A new installment

Day 52: Scott Bids Farewell to the Market. With his heart heavy, Scott and the family headed out to Makaneh Yehuda Street Market for the last time. Despite the somber occasion, the family had a great time picking fruits and vegetables for the last few days in Jerusalem, plus fresh pita, Ahi Tuna, and some nibbles. After returning to the apartment we all headed to the car and the drove toward Modi’in where we dropped Rebeka off for a sleep over. On the way we stopped at a number of parks for several hours for the kids to play. After dropping off Rebeka we headed back to Jerusalem, all showered, and then Scott and Monica headed out for a date while Ruthie babysat Avi and Esti. We ate at a local restaurant, stopped for frozen yogurt, and had a chance to be a couple again.

Day 53: A Day of Learning. Each Shapiro managed to get in some learning today. After sleeping over with her friend Ziv, Rebeka went to a day at an Israeli School. She was only able to comprehend some of what was happening (due to the language barrier) but she had a great time and made some new friends. Monica, Esti, and Avi went back to the Bloomfield Science Museum and had a chance to further explore all of the exhibits. Meanwhile, Scott went back for a half day of study at Aish Hatorah in the Old City. After study, and some more shopping in the Shuk, Scott headed back to Modi’in to pick up Rebeka. Once the whole family was together we feasted on Ahi and fresh vegetables and then headed out for some waffles with chocolate and caramel on the busy streets of Jerusalem.

Day 54: A Final Day of Touring Jerusalem. With excitement in the air, we awoke eager for our last tour day in Jerusalem. We met our tour guide Raz at the Jaffa Gate and walked through the Old City to the Church of Holy Sepulcher, the holiest church for most denominations of Christianity. We began our tour learning about the conflict of space that occurs between the eight denominations of Christianity that share the Church and consider it a holy space. Raz showed us a wooden ladder outside a window that hasn’t been moved in 150 years because no one can legitimately claim the space where it sits. We continued our tour on the roof of the Church, the home of a small village of Christian Ethiopian Monks who after building their chapel on roof of the Church decided that the real estate would be an ideal location for a village of monks. The village has been on the roof for about 50 years. We continued our tour downstairs where we saw the chapels of the remaining denominations. Some of the chapels were very ornate while others were simple. Raz showed us a room that was destroyed in a fire and left unrepaired because the different denominations cannot decide who has rights to the space. And we think we have political difficulties!

After leaving the Church we continued with the rampart’s walk, walking on the top of the Old City walls built over 400 years ago by Suleman the Magnificent. The walk continued to clarify the layout of the Old City and the different quarters. The kids found it cool to be able to see the roofs of the houses and people’s backyards. After a quick lunch of ice cream and falafel we headed to the top of the Temple Mount to tour the Islamic holy area. We all found the Dome of the Rock to be amazing; the mosaics and the tile roof are beautiful. We sat on the Temple Mount, while Raz shared many stories relating to the time of Second Temple and the use of the Temple Mount by the Muslims for the last thousand years. The kids continued to be amazed at the sheer size of the Temple Mount and with a creative imagination one can envision the layout of the Second Temple.

After a brisk walk past the Kotel (Western Wall) we arrived at David’s City within modern Jerusalem, the location of King David’s settlement nearly 3000 years ago. We began our tour watching a movie about David’s City. The kids enjoyed watching a 3D movie that covered the history of David’s City, and we enjoyed watching Esti spin her head around in an attempt to track the birds on the screen as they flew at her. After the movie we headed down many stairs to Hezekiah’s tunnel. The underground tunnel built by Hezekiah was important because it secretly brought fresh water into Jerusalem from a spring outside the City. This was important in case Jerusalem was placed under siege. In such a case the community could still get water. With much excitement and five flashlights we entered the tunnel. The space was small, pitch black, and the water was cold. We walked for about forty minutes with water midway up our legs. We were amazed at the construction of the tunnel and the ability of the craftsmen of the era. After the tunnel we passed a newly excavated site where many coins were recently found and walked part of the main road (now a tunnel) which archeologists believe will lead all the way to the Kotel.

Day 55: Leaving Jerusalem. The Shapiro family packed up, loaded up, and with great sadness left Jerusalem, the holiest city for the Jewish people and of course site to great evenings walking around Ben Yehuda Street. After picking up Raz for our last time we headed to Masada and Ein Gedi for a day in the heat. Once we reached Masada, it only took a few minutes of debating to decide that it was better to take the cable car to the top of Masada, rather than walk, in the 115 degree heat. At the park we watched a quick but informative movie about the history of Masada, boarded the cable car, and then headed up to the top. With awe and amazement we walked around the top looking at the many structures build by King Herod as his winter residence, including a castle and bath house. We listened to the heroic story of the Jews 100 years later who made Masada the place of their last stand against the Romans and who made a very tough decision when faced with the possibility of enslavement. After walking in the heat for over in hour seeing palaces, a synagogue, and many other structures, we eventually headed down. After a quick lunch at a local restaurant in Ein Gedi we spent the next few hours walking in the Ein Gedi Nature Preserve. The walk, while initially hot and dry, led us to many beautiful waterfalls and pools of water. The Shapiro family quickly changed into water clothes and enjoyed a swim in two of the natural pools. What a beautiful sight to swim while surrounded by lush greenery, waterfalls, and many desert mountains. The kids caught a frog, only to be quickly disappointed to learn that the frog had to stay at the preserve and not move to Sacramento. After the preserve we headed to the Dead Sea for a float. As Raz said, we will receive the award for the shortest swim in the Dead Sea. (We think our walk to the water lasted longer then our time in the Sea.) The kids stuck their feet in the water, complained about the pain, washed off, collected a chunk of salt, and said goodbye to the Sea. After a full day we checked in and had dinner at the Ein Gedi Youth Hostel. We were pleased with the accommodations and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Dead Sea. Laila Tov to another day in Israel.

Day 56: Ein Geti Spa. We awoke to find that the temperature in the morning was still over 100 degrees. After a nice breakfast at the Hostel we headed to the Ein Geti Spa. At the Spa we started our day with a visit to the mud baths. On recommendations of our friends the Magills, we all covered ourselves from head to toe with the mud, then washed off the mud with sulfur showers. We spent our time at the mud baths with a group of people who may have been runway models. Unfortunately, they were the runway models from the 1980s Wendy’s commercials featuring “Svimware.” (Check out youtube if you don’t know this reference.) After the mud Rebeka and Monica spent some time in the Dead Sea while Scott, Avi, and Esti headed up to the pool. Later, when Monica and Rebeka joined, the family spent the rest of the day at the pool, picnicking on pita, humus, and fruit. In the evening we headed back to the Hostel for another dinner and, due to the heat and activity, the kids were asleep by 8:30.