Inside the Holy City

There has been so much change in the last eighteen years since I was here last. Certain historical places we visited all those years ago are etched on my mind forever but it has been interesting returning to these places and noting how much more developed Israel has become. While some things remain the same, Israel has moved along with technology at the same alarming rate as the West, in fact, even more so. Our children's ideas of the Holy Land looking like a Christmas card has quickly been dismissed.   No matter how much Jeff had prepared them that Israel is very European in many ways, with amazing coffee shops, restaurants, shopping centres, fashion and malls, it takes seeing it to believe it sometimes. However there are many places within the walls of Jerusalem that will cause you to feel as though you have just stepped back in time; two thousand years ago to the time when Jesus walked the streets. 

On Friday we visited the Wailing Wall, which is the Western Wall (Kotel) and is the most significant site in the world for the Jewish people. What makes this wall more significant is its proximity to the Holy of Holies in the Temple which is closer than the other walls. There is a fence dividing the men from the women at the wall when they pray to God. Many write their prayers on paper and put them into the cracks of the stones. I took the girls into the midst of the women's section and we stood among them as they prayed and rocked backwards and forwards or read their Bibles. The wall is huge, 187 ft high, and each stone so much larger in real life. I remember visiting the Western Wall tunnels which are underground and run the length of the Western Wall and seeing the stones up close. We hope to take the children to see these underground tunnels if we can.

Jeff and I had a picture taken here 18 years ago.

Overlooking the Western Wall. 

Precious Lydia and her silly faces! 

Orthodox Jew.

As we walked the streets, there were original parts of the city walls uncovered and untouched. A broad part of the wall can be seen which is believed to have been dated during the reign of Hezekiah and mentioned in the book of Nehemiah 3:8. It was discovered in the 1970's during excavations in the city after the Six-Day War. The wall sits below street level in the Jewish Quarter, measuring 22 ft wide.

This is the Broad Wall. 

We made our way into the Arab Market where the streets are narrow, cobbled and very slippery. It is a  maze of twists and turns which draw the tourists into each small shop where many tempting souvenirs await. Pottery, jewellery, wooden nativity pieces, silk scarfs and clothing are some of the wares waiting for you. As soon as you are drawn in, the haggling begins which is part of the experience and I was surprised to see how good our children have become at this since their experience in Uganda! They are enjoying buying gifts for their friends and family…. and of course some special items for themselves. 

We also had the privilege to visit a Shabbat church service which was for believers and Hebrew speaking. I was so moved to tears when I listened to the people there praising Jesus in Hebrew. I had no idea what they were singing but to know that their hearts were worshipping our Lord, had quite an effect upon me. It was the first time that I have heard God's people singing in Hebrew and there was something so sacred and holy about it. It has truly been a privilege to be here and meet with other believers in the land who are Jewish. We are blessed not to just 'tour' the sites here but to dwell among the people and experience living here also for this brief time. I feel as though I have so much to learn!