(DAY 8) Shabbat Activities...

On this Shabbat day, not much in Jerusalem is open.  Stores are closed and buses do not run.  Our group split up today --

Some went to the services held at Shira Hadasha, an Orthodox Feminist synagogue.  This is the only synagogue like it in the world. 

I heard the place was packed on Saturday morning - with a baby naming going on as well.

And it was really interesting - a Mechitza (curtain divider) separates the men from the women, but it also divides the reading table and the ark.  Torahs are passed from one side

to the other.  Women get aliyahs and read from the Torah.

For more info, see : http://www.shirahadasha.org.il/english/

Another group took a full day tour of Christian sites in Bethlehem area, and saw the Nativity as well as coming back to Jerusalem to see the Curch of the Holy Sepulchre.

Finally, a third group took a half day walking tour of Jerusalem Christian sites.  Since I went on the half day tour, here are some of the pictures from that tour. 

I hope to fill in with more pictures from the Bethlehem tour later on...

Just outside Jerusalem - an example of how a round
rock (wheel) is used to close the entrance of a tomb
(middle center is the tomb with top of wheel rock just to left)



Starting of the Jerusalem Walking tour from
the King David Tower entrance -- the Jaffa gate 



A quiet little "English" courtyard,
just off the main path

An antiquities shop has ancient pottery, coins, vessels on display

Via Dolorosa - Station 9 of the Stations of the Cross

A Coptic Church

Decending in a tight spot / stairwell

In the underground is a Cistern
(a manmade water collection tank)

Rooftop dome of the Armenian Chapel in the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Stations of the Cross - the Spot where Jesus body was laid

This is the Armenian chapel we saw from the roof

St. Helen -- The spot where the crown fell off Jesus'
head on his way to crucifixion, found and retrieved by Helen

In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Stones from Jesus' tomb are on display inside this enclosure
(There are multiple entrances to the tomb)

Not the actual tomb, but after the tomb was destroyed,
this offers the only proof that there were tombs and
a cemetery in the same general area of the Holy Sepulchre

We returned to the hotel for a little R&R break.

Then, we held a Havdalah service at the hotel, followed by a trek into Jerusalem to take in Dinner and then the Sound and Light show at King David's tower.  It was really good but it was FREEZING!

Eating - quickly before the show

Who is this ??   MTV