May 19-22, 2017 -- Final Days in Israel

May 21, 2017

I have been in Tel Aviv - Jaffa for the last days of my visit to Israel.  Sitting nearer Old Jaffa and looking North up the coastline you can see for miles.  You can easily see builds up the coast 10-20 miles.  There are beaches, bike paths, and benches along the coast.  I was able to rent a bike in order to ride the coast.  I rode for about an hour.

The old city of Jaffa is steeped in history going back several thousand years.  The name Jaffa has a number of possible origins, among which is the name Japheth, who was counted as one of the sons of Noah.  The descendants of Japheth are thought to spread north into the people groups that include the Europeans.  If that is so, in a twist of irony, this may have been where perhaps some of my ancestors might have been in ancient times.  It really was quite striking to consider that as a possibility.  So here I am in an ancient Gentile city where my ancestors might have lived or perhaps passed through.  The irony thickens when I realize that the city of Jaffa is the city where Peter received the revelation considering the Gentiles.  I also learned that Jaffa was the port where cedars from Lebanon arrived for transportation to Jerusalem for both the First Temple during the time of Solomon and the Second Temple in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

At the end of the day I went to a Mass in Hebrew at Saint Peter's Monastery.  I felt comfortable, but did not understand everything.  One thing that stood out to me was the epiclesis especially when I heard the word make holy (qodesh) these gifts.  I thought that I would enjoy hearing the Mass said in Hebrew.  I am not sure why I did not, but I did enjoy the small chapel setting in which it took place.

Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea

Tel Aviv from Jaffa

Bike rentals near the beach

Old Jaffa Hostel where I stayed one night.

This is the only grape vine I found during my time in Israel.  It was growing on top the Old Jaffa Hostel.

Roof of the Old Jaffa Hostel

The Mediterranean Sea

Common kitchen on the roof of the Old Jaffa Hostel

One of my favorite pictures! 

May 18, 2017 -- Third Day on the Temple Mount

I arose early to have breakfast and then set out for the Temple Mount.  I went straight to the Dome of the Rock.  I walked around with perturbations counter clockwise three times starting at the south door.  I thought, prayed, and looked at the stones in front of my feet and on occasions looked up at the Dome of the Rock.  There are a number of stones that have holes in them, which appears to be intentional.  After completing three revolutions, I reversed directions and then moved closer to the wall of the structure as possible.  As before I went around three times but there were perturbations because of the octagon structure under the Dome.  I again pondered, prayed, and looked more closely at the art work on the outer surface.  I took pictures and made a few interesting discoveries.  First, although Israelis/Jews and Christians are not allowed into the Dome, there is a way for the birds to enter into the structure.  Secondly, I noticed that there are some wonders in the art work that include trees near the north and south entrances, which to my joy made me think of the tree of life.  There is also symbolism of the Star of David, which whether or not was the intention the artist, gradually became clear for me to see.  It was hidden, but if you look more carefully you can see it.  After three revolutions, I reversed course and moved back to the original distance.  I thought, prayed, and took more pictures.  I finished with three revolutions.  During my time walking, I prayed Come Holy Spirit, Lord Come to My Assistance, and Send Forth Your Spirit.  I also prayed my morning prayer and petitions.  Before I left the Temple Mount, I sat toward the north side and prayed the Divine Mercy.

I reflected on my experience on the Temple Mount today.  Since the foundation stone is where Abraham is said to have offered up Isaac, and since Israelis and Gentiles both have a share in the promises, covenants, blessing, and descendent of Abraham, they both have some familial relationship Abraham.  What about the Dome of the Rock?  Arab Moslems do not allow non Moslems access to the foundation stone inside the Dome of the Rock.  I think it is ironic that they do not share the space.  I saw and heard what I thought were two English speaking couples, at different times, ask if they could enter the Dome.  Both were refused.  One of the guards said something to one of the couples, you cannot go in there, it is not for you.

May 17, 2017 -- Second Day on the Temple Mount

I visited the Temple Mount for the second day and spent time near the Dome of the Rock.  The Dome gets its name from the dome that is supported by a drum like structure, which itself is supported by pillars.  The Dome sits above a large rock that is sometimes called the foundation stone or cosmic rock.  It is believed to be the location where Abraham offered up his son Isaac, the threshing floor/rock that David bought from Araunah the Jebusite in order to offer up burnt offerings and peace offerings,  and the location on which the First Jewish Temple and the Second Jewish Temple were built. 

In Islamic tradition, it is thought to be the location where Abraham offered up Ishmael.  In later Islamic tradition it is alleged that from this location Muhammad ascended to heaven.  

In 130's CE, the Roman Emperor Hadrian turned Jerusalem into a pagan city renaming it Aelia Capitolina.  He also built a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter on the Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock was built by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik between 688-691.  The Crusaders captured the Dome of the Rock in 1099.  However, Saladin recaptured the Dome in 1187.  The Dome has been damaged several times by earthquakes and also renovated numerous times.  Presently, the Dome is under the Islamic authority of the Waqf. 

Man coming out of the Dome of the Rock's west entry.

Dome of the Rock

Islamic Waqf Security guarding the west entrance to the Dome of the Rock.

Looking toward the south west corner

  

Same man as above

I met a woman from Canada who was staying in Tel Aviv, but came for the day.  Her name is Nadia.  She was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Faith, but not practicing.  I shared with her my experience as a Catholic in order to share and encourage her.  We also talked about the Temple Mount, politics, faith, and sciences.  

Before leaving the Temple Mount, I sat to reflect, think, ponder, and pray for peace, joy, love, purity, praise, thanksgiving, and grace.  I later was at the southwest corner near the steps.  I was approached by a young Arab boy who was playing soccer near that corner with his friends.  He was either mocking me or enjoying himself.  He was imitating something or someone singing.  Something welled up within me and I spoke with him and shared my gift.  He retorted something to me in Arabic.  All I could make out was that he was an Arab.  I sat, reflected, and prayed the Divine Mercy.  

May 16, 2017 -- First Day on the Temple Mount

May 16, 2017

I had breakfast early today around 7:15AM, and then headed out to the Temple Mount.  I entered through the Dunk Gate.  While waiting in line I met a young couple from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  They were on their honeymoon.  David and Rachel!  David was quite zealous in his faith in Jesus, his being a Christian, and his love for the Jewish People.  We talked about the Temple Mount, world events, the coming visit to Israel by President Trump.  David seemed to think there would be a Third Temple.

As soon as I got to the Temple Mount, I was approached by an elderly man who offered me to be my Temple guide.  It seemed to me that he wanted me to realize that he was the supreme tour guide for me.  He then made his intention known when he asked for twenty dollars.  During this time I repeated no thank you, no thank you, and no thank you.  It was not until I bowed and said "no thank you," when he said do not bow to me, bow to God.  I do not think he understood that I was showing him kind respect.  In fact, I was acknowledging God the creator and merely showing charity of heart with no bitterness in my heart for perhaps his trying to take advantage of me.  

I tried to take pictures from the corners in sets of three.  I captured young people playing soccer.  I took shots of some of the gates, including the Eastern Gate.  I walked, I sat, I prayed.  I made it to the Dome of the Rock, when the Temple security escorted people off the Temple Mount.  I was able to take a few pictures before leaving the Mount.  I later ran into another American couple that was on their honeymoon.  They were from Michigan.  We were then joined by David and Rachel and we all talked until we departed.  I remember something that the woman from Michigan said.  She had brought a shaw to cover her shoulders, but the security told her that she would need to use one of the coverings that they provided and that she would have to pay, which she did.  A Couple last things, I enjoyed just sitting, reflecting, and looking at the olive trees and cedar trees.  It seems there are presently at least two groups that can worship God freely on the Temple Mount:  Muslims, the trees and vegetation.  

I later walked around the walls of the old city.  I took picture of gates, the Mount of Olives, and people.  The Mount of Olives is interesting!  It seems that there are three little mounts that make up the top.  When I looked at the mount and wondered where Jesus would have ascended from.  It seemed uncertain!  What was more certain was that it did not take place on the Temple Mount or Mount Zion. 

If Israel would have accepted Jesus would things have been different?  Was Jesus meant to ascend from the Temple Mount?  

It is interesting that according to Moslem tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven from the Mount.  Is this for real or an imitation?  If the first, it would have been a miracle!  If the later, it would be a forgery.  Did anyone witness Muhammad's ascent?  According to Luke-Acts, Jesus' ascension had witnesses who returned to Jerusalem and to the Temple.  

On a more humorous note, after talking with the two couples who were on their honeymoons from America, I checked my pockets to make sure I had my wallet, but when I checked my pockets they were empty!   All of them!  I thought how did they do that?  Someone took my wallet.  Then I remembered that I had to change my shorts when I arrived to the Temple Mount.  They had me go into a little shed in which to change into pants.

Two Olive Trees and Two Lamps on a Stand

It seems there are presently at least two groups

that can worship God freely on the Temple Mount:  

Muslims, the trees and vegetation.

Later in the evening I met and conversed with a former Rabbi from Temple Israel in Minneapolis, MN.  We talked briefly and exchanged pleasantries.  I asked him what he thought about the Temple Mount.  He said there is not going to be a Third Temple.  It is political and not religious.  

May 15, 2017 -- Fourth Day in Jerusaelm

May 15, 2017

I walked down to Jaffa St. and had coffee.  I took George Washington to King George St. to Jaffa.  Jaffa is one of the oldest streets in Jerusalem running from east to west.  The street has been renovated as a pedestrian road and now includes the Jerusalem Light Rail.  I took pictures of the light rail, the people, and buildings.  Jerusalem seems to be a universal city of all nations.  American cities might claim to be cities of all peoples, but it seemed to me at times to be forced.  Jerusalem seems to be more natural. It has people of various colors that I have never seen in one location.  Women wear a beautiful variety of colors.  At times some of the women ware clothing that is like an olive green in color, which I have not seen before.