Jim went on the Jewish Quarter walk with the students, where they saw the Broad Wall, the Cardo, Burnt House, Hurva Square and Synagogue, and the Davidson Archaeological Park by the south wall of the Old City. Here are the steps to the famous double and triple gates, places where Jesus would certainly have walked.  

Inside Hurva Synagogue

Orthodox Jewish man taking a family photo outside Hurva Synagogue

At the southern wall of the Old City.  Jesus probably entered the Temple Mount here.

David Seely standing at the top of the steps that go down to a ritual bath

The southwest corner of the Temple Mount, with huge stones toppled by the Romans

Family night at the Western Wall plaza

Deanne attended a very nice RS meeting with women acting out parts of scriptural women.  The author of the script was Heather Farrell who is in Jerusalem with her family studying at Hebrew University. It was a lovely program.

Heather Farrell introducing the evening

Carlie Stoker, Alyx Jensen, Ashley Garvin, Patty Barker (sitting)

Larissa Properzi as Mary

We had wild weather this week!  Monday we turned the A/C on because of the heat wave and by Thursday it was a total winter storm with cold, wind, rain, and thunder.

The students have been holding a women's "March Madness" basketball tournament. Because of their academic calendar, it spilled over into April. But this week was the final game. We think every student was there to watch as well as most of the faculty and staff. Before the women took to the court, the coaches (men students) of all of the teams played an exhibition game. What talent and what fun! But the women did not disappoint. A very fast-paced game with incredible shots being made. The half-time show had the coaches showing off their dance moves! All in good fun.

The winning team: Kate Mizukawa, Alyse Frogley, Coach Seth Clawson, 

Abby Harris and Kristen Jones

Each year at the end of the Orthodox Easter, there is the "Holy Fire" event at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is an impressive event that requires a ticket, and the Old City practically shuts down except for those with tickets. The Eastern churches celebrate the Holy Fire, in which the Patriarch emerges from the Edicule, or shrine surrounding Christ's tomb, with a flame representing the light of Christ returning to the world. None of us could get tickets so students decided to have their own Holy Fire experience outside the Center's gate up at the Jordanian overlook. We all walked up to the overlook for a devotional and then lit candles singing praises of "He is Risen, Alleluia." It was very moving. 

Eric and Elaine Huntsman

We, the Barkers, and visiting friends Eric and Cynthia Collier went to Abu Ghosh (about 20 minutes west of Jerusalem) for the Road to Emmaus walk.  It’s about 11 miles in all, and you have to get a ride back to your car if you do the whole thing.  We decided we’d just walk a ways and then come back to the car.  It was such a beautiful day, wildflowers out, peaceful and quiet, and we enjoyed reading the story in Luke 24:13-25 which talks about the Savior meeting people on the road just three days after his resurrection.  And here we were, just a few days after Easter.  It was a pretty steep walk down (we expected a flat trail).  After an hour or so we decided to turn back, which of course was now all uphill. 

Patty and Paul Barker

Great visits this week from Bay Area friends (now transplants to Utah!)--Cynthia and Eric Collier and Cindy Hale Hansen

With Cynthia and Eric Collier

Cindy Hale Hansen

Each Sunday evening there is  concert at the Center. They are always fantastic.  This Sunday evening was one of the best. Reut Ventorero, mezzo-soprano, sang Schumann’s Frauenliebe, Ravel 5 Melodies grecques, some Piaf-style songs by Norbert Glanzberg, and several songs by her accompanist Menachem Wiesenberg, which were all wonderful! And all we have to do is walk upstairs!