Walking and Wailing

Tuesday. No classes today! Instead, we had a walking tour (and when I said walking, I mean it!) for five and a half hours through the Old City of Jerusalem. This tour focused on visiting three places.

First, we visited the Dome of the Rock located on the Temple Mount. This majestic Islamic shrine–characterized by its golden dome and mosaics–rests over what is known as the “Foundation Stone,” the site where Abraham’s son, Isaac, was to be sacrificed. For the Islamic this place is also important because it is believed that the Islamic prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven with the angel Gabriel. Next to the shrine stands Mosque of Al-Aqsa. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to enter either one of these two sites.

We moved from here to our second stop, the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. The significance of this place is that it is the only fragment of the second Great Jewish Temple (Solomon’s Temple, or the First Jewish Temple, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE) that stands after its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. The Jews, however, assure that the Divine Presence has never departed from this wall. We spent a bit of time praying at this wall. I cannot speak for all my brother seminarians, but I am positive that it was a very powerful moment were we tried to experience such a Presence.

Finally, we quickly explored the City of David. There were so many things to see! By the way, did I mention that this was a walking tour? We left our place of residence at 7:30a.m. and it was already past eleven when we started to walk to this National Park. Of course, walking downhill was not the problem, but the way back! However, though it may have drained our energy, it did not drain our enthusiasm. Anyhow, the City of David is a small hill sloping from the foot of the Temple Mount down to the Pool of Siloam. Water was–as with many other sites that we have visited–the main concern for the people in the cities, and the City of David was no exception. The highlight in this visit was, perhaps, for all of us, related to the experience of walking through the tunnels such as the one that led us to Warren’s shaft and the Canaanite tunnel that is now a dry tunnel as a result of the work of the King Hezekiah to redirect the water trail.

Yes! It was an exhausting morning for all of us. Moreover, we began to get hungry. So this became actually our biggest motivation to endure our way back. We will get some fuel, and may be a short nap, and then, we will keep exploring and experiencing this Holy place, Jerusalem! Know that you are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours. Blessings to all!