We began by heading up to Mount Scopus on the Mount of Olives. That's a pretty view of Jerusalem from the south.
We went to Gethsemane as well. Lots of tombs. A couple of churches. A pretty garden.
This is the security wall that surrounds the West Bank. I'm a little torn about how I feel about it. I think I need to hear more before I come to conclusions, but this whole Israel-Palestinian conflict business seems a bit circular to me. Israel imposes sanctions and attacks certain leaders of Hamas etc. The common Palestinian gets hurt by the sanctions and attacks and gets angry at Israel. Palestinian attacks result and the cycle continues. I've talked about this a little bit Emily, but I don't think I know enough to say anymore than I just have. Essentially where I am at right now is that Israeli sanctions hurt the common Palestinian as opposed to the big-wig organizers. But Palestinian responses to violence and hostility aren't very good either.
We also went the Herodium. This was a big palace that Herod the Great erected for himself. It's on top of this big mountain, but he felt that the mountain wasn't big enough. So Herod chopped off another nearby mountain and slammed it on top of the one he wanted to build on. What a guy. Anyway, the Jews took over this and used it as a fortress during the Bar Kochba revolution.
We stopped at a threshing floor outside of Bethlehem. Think book of Ruth.
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Graffiti on the separation wall in Bethlehem. Apparently there was a guy who did his doctorate thesis on this graffiti.
That was mostly what we did. Lots of sites and lots to think about. I'm not sure where I fit in with all of this. Em and I have talked a lot about where our place is in all these ugly parts of the world and humanity. Essentially the answer is Biblical. You have to go care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. Love neighbor as self. And everything in between. But you can't just jump into an alien context and start messing with stuff. It's a little naive, but I think about the important champions of justice that we've seen in history, and they've worked within the context they lived in. They invested fully. MLK was a southern black man fighting against segregation and Ghandi was an Indian lawyer fighting for Indian independence and peaceful ideals. Some lesser known outside people step in and do things, but the ones that really make a difference are the ones who walk side-by-side with those who are part of and fighting against a plight. Abraham Heschel was an awfully scholarly Jew who walked next to MLK for years. You'll probably notice him. He's the little white guy with a big, white beard. He's usually in the front. I'm not sure where I fit in with all of this, but we'll see where I end up living.
-Daniel
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