In The Old City Of Jerusalem

The sacred precincts in Jerusalem — An aerial view of the Haram al-Sharif or Temple Mount, with the grey-domed Mosque of Al-Aqsa in the foreground, the golden Dome of the Rock behind it, and, at the bottom of the photo at the foot of the Temple Mount wall, the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, which we’ll visit tomorrow. (Wikimedia Commons)

We spent a substantial portion of the day on foot in the Old City of Jerusalem.

We began by walking up and around the Temple Mount, which was less crowded than I have ever seen it. There was absolutely no wait. I spoke to my group about the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as about Muhammad’s ascension to heaven and to the presence of God and, of course, about the Temple.

Afterwards we walked along the Via Dolorosa, visiting several of the (original) Stations of the Cross. Before having lunch in Jerusalem’s Christian quarter, we spent some time in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Arabic Kinisat al-Qiyama or “Church of the Resurrection”), perhaps the most historically significant building in Christendom. Again, it was amazingly uncrowded. Tourism is sharply down here, for somewhat mysterious reasons. Bad for the local guides and the shopkeepers and the tour companies, but wonderful for us. We’ve also had very pleasantly and expectedly cool temperatures.

After lunch, we walked through the Jewish quarter, then drove up to the top of the Mount of Olives. Following our panoramic view of Jerusalem from there, we walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane (near the Orson Hyde Garden). Two of our bus groups met together there, and Jack Welch and I both spoke.

In the evening, Jack had arranged for Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman to address our three busloads at the tour hotel. Rabbi Berman treated the topic of Jews, memory, and the Holocaust, and then entertained questions. As always, he was engaging, interesting, and very open to Mormon experience. A good evening.

Posted from Jerusalem

In the Old City of Jerusalem