LHBC Israel Tour 2008

Pictures from our Farewell Dinner at a wonderful restrauant outside Jerusalem at Abu Gosh.

Group picture from The Garden Tomb.

Pictures from Friday, June 6th

We started our last day just outside Temple Mount at the Davidson Archeological Center.  Here our group is walking the actual southern steps from before 70 AD up to Temple Mount. 

Here some of our group is walking a street from before 70 AD.  Notice the large stones to the upper far right.  Those are from the wall of Temple Mount from the Second Temple period.  They were found just as they fell when Titus destroyed the Temple in 70 AD. 

Although we did not go there, in the distance you can see Bethlehem.  From this view point in southern Jerusalem, you can see Bethlehem in the background and the Shepherd’s Fields in the foreground.

Our final stop of the tour before we said goodbye to Jerusalem was The Garden Tomb.  This is one of two places believed to be the burial site of Jesus. 

While the exact burial site of Jesus is not known, the one thing we can all agree on is the tomb is empty because He lives!

Pictures from Thursday, June 5th

Today, we drove into the Dead Sea region stopping first at the 1st century fortress of Masada.  Here is a shot from high atop the mountain looking down at the remains of two of the many Roman encampments that encircled Masada in the 1st century.

Here is a view of the Dead Sea from atop Masada.

Some of our group taking in the view from atop Masada.

Some of our group taking in the view from atop Masada.  Notice the rock pile in the foreground.  These were catapult projectiles used by the Romans to beseign the Jewish people atop Masada.

Some of our group standing in the remains of a 5th century Byzantine church atop Masada.  

No pictures published of anyone floating in the Dead Sea.  We will leave it to the group to let those picture out at their discretion.  However, check out what is at the bottom of the Dead Sea.  These are mineral balls containing primarily salt but also bromine, magnesium, iodine and other chemicals.  36% of the Dead Sea is comprised of salt and other chemicals.  It is also the lowest spot on the planet at more than 1,300 feet below sea level.   

At Qumrun, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, some of our group got to ride a camel.  Here, Brian is beginning his ride.  One member of our group said one of the reasons they came was to ride a camel which gives new meaning to that old saying “I’d walk a mile (or in this case fly 6,500 miles) for a camel.”

Pictures from Wednesday, June 4th

We started our day back in the Old City at the Western Wall.  This picture was taking as we walked the ramp up to Temple Mount overlooking the Western Wall.  The pieces of furniture house the Torah Scrolls (The first five books of our Old Testament).  The men are wearing their phylacteries and prayer shaws reading from their siddur (prayer book) and reciting their morning prayers.

Relationships are a vital element of life in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.  These men are on their way to the Western Wall for their morning prayers.

We made it.  The Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount.  

Up on Temple Mount, just to the west of the Dome of the Rock, this is the place believed to be where the Holy of Holies of the First and Second Jewish Temple were located.

A Bar Mitzvah for a young Jewish boy who, at age 13, becomes a man and can now read from the Torah Scrolls by himself for the first time.  

We all experience a moment of being moved to tears while visiting Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial.  They do not permit pictures inside as it is a memorial to the 6,000,000 Jews murdered by the Nazis during World War II.  This is a picture of the children’s memorial.

We ended our day at the Shrine of the Book and the Old City Model.  Danny, our guide, is pointing out the places we have visited this week.  Also, in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary, the museum has brought out for limited display the Book of Isaiah from the Dead Sea Scrolls.  No pictures were allowed but this was a unique opportunity to view such an important document.  Our guide, Danny, who has been doing this for many years, had never seen the Isaiah scroll himself.  A first for all of us. 

Pictures from Tuesday, June 3rd

We started our day in the Old City at the Western Wall.  Some of our travelers wrote prayers on small pieces of paper and placed them in the wall or stood facing the wall praying for the Jewish people.  A truly moving experience.and placed them in the wall or stood facing the wall praying for the Jewish people.  A truly moving experience.

Our guide, Danny, tells us about the stone blocks we saw at the base of Temple Mount.  These blocks are part of the original Temple Mount wall dating back to the days of King Herod.  That’s 2,000 years ago!!!  

After a busy morning of touring, we enjoyed a traditional Israeli lunch overlooking the Western Wall complex.  

This week has been Jerusalem Week celebrating the 41st anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.  Today thousands of Israeli school children took to the streets to celebrate this glorious event.  Patriotism and national pride is a wonderful thing to witness; especially from young people. 

Pictures from Monday, June 2nd

We started our day on the Mount of Olives with the Temple Mount in the background.  Our group and guide, Danny (far right) minus Kaleb who took the picture.

The Eastern Gate to Temple Mount taken from the Garden of Gethsemane.