Sunday September 9. 2007

This was our first Sunday in Jerusalem! Also the first Sunday any of us have ever had classes. Our Near Eastern History class taught by Adnan Musallam started today. He lived in the United States but has lived here and taught here and at Bethlehem University for a number of years so he knows and understands the Palestinian history and the basis for the conflicts here, in the Middle East. He is Palestinian Christian and English is his second language. Just in the first class I learned a lot about Arabic people and their history that I had never heard before. He talked about our preconceived notions of the geography of the Middle East and how by visiting we dispel those notions. By the end of the semester our perspective of the Middle East will be completely different because we will have toured Israel, Egypt and Jordan. By being here we will be able to learn far more than we could have studying in a classroom.
It was an overcast day, nice and cool with no homework so everyone went out into the city. I went to walk the sites of the Via Delarosa. Because it was Sunday, the Christian Sabbath we were not able to go into all the sites but we did visit the first three, the place where Christ was condemned, where he was whipped, and then where he was given the cross. As I looked at these sites I had to convince myself that this was where important parts of Christ’s life took place. We were able to see where the Romans could have been while they cast lots for Christ’s cloak. There was carving in the floor from the game they played. The worker pointed out to us the type of plant that was used to make the crown of thorns that was part of Christ's suffering. Observing all this made all the biblical stories more real to me. I am starting to understand more about him and his life.
Some other students went up to the temple mount. They were able to see the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque and walk where Jesus taught.
Other students walked around the city on the wall surrounding Jerusalem. They were able to see the entire city, the Armenian Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Muslim Quarter and the Jewish Quarter.
Another group went into the Old City to go shopping! I love how the merchants push their way in front of you to block your path and welcome you into their store. Mormons! 50% off!
Coming to Jerusalem has taught me things about Christ’s life that I couldn’t possibly learn anywhere else. Even though this city has changed a lot since he walked here so much history is still present and we are able to experience it!