October 28th

Guess where I went this morning, Sunday Mass!

On the way to Church.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre!

(not too impressive from the outside, but just you wait)

The church was built over the exact place where Jesus was crucified and buried.

A little history: Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Out of respect the Jews didn't want a body out for the Sabbath. It was also Passover- one of the three holidays where Jews from all over travel to Jerusalem to pray at the Temple- it didn't look nice for the visitors to see dead bodies on crosses everywhere. Since it takes several days for a man to die from crucifixion, the Romans decided to stab Jesus to kill him faster. A bystander offered his tomb so the Romans could bury the body. Jesus lied in the tomb for three days- Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On the third day, he was resurrected!      

They built a building to cover and protect the tomb of Jesus. There was a two hour wait for Christians to touch it for a few seconds.

The mosaic ceiling of the Greek Orthodox altar.

The Greek Orthodox altar, panorama view.

 Just like when we take out the Torah and walk it around the room, the Greek Orthodox walk the Gospels around the room, too. 

The Altar of the Crucifixion. Here, according to the tradition, Jesus was crucified.

It's tradition for the priest to feed the congregation bread(to represent Jesus' body) and wine(represents his blood).  

I just thought it was so great that he was feeding the people.

Cleaning the church is such an honor that the several sects of Christianity using the church fight over it. The Greek have the right of cleaning.

 

You can see in the background the woman in blue kissing the rock where the Romans cleaned Jesus's body before burying him. This rock is considered holy, so they kiss it like we kiss the Kotel. There are fragrant oils on the rock, and some people bring scarves or souvenirs to rub in the oil.

Another amazing dome.

Lanterns on lanterns on lanterns. 

A ceremony preformed when the Greek Orthodox Chief Bishop of Jerusalem leaves the church. 

Classic tourists.

View of Jerusalem seen from the roof of the Church.

October 26th

Hey, its been a while. I'd doing good thanks for asking!

My favorite postcard from Jordan.

This is what I'm learning in Arabic class, I'll fit right into Ocean Parkway and U! 

MARZIPAN

The shuk on a Friday afternoon is a life changing experience. 

We have a projector in out Moadon(common area), so we watch movies all night long.

What I'm learning in Hebrew, yes that is third grade level.

We went to a water hole this past Sunday

HEY COUSIN CLUB- remember we went here for Ceasar's bmitz? 

Every Thursday morning I have Social Responsibility, I volunteer at a soup kitchen designed as a restaurant. We serve the needy like waiters.      

The homeless actually eating.

I'm loving Isrealis trying to spell English. (ex:Preety Woman)

                                          

Beit Shmuel

The hotel lobby.

Our court yard, our classrooms and the kivu office are here.

Hallway

The moadon- we have a fridge, table and chairs, couches and a white board.

White board, self explanatory

My door and the name of my roommates.

MY ROOOOM

The view from my porch, yes I have a porch.

What would I do without panorama view?

Shabbat Shalom!

BY THE WAY

October 9th-12th

OCTOBER 9TH

 Left Ste Boker for Jordan early in the morning

 We had to walk across the boarder from Israel to Jordan.

Walking from Israel to Jordan through no man's land.

Mitch Fogelson and I at Jordan's border.

Jordan and I already have so much in common.

(ha, got it?)

PETRA

Petra is an ancient city that was used by Nabatean nomads as their capital city and main trading post. Their main route began in the Arabian Peninsula and ended in Gaza. Innovative technology allowed them to carve catacombs and intricate facades. 

My favorite shot.

The Treasury

panoramic view

A professional sand bottle designer. He uses a piece of wire to move the sand and draws camels.. etc

NYC should invest in these.

classic tourists 

Josh Sider and I

Jordanian sunset

OCTOBER 10TH

Our schedule said we where going to a kibutz in the Negev that produced energy out of rat feces. 

Last minute "our speaker canceled on us", obviously Kivunim always has a plan b!

We spent the morning in Eilat!!! 

Max Lippman and I in Eilat

YOKO(you only kivu once)

Eilat beach

In the afternoon we visited a farm that grew fruits, vegetables, and even fish.

Strawberries grown suspended in the air. Instead of using soil, they use ground coconut shells.

OCTOBER 11TH

In the morning we visited a Bedouin school. I worked with 9th grade girls. We read a story with them. After twenty minutes I started asking them what food their moms make. Turns out we all love fasulieh. 

At night we slept in a Bedouin tent.

                                              

          At the tent, a local found a hedgehog. It was really fun to play with.

  We slept in a Bedouin community in a giant concrete room.We all got a mat, a sleeping bag and a sheet.

                                                
                                            Sunrise 5 AM this morning at the Bedouin Tent.

OCTOBER 12TH

Woke up, ate breakfast, slept on the bus, hiked Masada, ate lunch, slept on the bus again, arrived in Jerusalem!

Shabbat Shalom!