Western Wall Tunnel

After the Six Day War, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Israel began the excavations of the wall. The excavations lasted almost twenty years.

The tunnel exposes a total 500m of the wall. It runs many layers below existing homes and businesses.


Heading in.
That is the wailing wall behind us

Because it is a holy place, all the men had to cover their heads. Here's Aaron in his cardboard yamika.

Trekking down the 500 meters.

The big stone in the center is the largest stone of the walls.
It weighs over 570 tons!

We made it out, alive!

Little did we know we'd be spending almost as much time below Israel as on top of it.

Finally... the Temple Mount

Detailed tiles on the Dome of the Rock.

Dome of the Rock. You can see it from almost anywhere in the city.

Unfortunately, for the last few years it has been closed to visitors.

View from the mount.

We climbed up on a city wall to see what we could see. Until we got yelled at in a language we couldn't understand!

It wasn't our fault. There weren't any signs or ropes or anything!

The "Golden Gate"

According to Jewish tradition, this is the gate where the Messiah will enter into Jerusalem.
It saw sealed off in 1541 by a Ottaman Sultan to try to prevent him from entering.

Yeah, I think a sealed gate would stop him!

Ophel Gardens

On the south-west side of the temple mount is Ophel Gardens.
Herod built steps up to the temple mount. When the Roman conquered, they destroyed the entire thing.

When Romans destroyed everything the weight of the falling stones were so heavy that they cracked everything below.

We found some roped off underground tunnels that Aaron and I (especially Aaron) were more than happy to explore.

These are the stones that fell. They were huge!

Aaron was happy to help with the destruction!

Success.

The Garden Tomb

Heading in.

Seriously. They need it.

Entrance to the tomb.

On the left is the actual bed of the tomb.

Walking around the gardens.

Pater Noster

The Convent of Pater Noster was built over the site where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer is written here in 1,442 languages!

Jerusalem Center

BYU Jerusalem Center. It's gorgeous! It has the most amazing views of the city and every bedroom has it's own balcony view. Even sacrament meeting has 3 solid walls of glass that let you look out over the city and let your mind...

wander.

Can you believe this property is leased by the church?!

The spectacular view.

Church of Bethpage

Crusaders believed that this church contains the rock that Jesus used to mount a donkey for His Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:1-9


Aaron used a tomb out back to rest in.

West Bank wall

On our second day in Israel we went to the West Bank barrier wall.

The wall was built in 2001 and is highly controversial because it is mainly built within the West Bank. In a 2004 decision, the International Court of Justice declared construction of the wall "contrary to international law." Since it is mainly in the West Bank many Palestinians are shut our from their property and family.

Over 26 feet tall.

Visiting Israel and Palestine was such an eye-opening experience. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity.

Believe it or Not...

All that I've posted of our Israel trip is just our first day!
(We're weren't wearing the same clothes our entire trip.)

I'll try to speed it up so I can get all of it posted before we are back in Utah.

The Wailing Wall

We went to the wailing wall on Friday night to welcome in the sabbath with the Jews. This picture was taken just outside Damascus Gate, it leads straight to the Western/Wailing Wall.

After I made my way up to the front to touch the wall, I went to the back of the women's section to dance and sing with everyone! It was really fun.

I couldn't understand a word I was singing!

Since Friday night is spent bringing the sabbath we weren't allowed to take pictures. It was a lot busier on Friday night.

We went back a few days later to snap these.

The dividing wall to keep men and women separate.

Old Jericho

Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world.
It's mentioned over 70 times in the old Testament.

Each time it was conquered it was leveled and built on top of. Archeologists have uncovered over 20 levels of settlements there.

Some of the layers uncovered by archaeologists.

Which Witch?

I don't just look like any ol' witch.

It's Mad Madame Mim to be exact.

Aaron spotted the similarity, he gets the credit.

Jericho- THIS is what I get...

...for trying to take a picture without my sunglasses.

I end up looking like a witch!

I really think this picture is so funny! My face got so contorted trying to smile into the sun. Then the shadows made it look like I am missing a tooth!

This is why we stopped for the photo op in the first place.
It's the Sycamore Tree that Zacchaeus climbed into to see Christ.

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way" (Luke 19:1-4, NET Bible).

Masada, Israel

Masada is where almost 1,000 Jews fled after Rome had destroyed Jerusalem.

They lived here for 3 years at 1,300 feet up before they decided rather than be conquered themselves, they would commit suicide.

View from the tram.

One of the many giant store rooms.

The remains of Harod's palace at Masada. He has built the complex during his reign. It was about 75 years after his death that the Jews used it to protect themselves from the Romans.

Aaron climbing the path of Harod's palace.