Saturday  Shabbat:   It was District Conference for all of our Church members in Israel, held at our Jerusalem Center.  We had first session from 10:00 am to noon.  People had come from "Dan to Beersheba" for the conference. Jim played the organ, and Deanne led the student choir in a rousing arrangement of “The Spirit of God,” which started with Christian Devey singing solo, then two other men joining in, and ending with a thrilling finale.  Many said it was the highlight of the conference. It was a different conference than we’ve ever been to: talks in English and Russian (translated), and Zoomed in from Haifa area and elsewhere.  Lots of technology needs, lots of translation, Arabic, Spanish, etc., and hymns were chosen so they could be sung simultaneously in English, Arabic, Hebrew, and Spanish.   

To the carillon again at the YMCA with nine students, fun group.  We never tire of this. In the evening, the Center hosted a chamber group at 8 p.m., Beethoven trio Op. 1 No. 1, and Dvorak “Dumky” trio, a famous but unusual chamber piece. 

Monday   We joined the students today for a walking tour of the Herodian or Jewish Quarter in the Old City.  First we saw Hurva Synagogue which is a real landmark place in Jerusalem.  It was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times—in fact, the word “hurva” means “ruins.”  Destroyed in the 1948 war, it was not rebuilt until 2010.  It is a beautiful, tall synagogue with a reverberant dome at the top from which you can look down and see men at study and prayer. It also has a catwalk around the outside at the top with more views of the Old City that we have come to love so much.  

You can see the Jerusalem Center on the hill in the back.

Reagan Winget

We had a visit to the Burnt House, the excavated remains of a priestly mansion, now all underground. 

We even came across several celebrations of Bar Mitzvahs. Quite the celebrations!

Most exciting was our visit to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park which covers the area just south of the Temple Mount. The size of the stone blocks that support the walls is nothing short of astounding.  Enormous stones that were pushed from the top of the walls by the Romans are still there below the remains of Robinson’s arch.  Here also were shops where money changers would exchange foreign money for purchase of sacrificial animals. Even more memorable and impressive were the ancient stairs leading up to the double and triple gates (now bricked in) on the south wall of the temple mount. It really hit home that we were walking where Jesus walked.  

We also heard a story about Neil Armstrong, a devout Christian and the first person to walk on the moon (in 1969), who visited Israel in 1988.  He asked his Jewish tour guide to take him to a place where it was certain Jesus had walked.  The guide said that as an observant Jew, Jesus would have accessed the temple through the Huldah Gates and concluded, “Jesus stood on these steps, of that we are certain.” After reflecting, Armstrong responded: “It means more to me to stand on these steps than to stand on the moon.” 

Jim went with the student group for their evening Kotel walk under the Western Wall.  It was even better than the first time.  The guide was a lively and fun observant Jewish lady, Batya, originally from Maryland but who has lived here 45 years. 

Underground synagogue near the Western Wall

Thanksgiving was a pretty regular day here.  We had a nice tour group, had a light lunch, had some rehearsals. After a Thanksgiving devotional in the auditorium, we had a big Thanksgiving dinner in the Oasis, and it was pretty authentic, especially considering the chef is Palestinian.  We had fun sitting with the Barkers and reviewing some of the things we’ve done so far here.  

Jameson and Erika were in Cabo to celebrate Thanksgiving week.  In their honor Deanne made some tacos for us here.  

Nicholas and Ariel were treated to a big cousin Thanksgiving gathering hosted by Allison and John Fowles. Fun for cousins Allison, Christina, Steven, and Karen and families to be together!

We also had our first big rainstorm here! They kept telling us the cold and rain would come. It did and it made for spectacular skyscapes.

The next two weeks are filled with more fun and music and Christmas. We are heading up or are involved with the big Christmas concert (two shows), the Upper Room evening, the YMCA Christmas tree lighting, the Jerusalem Center decorating and tree lighting, the UNforum (a casual talent show night), Memories Night (traditionally where the students review the semester in pictures, videos, fun, and games), and the December Evensong organ evening. 

Patty and Deanne went shopping in the Old City (and had a great time without the men), and Paul and Jim walked to the Old City, entering at Lion’s Gate, and explored the excavated area under the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion convent, which is right by Hadrian’s Arch, also known as the Ecce Homo arch.  This area is described in John 19:5:  “Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.  Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the man.” Underground there are an amazing cistern, canals, and a Roman pavement. There is a place in the street pavement with a game carved into it, possibly a place where the Roman soldiers might have thrown dice for Jesus’s garment.   John 19:24: “They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.”  We went into the church and saw the organ high up in the loft. 

We continued up the street a few yards to The Prison of Jesus, another interesting set of caves in a grotto-type area.  It was actually quite impressive, even if it’s just a traditional site. There was a cell for Barabbas, and according to this site's tradition, the cell for Jesus had a stone table with two holes in it for his legs, as depicted in the mosaic above.   It was an interesting Sunday walk.  

But then the adventure began! Monday, we departed at 9:30 a.m. for Galilee.  Stopped at the traditional baptismal site of Jesus near Jericho so Deanne could see it.  Some pilgrims come to be baptized by immersion, but we also saw a group of Mexican pilgrims standing ankle-deep in the Jordan River, and then being sprinkled.  

Then on up to Ein Gev, which is on the east side of the Sea of Galilee.  We had our own 1-bedroom apartment right on the lake, with a nice view.  We had lunch with all the students when we got there, very tasty, lots of fresh choices.  

 

While the students went off to a canoe splash trip on the Jordan River, we drove up to Kursi, the traditional site of the miracle of the swine mentioned in Luke 8 and Matthew 8.  This is also the site of the largest known Byzantine monastery in the Holy Land.  Beautiful mosaics, arches, and columns.  This and a small church on the hillside are probably from the 5^th century AD.  

We enjoyed the sunset over the Sea of Galilee and had a fantastic dinner in the resort dining room.  Let's hear it for buffets!

 

On Tuesday we joined the students for a full-day field trip to Upper Galilee, places that we had never been to on previous trips.  First was Tel Hazor, an important Canaanite city from the early Bronze Age.  From 1800-1200 BC, it was the largest city in all of Canaan, and much yet to be excavated.  One of the most interesting features was the water system, dug deep inside the city to provide water--another marvel of engineering.  

Mauro Properzi, Jo Ann and Dave Seely (faculty)

Tel Dan was a huge surprise—green, lush, with rushing springs and rivers that feed the Jordan River.  This was the traditional northern boundary of ancient Israel: “from Dan to Beersheba.”  

Caesarea Philippi was another beautiful surprise, with more springs and rivers at the base of Mount Hermon.  Here during the Hellenistic period (200 BC), the Seleucids carved niches in the cliff-face next to a cave for the worship of the Greek god Pan.  And it was here that Jesus brought disciples (Mark 8:27, Matt 16:13, Luke 9:18).  Somewhere nearby Jesus asked, “Whom say ye that I am?” and Peter testified, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  

A real thrill was the visit to Nimrod’s Fortress, a castle built in the 13^th century by the Ayyubids, reinforced by the Mamluks to defend against the Crusaders, conquered by the Mongols, etc.  Extensive rock work, arches, cisterns, and lookouts over the countryside.  We all had a great time exploring this sensational castle.  

A cistern, not a putting green!

Our last stop was Har Bental, an overlook in the northern Golan Heights. From this vantage point, we could see the ancient road to Damascus, and it was somewhere in the area that the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul (Acts 9:2-6), after which Paul became the greatest missionary of the early Church.  But this overlook was also important in the wars between Israel and Syria (which this spot borders).  The leftover bunkers and batteries are a grim reminder of what took place there during the Six Day War in 1967 and at other times. 

With Frank Judd and Jo Ann and Dave Seely

On Wednesday, our first stop was the ancient city of Akko (later called Acre) on the coast, just north of Haifa.  This place has so much history, but we spent most of our time exploring the Citadel or Knights’ Hall and all the Crusader history.  Much of the excavations are now underground but of course were above ground when they were originally built.  We also walked through the Templar Tunnel, 350 meters long and carved into bedrock, leading from the Citadel to the Coast.  We had a good Arab lunch near the bus station.  

Aaron, Rachel, Gracee, Elisabeth, Sean, Maddie, Emma, Jonah

Sweet treats in the market

Then took off for Beit She’arim which has an important series of tombs, some of them from around 200 AD.  

The highlight of the day was the visit to Sepphoris which is known for its amazing mosaics, including the depiction of a Nilometer (measuring the flow of the Nile River), people dancing to the music of Orpheus, the Mona Lisa of the Galilee, and most importantly the remains of a synagogue from the 5^th century AD, depicting God’s promises and the importance of the temple.  

"Mona Lisa of the Galilee"

Rainbow over Galilee

We also saw the Roman theater that had seats for 4500 people, constructed around 100 AD.  We learned that the Greek word for actor is “hypocrite,” someone who plays a role when they are in front of others, but they act differently when off stage.  Actors were introduced by trumpet as they walked on stage, and they exaggerated their facial expressions to entertain the audience.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught: “When thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do … that they may have glory of men …  When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.”  Matt 6:2, 5.  

Instead of following the buses to Haifa and Caesarea on the coast Thursday, we had a leisurely morning at En Gev, a late breakfast, and then left at 10:00 for Bet She’an, which is one of the greatest ancient sites in the world.  Bet She’an’s history goes back to more than 1500 BC, but it was the Romans who conquered the city in 63 BC and made it the most important city in northern Israel.  It features a magnificent 7,000-seat theater, elaborate bathhouse, long colonnaded streets, and even a latrine with running water.  The tel overlooking the city provides a commanding view, and also has what is known as the Judas Tree, a traditional site of his hanging, which has been featured in movies.  You could spend all day exploring this ancient city. 

pillar graveyard

The Judas Tree

We then drove back to Jerusalem where we got busy catching up on a lot of work. It was quite a week. 5-6 miles walking each day! Beautiful weather. Nice group to hang out with. Hard to believe it will only be 3-1/2 more weeks until these students go home. The Christmas Concert is coming right along. We have 54 strong voices and a lot of energy in the choir. We are really lucky.