Israel Day 9, 12July

First stop was the Chosen People Ministries (CPM) Jerusalem Messianic Centre. CPM was founded in 1894 by Rabbi Leopold Cohn, a Jew who became orphaned at the age of 7 and recognised Jesus as Messiah when he moved to New York City as an adult.

https://chosenpeople.com

https://events.chosenpeople.com/israels-70th-birthday-tour/

Next was the Israel Museum: Also called the Dead Sea Scrolls Museum. It’s got an unique architecture called the “Shrine of the Book.” Our tour guide Eli kept emphasising that in 2Samuel 11, David saw Bathsheba having a footbath, not a bath.

Markets: Walked around the crowded market. Ate some nuts, drank a cup of coffee (8 shekels), saw some nice spices, saw more shofars!

Yemin Moshe: Yemin Moshe was established in 1892–1894 by the Montefiore Welfare Fund. Located outside Jerusalem's Old City, it was conceived as a solution to the overcrowding and unsanitary conditions inside the walls. The Fund was continuing the work done by British Jewish banker Moses Montefiore and the new project was meant to mark the seventh year after the philanthropist's death. The name commemorates Montefiore's first name and Isaiah 63:11–12.

Talpiot Promenade: From the heights of these landscaped walkways and parks, you can enjoy the full splendour of the city of Jerusalem spread out at your feet. According to Jewish legend, it was from the location of today's promenade that God showed Abraham where one day his descendants would build their holy city, but the old nomad even in his wildest visions could not have foreseen the view that greets travellers today.

Then, drove past the American embassy in Jerusalem.

“Graduation” ceremony: This is the day when we received our pilgrimage certificates! People were all asking for a photo with our tour guide Eli’s hand, because as an archaeologist, he is really good at digging treasures, especially things from the second temple period.

Israel 2018 Day 7, 10July

Temple Mount: Went on Temple Mount/Mount Moriah, to the Dome of the Rock. This place is one of the most debated religious controversies in the world. It is considered the holiest place in Judaism. It is believed that Mount Moriah is where Adam was made. It is also where Isaac was placed to be sacrificed. The Muslims believe the Dome of the Rock was built in the place where Mohammad ascended to the 7th level heaven. They think Jesus only ascended to the 6th level, other prophets to 3rd-4th, believers to 1st level! This site is not an easy site to get in. Women have to be very covered up to get through security. Although I was already wearing a skirt that falls below my knees, I added a scarf to cover all my legs just in case. Although I have a top that covered my elbows, I wore a jacket that covers my wrists just in case! Clothes cannot be too tight either, as the female figure has to be covered too! So if one’s too fat and the pants are too tight, that person won’t pass the test either! During my visit to Jerusalem in 2015, we couldn’t get in because there was unrest in the area. This time, we also saw a bit of drama. A group of Orthodox Jews pushed their way through security and began protesting outside the Temple Mount and got escorted away the armed officers. These Orthodox Jews wanted to tear down the Dome of the Rock and build their third temple there!

360o camera: Outside Temple Mount

https://youtu.be/FN_hIHOt6Ug

360o camera: Around Temple Mount

https://youtu.be/hiV1rpWUnB0

The Herodian Quarter: Where the houses of the priest who served in the Second Temple were discovered.

The City of David:

We walked in the wet section of Hezekiah’s/Siloam Tunnel, which is very dark and approximately half a kilometre and brings water from the Gihon Spring into the City of David. We viewed Melchizedek's altar before going into the waters. The deepest part of the water tunnel reached my upper thighs! I bought a torch to wear on my head and didn’t use my mobile phone torch because I was apprehensive about my mobile phone dropping into the water. When we came out, we saw the Pool of Siloam, which was discovered by our tour guide Eli’s archaeological excavation! There were many noisy school girls walking in the tunnel too, and when they came out they jumped into the Pool of Siloam, which was actually quite smelly! The Pool of Siloam was where the blind man got healed by Jesus (John 9:1-11).

I saw more shofars in the souvenir shop in the City of David, and blew them. They are really expensive, around $250 US dollars! But apparently they are all top quality ones, according to Eli, because this important tourist site has keep a good reputation. The souvenir shop also sells replicas of the “Golden Bell” which was discovered by Eli in his excavations.

360o camera: City of David

https://youtu.be/tJcfqkecqCE

Jerusalem Water Channel: Another archaeological discovery by Eli. This is the central drainage channel of Second Temple Jerusalem. We entered from the City of David and came out at the south-western corner of the Herodian Temple Mount. There are lots of papers that fell from the Wailing Wall into the channel. We looked at Robinson’s Arch, which has the ancient remains of three shops at the corner because many people pass here. On the wall, the smaller upper stones were built in Roman times. We also went to the Hulda Gates.

In the evening, Randall Price gave a talk about Rebuilding the Temple:

https://dryvonnewang.blogspot.com/2018/07/rebuilding-temple.html

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nktHqEqWgkzDv9gb8