In the morning, we got on the mini-bus from the Kedma Village to Jerusalem. I got off at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.
Jerusalem Central Bus Station
People were talking about the cloud, which is very weird to have the sky covered with clouds in this dry season. I had a brunch with Dr. Choi at Aroma.
Gloria Hotel’s View
Finally I came back to Gloria Hotel in the Old City Jerusalem near Jaffa Gate. This is the view from my new room 151. I stayed at 178 last week. Then I turned on the TV set to update myself with the news of Israel-Gaza conflict because I spent a week without TV and with very limited internet. But the more terrible and shocking news welcomed me – the airplane crash in Ukraine. They did not really say almost anything about Israel-Gaza war.
After taking some rest, I went to the Tour Information to ask about the transportation to Tel Aviv tomorrow which is Shabbat. But the information booth was closed at 1:30 because Shabbat begins this evening.
Empty Western Wall
I wanted to the church of ascension, and went by the Western Wall. While I was approaching the Western Wall, there were series of gun shooting sounds, and almost every was backed up. And there were so many police cars and vans there. You can notice that almost no body was at the wall praying, in comparison how it is packed with people especially Friday. I asked someone what was happening, and was told that the muslims in the mosque are praying with shooting the guns with blank bullets. But I’ve been in Western Wall a few Fridays, and heard nothing so far. The orthodox Jew told me that they do not usually but when there is high tension, they do.
While the war is going on, and there are gun shooting noises, I found an airship in the sky. And the city was as usual.
Pater Noster
Before I went to the church of ascension, I went to the Pater Noster where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. There are Lord’s Prayer in a few different languages. This one looks like Hebrew, but it is Chaldean. There was small admission fee of 8 NIS.
Church of Ascension
Then I went to the church of ascension, and was very disappointed. Not like the title on the map, it was not a church but a mosque, very small mosque. You have to pay 5 NIS, but almost nothing to see. It is said that the foot print of Jesus when he ascended into heaven.
Tomb of the Prophets
Then I went to the Tomb of the prophets, but was not able to enter because it was locked. According to the Jewish tradition, it is the tomb of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Church of Mary Magdalene from Dominus Flevit
Then I went to the Dominus Flevit. It is Latin means “The Lord wept.” And they found Second Temple Period and Byzantine tombs. The above picture is the church of Mary Magdalene viewed from the Dominus Flevit.
When I came out of the Dominus Flevit, I saw a Palestinian old man begging. He said, “I am poor. Give me some shekels.” So I gave him 14 NIS which was all the money I had then. Then he said, “Give me more, give me more!” And I told him that I do not have more. Then he angrily said, “20 dollar more! I am poor! 20 dollar!” I lost my words, and just walked down the hill.
Focaccia Salad
I got some more rest, and went to Kikkar Zion (Zion Plaza) on Jaffa Street and Ben Yehudah Street to meet some people dug together at Tel Lachish. I was worried because the Shabbat already begun and I see the whole city is stopped without any visible restaurants open. They brought me to Focaccia Bar in the back street, and wow! The whole city is like divided into two, either synagogue or here. We met Professor Yossi there too!
Hannah and Je together 