It was cold and rainy this morning (unusually cold) and we stood in the rain in line to go up on the Temple Mount (Haram es Sharif or 'noble sanctuary'). We learned that the whole Temple Mount is a mosque. The portico along the western edge was built in the 13th century and housed many theological colleges, each of which had a platform upon which to pray. There are trees, beautiful buildings, domes, and walks. It's a lovely place.Since the second intifada (sparked by Ariel Sharon's visit to the mosque) no one except Muslims are allowed inside the Dome of the Rock or the El Aqsa Mosque.
We then walked to the pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a man (John 5); beside the pools is a church, St Anne's, built by the crusaders in 1140. Saladin spared the church after he conquered Jerusalem because Anne was the mother of Mary who was the mother of a prophet. It's a beautiful church, simple and unadorned, and the acoustics are amazing. We sang 'Seek Ye First' in the middle of the nave and the walls resonated and sang back to us.
We then went to the west bank town of Taybeh, an all Christian town, where we had a delicious lunch and then toured the only brewery in the Middle East. It was tough work, but one sacrifices on pilgrimage. Yes, there were samples.
We've had conversations with the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, a Palestinian Christian, a Muslim, and tonight with an Israeli Jewish woman, Dalia Landau. She's one of the characters in The Lemon Tree, and donated her home in Ramla to establish a school for Palestinian children. We highly recommend the book. It's been good to hear from so many different voices and perspectives on the situation here. Barb & Mike
Helpful links: Photo Album for today Pilgrimage website.
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Thank you for posting these daily reports, the pictures, the video and singing in St. Anne's. It's the closest we can get to walking along with you, even as we all walk through Lent. Blessings to all of you.
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