is coming to Deanne in his absence!

Jim went on the famous underground tour of the Center and got to write his name on the wall downstairs.  Students have been doing this since around 2000. He saw several names of long-time and recent friends!

We went to the beautiful Seder dinner in the Oasis. The staff and students do this every semester (even when it isn't Passover).  Ophir Yarden, the Israeli teacher, led the evening.  It was lengthy but very enjoyable, with the famous symbolic bits of food, readings, songs, and quite a bit of levity.  We also got a big dinner (dynamite chicken and then salmon and rice pilaf).  The men were encouraged to wear the kippahs/caps.

Seder committee

Family update:

Jameson is now officially contracted with the Utah National Guard when he graduates in April. He and Erika recently found this darling Bernese Mountain puppy at a "puppy barn" in Vineyard.....It may be a puppy now but will grow to about 150 lbs. That's a lot of slobber :)  Sadly for them, they did not bring him (Marvin) home.  Maybe when they have their own home! 

Nicholas spent his day off traveling to Annapolis, Maryland, to visit the Naval Academy. It was a beautiful day to tour. He found his way to the chapel and was given permission to play the organ there (reading music on his laptop). Like father, like son.