Day 2: Reflection on Jerusalem (By Sass)

Despite our tight schedule, we wanted to explore Israel, so Ms. Miller arranged a tour around Jerusalem. We met our guide at the Jaffa Gate of the Old City. He began with the history and politics of Jerusalem and showed us maps of different cities. Our first stop was at the summit of Mount Olive, where we saw a remarkable view of Jerusalem. To our grand excitement, we ran into a camel that was very friendly.

Our guide led us back to the Gates of the Old City, and we started to walk around the narrow streets. We visited the area where it is believed Jesus Christ had his last supper. Much to our surprise, there was no table. Enhancing our Holy experience, we witnessed a traditional Jewish wedding with spontaneous singing and dancing. As we continued our walk, our guide offered us some Jerusalem bread that we all found delicious! We then arrived in the Armenian quarter where the largest market is found. The market sold everything, ranging from spices to handbags.

Our next stop was the Holy Sepulchre church, situated on the hill where Jesus was crucified. Several religious orders such as the Roman Orthodox and the San Franciscan Monks are responsible for the church. For this wonderful church, our guide took us on the path Jesus walked when carrying the cross, more formally called the Via Dolorosa. At the end of the 14 steps, we stopped for dinner. We enjoyed a typical dish of falafel and hummus.

Our last stop was at the Western Wall, the holiest place for the Jewish religion. Following the custom, we each wrote a wish on a piece of paper that we placed in the cracks of the wall. Our visit to the Old City was a great experience.