Woke up bright and early, Beth and I are on Angel duty, that is assisting Ruth in the kitchen and
ensuring everywhere was tidy, pots washed and so on. Porridge for breakfast, picnic lunches made
ready for our first outing.
It was at this point we found out our fellow travellers from Heathrow finally arrived at approx. 2am
however without baggage. Not good even more stress for those involved. Mandy and Billy had to
sort out medicines and find emergency doctors surgery as all medication was in their luggage that
was lost.
We have been allocated cars for the week; ours was car 4b – Ruth (Driver), Jen (navigator),
Rebecca, Beth and I.
Car Buddies
Haas Promenade
Our trip to the most panoramic view of Jerusalem was cut short due to an official engagement thatwas in progress, the car park was cut off and parking anywhere else very difficult. We did however
manage to get a few minutes to take a quick photo of the views and the group, as used on the front
of part one.
We enjoyed an absolutely spectacular view of the city and surrounding area, as the guide book
said we would.
The promenade, popularly known in Hebrew as "the Tayelet" and actually comprises of several
walkways: the Walter and Elise Haas Promenade, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Promenade
and the Gabriel Sherover Promenade. From the heights of these landscaped walkways and parks,
you can enjoy the full splendour of the city of Jerusalem.
The golden dome of the Muslim “Dome of the Rock” is prominent in the middle with the Western
Wall just below it.
They say this is the best place for a panoramic view of Jerusalem and they are right.
Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
“And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (a “yad vashem”)... that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah, chapter 56, verse 5)
www.yadvashem.org
A visit here was first on the itinerary as it’s good to get an understanding of some of the persecution the Jews have had in history and Jame’s advised it would help us more to understand some of the other things we will learn during our stay here.
What a place this is, not to be missed, especially after I have recently been educating myself about the holocaust and watching several film/documentaries and reading the Tattooist of Auschwitz. The museum provided in-depth detail about the atrocities during World War II by the Nazis.
The centre provided an extremely powerful story. Seeing the atrocities from a Jewish perspective and ensuring those murdered are remembered for ever and that something like this never happens in the future, it is hard to understand why it does still happen, it is happening in South Africa, in Syria, in Yemen now and it happened in Yugoslavia, we need to pray about this.
The center is about 20 mins from the Old City
The building is an unusual triangular shape and you snake you way around the exhibits, there are some very sad images, it brings tears to my eyes. The systematic murder of six million Jews (and 5 million others, gypsy's, disabled, mentally unstable, Jehovah Witnesses and so on) Although pictures were not allowed inside the center, lots of people were using phones to video parts and I managed to discreetly take a few photos. It is truly horrifying and it is hard not to get emotional at certain points of the tour. It would be nice to spend even longer here and maybe get the audio guide to really experience the place- one for our next visit. Also Bonita told me about a Holocaust Center in the UK, located in Newark, Nottingham; once I get back I will research this and take Jackie on a visit.
Here is the link to the UK National Holocaust Center
Psalm 102:1-3 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth."
Surely the last line of this passage reminds us of the horrors of the Holocaust?
Jeremiah 30:3 I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors and they shall take possession of it.
Nazi propaganda
Below a model depicting victims
A very emotional visit, lots to reflect on and questions: Why Jews are persecuted so much throughout history?? What is God’s plan for his chosen people, how can they suffer any more??
A harrowing image of shoes, 100s of thousands of shoes
Below are images of Jews murdered in the Holocaust, every name of 6 million Jews and names are being added to all the time.
Holocaust Art Museum
The metal sculptural group created in 1970 is by the Israeli sculptor Naftali Bezem. He was born in Germany in 1924 and immigrated in 1939. The sculpture series has the title "From the Shoah to Rebirth"
The bas-relief consists of four parts that together form a picture of destruction, resistance and rebirth. The first picture represents the factory destruction of human life. The second is the adherence to hope (Chief Alija). The third picture represents the return. Interesting is the shofar as rudder of the ship. The crying lion represents the painful rebirth in the face of the painful past.
Everyone was given tasks for this visit to the market; we had to purchase items for Ruth's Kitchen. This was a great way to be involved in and meet local people. Beth, Rebecca and I walked to the market and purchased our goods, Apples, Feta Cheese, Cucumbers, Paper Towels, Bread, and Pitta. A great experience, no bartering though as we expected, prices were on the goods. The local people were friendly and helpful especially as we did not speak Hebrew and hadn't had chance to get to grips with the money. It was a very busy market, lots of hustle and bustle, everyone going about their daily business. People were sat in bars drinking coffee, beer and eating and socialising, a great atmosphere.
Everyone had time to have a brief walk around the market area. The girls were hungry and even though we were in Israel Beth and Rebecca (our new friend and car buddy) indulged in some local cuisine - pizza. They said it tasted good…. It would be nice to actually spend an afternoon here, eating and drinking in the local bars and absorbing the atmosphere and culture.
This will need to be on our list of things to do on our next visit to Jerusalem.
On our return I found out that while we were at the market Mandy& Billy were being driven around Jerusalem by Clive to get replacement medicine from the doctors/chemist for Billy.
The bas-relief consists of four parts that together form a picture of destruction, resistance and rebirth. The first picture represents the factory destruction of human life. The second is the adherence to hope (Chief Alija). The third picture represents the return. Interesting is the shofar as rudder of the ship. The crying lion represents the painful rebirth in the face of the painful past.
Buying Food at the Market for Ruth – Cultural Experience
Everyone was given tasks for this visit to the market; we had to purchase items for Ruth's Kitchen. This was a great way to be involved in and meet local people. Beth, Rebecca and I walked to the market and purchased our goods, Apples, Feta Cheese, Cucumbers, Paper Towels, Bread, and Pitta. A great experience, no bartering though as we expected, prices were on the goods. The local people were friendly and helpful especially as we did not speak Hebrew and hadn't had chance to get to grips with the money. It was a very busy market, lots of hustle and bustle, everyone going about their daily business. People were sat in bars drinking coffee, beer and eating and socialising, a great atmosphere.
Mehane Market
Everyone had time to have a brief walk around the market area. The girls were hungry and even though we were in Israel Beth and Rebecca (our new friend and car buddy) indulged in some local cuisine - pizza. They said it tasted good…. It would be nice to actually spend an afternoon here, eating and drinking in the local bars and absorbing the atmosphere and culture.
This will need to be on our list of things to do on our next visit to Jerusalem.
Rebecca and Beth tasting the local cuisine
On our return I found out that while we were at the market Mandy& Billy were being driven around Jerusalem by Clive to get replacement medicine from the doctors/chemist for Billy.
No comments:
Post a Comment