Israel 2017 (Day 9)

Wednesday (Day 9)

Our alarm went off at 6:00am this morning and we had a very delicious breakfast at our hotel. We left at 7:20 instead of our normal 8:00 to head to the "Wailing Wall" located in the city of Jerusalem.

When we arrived Erez talked about the history of the Wailing Wall, why the Jews go there to pray and talked about the history of the gates and walls of the city as well as the building and demolishing of the temple and mosque.

We traveled underground  to get to the street and wall from the time of King Harod and the time of Jesus. We went to the southern steps of the first temple. It was just amazing to think about how we were standing in the same vicinity that Jesus, after going to Jerusalem with His parents and after being left behind  went to the gates of the temple to talk to those at His Father's house. Walking where Jesus walked so to speak.

It was also mind blowing to learn how they moved pieces of stone that weighed around 500 tons and how during the time of King Harod built such massive buildings and walls. Walls that were 30+ feet wide and 100+ in height.

We then traveled through the Jewish quarter to the ruins that could likely be the place of the high priest. The home of the high priest that Jesus was taken to and trialed and where Peter, when asked if he followed Jesus, denied Him, three times!  It was just an astonishing things to be in a place where so much history took place and when reading the scriptures comes more alive.

I definitely have to say that this trip is one that has helped me really understand locations discussed in the Bible, what they look like, or possibly looked like, the distance between locations​, the roads traveled, etc.

We then went to the Holocust Musuem here in Israel. Coming from the United States we hear about the Holocust from history and hear stories about families. Take for instance, Anne Frank. Pretty much everyone in the U.S. has heard her story by either reading about her journey or watching the movie.

Walking through the musuem  there were many stories and copies of belongings from individuals not just families of those who lost their life and those who survived this horrific event. It's a place where those affected by the event have stories shared of how they endured such pain and heartache. And the poor children who had no idea what was happening besides being ripped from the arms of their mother or father. We can only pray that something of this magnitude never takes place again, against any people group.

When you travel down the streets you see many young adults in uniform and many of those carrying a machine gun. They are either security guards at tourist sights or on military duty for their country. It's a blessing in the United States that it's not mandatory to serve and that when walking the streets of the U.S. machine guns are not common place.