Jerusalem Visit
A few days of recovery/contingency time is useful at the start of a lengthy trip. Depending on where you live in the US, Israel is between seven and nine hours ahead. That is enough of a time difference to require some adjustment and recovery. Contingency time allows for the all too frequent travel disruptions.
I arrived in Israel three days ahead of the start of my Sar-El volunteer stint. That provided sufficient recovery time and it ensured that I had time to recover from any travel disruptions, should they occur. In the event, there were no disruptions so I had three tourist days to spend in Israel.
I spent those three days visiting the Christian holy sites of Jerusalem. I stayed in the old city and I highly recommend that. Stepping out of your hotel, hostel, or VRBO directly into the old city of Jerusalem is an immersive experience. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the hostel where I stayed but there are hostels, hotels, and VRBO’s available to suit your preference and your budget. The location of the hostel where I stayed was great. The hostel itself; not so much. In 2022, Brenda and I stayed in a VRBO. That was great. The VRBO was on a courtyard with several other homes. It was nice.
Jerusalem is a worthwhile visit for Christians. Jerusalem is the holiest city in Judaism and it is a central part of Jewish identity and of the national life of Israel. There are, of course, lots of holy places for Jews in Jerusalem (e.g., the Western wall, Mount Zion, the tombs in the Kidron valley).
Jerusalem is also the birthplace of Christianity. The holiest sites in Christianity are in Jerusalem.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is, according to Christian tradition, the site where Jesus was crucified and the tomb of Jesus is inside the Church. The “Stone of the Anointing” is also inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Stone of the Anointing is where Jesus body was prepared for burial by Joseph of Aramithea (John 19:38, Matthew 27:57).
The Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives is where Jesus spent his last night (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-52, Luke 22:39-46, and John 18:1-12).
Mount Zion is on the Southwestern corner of the old city of Jerusalem at the Zion Gate. Mount Zion has Dormition Abbey. Dormition Abbey commemorates the place where Mary, Mother of Jesus, passed away. Mount Zion also has “The Room of the Last Supper.” This room, rebuilt in modern times, is believed to be located in the place where the last supper was held.
Jerusalem also has the Via Dolorosa (the “Way of Suffering”). This is the route that Christ took to his crucifixion. Walking the Via Dolorosa to pray at each of the stations of the cross is a popular tourist activity.
Jesus crossed the Kidron valley to enter Jerusalem through the Golden Gate on a donkey (prophesied in Zechariah and fulfilled in Matthew). And, Jesus and his disciples crossed the Kidron valley after the Last Supper to reach the Garden of Gethsemane.
There is lots more to see in Jerusalem. I have not even touched on the Crusader sites nor the sites established during Muslim rule. Muslims controlled Jerusalem off and on for about 1,300 years (638 AD to the early 1900’s). The Crusaders controlled Jerusalem for about 90 years (1099 to 1187). Understating the obvious, there is a lot of history (and historical sites) in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a worthwhile visit for Christians. The Jewish faith preceded the Christian faith. Jerusalem is the spiritual home of both faiths. Visit it if you can.
In the next article, I will talk about the first week of volunteer work with Sar-El. It started with a bang – in the most literal way.
Here are a few more pictures that you may find interesting. Some of these pictures are from sites outside Jerusalem that are worth visiting.
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