Jenessa Simmons
September 5, 2007
What a day today was! We spent the better part of it on a plane – it was a long flight. This plane was cooler than the one yesterday though, it had bigger seats and cool little TV screens so that we didn’t feel as obligated to make awkward conversation with our neighbors… just kidding, we talked anyway, but it was nice to have something else to do when my super-cool-new-friend-seat-buddy (Danny) fell asleep.
In the airport before we boarded the plane there was this hippy-ish looking Jewish guy playing the guitar and singing, it made me really excited to come to this country. I also met a Mormon couple that was going to Jerusalem for 10 days and all they had were two small carry-ons… amazing! If only I could say the same (my 69.5 lb suitcase was sort of hard to carry.)
When our flight landed we followed the crowd to customs where we got into a bunch of different lines and showed our passports to people. Apparently some people just had to hand the passport over to the customs officers and they got a stamp in their passport, but the lady who took my passport asked me approximately seven million questions:
“What is your full name? Born in…? How long will you stay here? Where are you staying? Why are you here? What are you studying? Are you with a group? How big is it? Do you speak Arabic or Hebrew? What is your father’s name?”
Tough lady, real tough. Unfortunately some of those questions baffled me. I was disoriented, jetlagged, and so tired that all those questions sounded like trick questions to me. Thankfully, the lady finally smiled at me, stamped my passport and let me though. Phew!
We got to the Jerusalem Center at about 6 o’clock. It is such a beautiful building; amazing and majestic – I can’t believe we’re going to live in it! We ate some dinner in the “Oasis,” had a sort of orientation and then listened to Brother Galbraith play the organ in the auditorium. We have a beautiful view of the city from the Jerusalem Center, absolutely unbeatable.
Basically I just can’t believe that we are here, in Jerusalem. It’s surreal, I do not believe it, and I don’t think that anyone else quite gets it yet either. Everyone is really nice though, we’re all still timid and self-conscious; I can’t wait until we’re comfortable around each other.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
October 31, 2007
Ryan Taylor
Nov 7, 2007
Journal Entry for October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween! Actually, we haven’t had much of a Halloween at all, since we are right in the middle of our trip to Jordan. Some of the students carved some pumpkins though, kindly giving one to Professor Huntington. I think that is as festive as it got for Halloween. It has been an absolute blast being in Jordan though! We spent the entire morning in Jerash, one of the ten Roman Decapolis cities throughout this area. The ruins are absolutely phenomenal. Amman is very dry, with little rain or even air moisture, so the Roman ruins have lasted a very long time, many of them only ruined by earthquakes. The cardo maximus, or main street, was quite spectacular to take in. The street is completely lined with high reaching columns about every 20 feet and is paved with large stone blocks. They stones even have grooves in them from all the traffic, and it isn’t hard to imagine a bustling street full of carts and wagons, with vendors and shops packed in between the columns. There are also several temples there, dedicated to Jupiter, Hercules, and other Roman deity. Some of the students attended a Roman theatrical production in the Hippodrome. They had actors showing off Roman dress and styles, performed mock battles of gladiators and legions, and even had a chariot race. The students that went seemed to enjoy it, although I’m sure it wasn’t nearly as engaging as races among the students themselves.
That afternoon we were hosted by the President of the Amman branch. We met at the church building in Amman, and he gave us a summary of the church in the Middle East. I was surprised to find out just how many Jordanians, Syrians, and even Egyptians are members. The Lord is truly preparing the foundation for this work to go forth among the Arab nations. This deals with the scattering and gathering of Israel, something we have learned a great deal about these last few months, something that I was quite ignorant about previously. It is incredible the prophecies that these people have concerning their future, and I have to pause and reflect in wonderment of the incredible things that the Lord is doing to prepare this land and his people for his restored gospel. It is a privilege to be here in the middle of it, and maybe one day take an active part in it as well.
Nov 7, 2007
Journal Entry for October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween! Actually, we haven’t had much of a Halloween at all, since we are right in the middle of our trip to Jordan. Some of the students carved some pumpkins though, kindly giving one to Professor Huntington. I think that is as festive as it got for Halloween. It has been an absolute blast being in Jordan though! We spent the entire morning in Jerash, one of the ten Roman Decapolis cities throughout this area. The ruins are absolutely phenomenal. Amman is very dry, with little rain or even air moisture, so the Roman ruins have lasted a very long time, many of them only ruined by earthquakes. The cardo maximus, or main street, was quite spectacular to take in. The street is completely lined with high reaching columns about every 20 feet and is paved with large stone blocks. They stones even have grooves in them from all the traffic, and it isn’t hard to imagine a bustling street full of carts and wagons, with vendors and shops packed in between the columns. There are also several temples there, dedicated to Jupiter, Hercules, and other Roman deity. Some of the students attended a Roman theatrical production in the Hippodrome. They had actors showing off Roman dress and styles, performed mock battles of gladiators and legions, and even had a chariot race. The students that went seemed to enjoy it, although I’m sure it wasn’t nearly as engaging as races among the students themselves.
That afternoon we were hosted by the President of the Amman branch. We met at the church building in Amman, and he gave us a summary of the church in the Middle East. I was surprised to find out just how many Jordanians, Syrians, and even Egyptians are members. The Lord is truly preparing the foundation for this work to go forth among the Arab nations. This deals with the scattering and gathering of Israel, something we have learned a great deal about these last few months, something that I was quite ignorant about previously. It is incredible the prophecies that these people have concerning their future, and I have to pause and reflect in wonderment of the incredible things that the Lord is doing to prepare this land and his people for his restored gospel. It is a privilege to be here in the middle of it, and maybe one day take an active part in it as well.
October 2, 2007
Ryan Taylor
Professor Ludlow
Oct. 2, 2007
Class Journal Entry for September 25, 2007
Today was an especially memorable day because it was our first full day in Egypt. We had arrived at our hotel during the night, and had only caught a glimpse of the pyramids, and couldn’t wait to explore them. It was a surreal experience to be sure, and more than once the sentiment of “I can’t believe we are really here” was voiced. The immensity of the pyramids is difficult to take in, even when you are standing right next to them. We had a chance to enter the 2nd largest pyramid and see the chamber of the pharaoh, which wasn’t too exciting in itself, only the idea that you were in the pyramid and had thousands of tons of rock on top of you. After tons of pictures, including the ridiculous but traditional human “pyramid in front of a pyramid” photo, we headed over for a real treat: a camel ride. This was quite different from any experience most of us have had before. The ride is fairly smooth and exhilarating; it is only when the camel gets up from his knees or goes back down again that causes some anxiety, as you feel that you are going to fall off either the front or the back. This experience was followed by a visit to the temple complexes of the pyramids, including the great sphinx. We had seen this figure all our lives and it was amazing to stand within feet of it, this marvel carved of only one gigantic piece of stone.
That same day we did some serious shopping(this does not include the persistent and surprisingly aggressive souvenir sellers at every main tourist draw), with stops at a papyrus factory and at a jewelry store as well. The papyrus people have long dealt with BYU students, and have produced a papyrus of the facsimiles seen in the Book of Abraham. These seemed to be the biggest hit, although a scene of love between the pharaoh and his wife was a close second. The main draw at the jeweler was the cartouge pendants and rings. Basically they translate the letters of a name into the corresponding Egyptian hieroglyphics. They offered them gold, silver, and a mix of the two, as well as a variety of sizes and styles.
Even after a draining day of incredible sights and experiences, the night brought little respite. Having packed for a two day mini-trip the night before, the buses dropped us of at the train station for our overnight train ride to Luxor. It was quite a trip. The tiny two-man cabins consisted of 2 chairs that turned into bunk beds and a sink. However, the experience varies greatly among the students, as some enjoyed every minute of it and sleep incredibly well, while others were waiting for our arrival the minute the train started to move. And thus ended our first full day in Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs.
Professor Ludlow
Oct. 2, 2007
Class Journal Entry for September 25, 2007
Today was an especially memorable day because it was our first full day in Egypt. We had arrived at our hotel during the night, and had only caught a glimpse of the pyramids, and couldn’t wait to explore them. It was a surreal experience to be sure, and more than once the sentiment of “I can’t believe we are really here” was voiced. The immensity of the pyramids is difficult to take in, even when you are standing right next to them. We had a chance to enter the 2nd largest pyramid and see the chamber of the pharaoh, which wasn’t too exciting in itself, only the idea that you were in the pyramid and had thousands of tons of rock on top of you. After tons of pictures, including the ridiculous but traditional human “pyramid in front of a pyramid” photo, we headed over for a real treat: a camel ride. This was quite different from any experience most of us have had before. The ride is fairly smooth and exhilarating; it is only when the camel gets up from his knees or goes back down again that causes some anxiety, as you feel that you are going to fall off either the front or the back. This experience was followed by a visit to the temple complexes of the pyramids, including the great sphinx. We had seen this figure all our lives and it was amazing to stand within feet of it, this marvel carved of only one gigantic piece of stone.
That same day we did some serious shopping(this does not include the persistent and surprisingly aggressive souvenir sellers at every main tourist draw), with stops at a papyrus factory and at a jewelry store as well. The papyrus people have long dealt with BYU students, and have produced a papyrus of the facsimiles seen in the Book of Abraham. These seemed to be the biggest hit, although a scene of love between the pharaoh and his wife was a close second. The main draw at the jeweler was the cartouge pendants and rings. Basically they translate the letters of a name into the corresponding Egyptian hieroglyphics. They offered them gold, silver, and a mix of the two, as well as a variety of sizes and styles.
Even after a draining day of incredible sights and experiences, the night brought little respite. Having packed for a two day mini-trip the night before, the buses dropped us of at the train station for our overnight train ride to Luxor. It was quite a trip. The tiny two-man cabins consisted of 2 chairs that turned into bunk beds and a sink. However, the experience varies greatly among the students, as some enjoyed every minute of it and sleep incredibly well, while others were waiting for our arrival the minute the train started to move. And thus ended our first full day in Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs.
September 14, 2007
Ryan Taylor
Professor Ludlow
Class Journal Entry for September 14, 2007
Today is a very rare day indeed. Ramadan, the Islamic holiday consisting primarily of a month long fast, started yesterday. Their main worship services are every Friday and so today is a very special day to them, as it is the first holy day of Ramadan. As for the Jews, we are in the middle of one of their holidays as well, and the Rosh Hoshanna Sabbath starts tonight. The reason that this occurrence is so rare is that the two religions use different calendars, with Islam based on a lunar calendar while the Jews use a luni-solar calendar. Therefore, Ramadan is at a different time every year (according to the Gregorian calendar) while Rosh Hoshanna is usually in September. As a result, the holy sites in Jerusalem are extremely populated. The Al-Aska Mosque is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors for the Friday prayers. Similarly, the West Wall will undoubtedly see more activity as it is a Jewish high holiday. Add on top of that the tensions and problems already in the air between the Palestinians and the Jews; it makes for quite a day. Over the city we could see the police blimps equipped with cameras to monitor the crowds. Fortunately, there were no major incidents.
The down side to the great cultural experience and excitement is that we had to view it all from the balcony seats. The center was on complete shutdown for the day, thus students were not allowed to go anywhere. Luckily, we have some very creative students that took the initiative to prepare an activity: an improv-talent show. Now, nobody knew exactly what that meant, and rumors abounded about what we would be expected to do, many of them quite dramatic and even fearful. Regardless, the majority of the students were brave enough to show their faces, and the event was quite fun. We broke into groups, each required to perform some sort of improvised skit. We were entertained by an interpretive dance “featuring” professor Kearl and his instructive orientation. The crowd was delighted by a human puppet show of our trip from Utah to the Holy Land. One group showed their impressive acting skills by performing various interpretations of our flight over the Atlantic, ranging from underwater acting to gangster passengers. The entire forum was rocked by an “opera” musical of Joseph in Egypt. Turning to a different style of music, we were enlightened by a rap song about our headphone fanny packs and their incredible utility. Last, but certainly not least, we were all smitten by a romantic poetry reading concerning forbidden love here at the center. Everyone had a great time, both performing and laughing. However, I am concerned that the professors and service couples were there to enjoy all the fun, yet they were never given the opportunity to embarrass themselves as well. This will have to be corrected in the future. In the end, it was a great way to break up a day that would have otherwise been spent in study and inevitable boredom during the lockdown.
Professor Ludlow
Class Journal Entry for September 14, 2007
Today is a very rare day indeed. Ramadan, the Islamic holiday consisting primarily of a month long fast, started yesterday. Their main worship services are every Friday and so today is a very special day to them, as it is the first holy day of Ramadan. As for the Jews, we are in the middle of one of their holidays as well, and the Rosh Hoshanna Sabbath starts tonight. The reason that this occurrence is so rare is that the two religions use different calendars, with Islam based on a lunar calendar while the Jews use a luni-solar calendar. Therefore, Ramadan is at a different time every year (according to the Gregorian calendar) while Rosh Hoshanna is usually in September. As a result, the holy sites in Jerusalem are extremely populated. The Al-Aska Mosque is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors for the Friday prayers. Similarly, the West Wall will undoubtedly see more activity as it is a Jewish high holiday. Add on top of that the tensions and problems already in the air between the Palestinians and the Jews; it makes for quite a day. Over the city we could see the police blimps equipped with cameras to monitor the crowds. Fortunately, there were no major incidents.
The down side to the great cultural experience and excitement is that we had to view it all from the balcony seats. The center was on complete shutdown for the day, thus students were not allowed to go anywhere. Luckily, we have some very creative students that took the initiative to prepare an activity: an improv-talent show. Now, nobody knew exactly what that meant, and rumors abounded about what we would be expected to do, many of them quite dramatic and even fearful. Regardless, the majority of the students were brave enough to show their faces, and the event was quite fun. We broke into groups, each required to perform some sort of improvised skit. We were entertained by an interpretive dance “featuring” professor Kearl and his instructive orientation. The crowd was delighted by a human puppet show of our trip from Utah to the Holy Land. One group showed their impressive acting skills by performing various interpretations of our flight over the Atlantic, ranging from underwater acting to gangster passengers. The entire forum was rocked by an “opera” musical of Joseph in Egypt. Turning to a different style of music, we were enlightened by a rap song about our headphone fanny packs and their incredible utility. Last, but certainly not least, we were all smitten by a romantic poetry reading concerning forbidden love here at the center. Everyone had a great time, both performing and laughing. However, I am concerned that the professors and service couples were there to enjoy all the fun, yet they were never given the opportunity to embarrass themselves as well. This will have to be corrected in the future. In the end, it was a great way to break up a day that would have otherwise been spent in study and inevitable boredom during the lockdown.
September 7, 2007
Jason Bentley
September 7th, 2007
Considering that half the class was still stumbling around in our jet-lag induced half zombie state, it was a very successful day. It was the first official day of class. And Brother Ludlow took the time to teach us what was really at stake this semester, when he told us that one of his primary purposes as a teacher is to teach us how to be superb teachers. My head cocked slightly as he said that. I wasn't sure exactly what he meant.
He then went on to describe three very active brothers who we might one day get the opportunity of teaching. He then explained that these three youths were his grandchildren, and that he would want his grandchildren to have the best teachers, and we would all one day be teachers. Whether teachers of primary or home teachers, or just parents who teach their children, we would all be teachers.
We then went on to have a great lesson on moral agency and intelligence. We also learned how our bodies are literally made from the dust of the earth. The matter which creates our bodies is made of the food we eat. So let's say we had a hamburger for lunch. The matter which creates the cow's body is the food he ate, which is grass. And the grass got it's matter from the soil, hence, from dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return.
In the afternoon we took a walk to the western wall. It was in the late afternoon and we took the historic path of Via Dolorosa. It was very enlightening to see how many Jewish faithful come to welcome in the Sabbath. There is a really special feeling at the western wall and it is incredible to think that the wall that surrounded the courtyard is all that is left of the ancient temple.
Bother Ludlow helped us identify different sects of Judaism who came to worship. It is interesting to see how just like in Christianity thought the Jews worship the same being their manner of worship is very distinct. One example is that one of the more orthodox groups will go to the wall in a thick heavy coat and a fur hat despite the hot weather. Other groups sing loudly, while others just come and sit and solemnity. Despite these differences, however, we learned that that the both the Western Wall and the Sabbath are sacred to the Jewish people.
September 7th, 2007
Considering that half the class was still stumbling around in our jet-lag induced half zombie state, it was a very successful day. It was the first official day of class. And Brother Ludlow took the time to teach us what was really at stake this semester, when he told us that one of his primary purposes as a teacher is to teach us how to be superb teachers. My head cocked slightly as he said that. I wasn't sure exactly what he meant.
He then went on to describe three very active brothers who we might one day get the opportunity of teaching. He then explained that these three youths were his grandchildren, and that he would want his grandchildren to have the best teachers, and we would all one day be teachers. Whether teachers of primary or home teachers, or just parents who teach their children, we would all be teachers.
We then went on to have a great lesson on moral agency and intelligence. We also learned how our bodies are literally made from the dust of the earth. The matter which creates our bodies is made of the food we eat. So let's say we had a hamburger for lunch. The matter which creates the cow's body is the food he ate, which is grass. And the grass got it's matter from the soil, hence, from dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return.
In the afternoon we took a walk to the western wall. It was in the late afternoon and we took the historic path of Via Dolorosa. It was very enlightening to see how many Jewish faithful come to welcome in the Sabbath. There is a really special feeling at the western wall and it is incredible to think that the wall that surrounded the courtyard is all that is left of the ancient temple.
Bother Ludlow helped us identify different sects of Judaism who came to worship. It is interesting to see how just like in Christianity thought the Jews worship the same being their manner of worship is very distinct. One example is that one of the more orthodox groups will go to the wall in a thick heavy coat and a fur hat despite the hot weather. Other groups sing loudly, while others just come and sit and solemnity. Despite these differences, however, we learned that that the both the Western Wall and the Sabbath are sacred to the Jewish people.
October 14, 2007
October 14, 2007
Spencer Kelly
Shabbat Shalom! We enjoyed another wonderful Shabbat service at the Jerusalem Center today. The auditorium was as full as we have yet seen it here for a sacrament meeting service. We had guests mostly from Utah who were participating in a guided tour of the Holy Land. Their tour guide David Rona, former branch president of the Jerusalem Branch, addressed us as well as Kendra Crandall and Greg Marsh. Each of them prepared well and those of us listening benefited from the personal thoughts and feelings that were prompted as they spoke.
The one thing that made this day a memorable experience for me was the music. Bro. Galbraith spent a considerable amount of heartfelt time arranging a song for the choir to sing during the sacrament hour. He said that as far as he knew no choir had ever sung the piece before. He continued by saying that he wanted them to know this so that the choir could feel honored to participate in such an event. The choir performed beautifully and the spirit of the song was felt by all in attendance.
In Relief Society, the sisters were taught about joy. I spoke to one sister who appreciated the thought that they have self worth because they are daughters of God. She thought that it was important to understand that you cannot love others until you love yourself. This is why having self esteem will always be important to her. The sisters agreed that the idea that they are of no self worth was something which Satan continually uses against them. They said, “one cannot feel the need to take hold to the Savior and be healed by his sacrifice when they believe themselves to be of no worth.” The meeting ended with a musical number entitled “Joy of the Morning.” The sisters said that it was amazing and that it testified to them that which they had just been taught.
The musical number apparently was so amazing that the sisters were asked to sing at the evening fireside given by Bro. Ludlow’s. Bro. Ludlow emphasized the fact that Isaiah’s writings are the most quoted of all prophets by the Savior. He told us that he understood the initial fear that most people have of Isaiah’s writings and stressed that you just have to roll up your sleeves and get into it. The Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, and footnotes are the best resources we can use to unravel the words of Isaiah. Bro. Ludlow closed with his testimony that Isaiah was a prophet and that he prophesied of Christ and that the writings of Isaiah are important to understand. I feel grateful for the spirit that I felt this Shabbat and for the testimonies spoken and sung which strengthened my faith in the Savior.
Spencer Kelly
Shabbat Shalom! We enjoyed another wonderful Shabbat service at the Jerusalem Center today. The auditorium was as full as we have yet seen it here for a sacrament meeting service. We had guests mostly from Utah who were participating in a guided tour of the Holy Land. Their tour guide David Rona, former branch president of the Jerusalem Branch, addressed us as well as Kendra Crandall and Greg Marsh. Each of them prepared well and those of us listening benefited from the personal thoughts and feelings that were prompted as they spoke.
The one thing that made this day a memorable experience for me was the music. Bro. Galbraith spent a considerable amount of heartfelt time arranging a song for the choir to sing during the sacrament hour. He said that as far as he knew no choir had ever sung the piece before. He continued by saying that he wanted them to know this so that the choir could feel honored to participate in such an event. The choir performed beautifully and the spirit of the song was felt by all in attendance.
In Relief Society, the sisters were taught about joy. I spoke to one sister who appreciated the thought that they have self worth because they are daughters of God. She thought that it was important to understand that you cannot love others until you love yourself. This is why having self esteem will always be important to her. The sisters agreed that the idea that they are of no self worth was something which Satan continually uses against them. They said, “one cannot feel the need to take hold to the Savior and be healed by his sacrifice when they believe themselves to be of no worth.” The meeting ended with a musical number entitled “Joy of the Morning.” The sisters said that it was amazing and that it testified to them that which they had just been taught.
The musical number apparently was so amazing that the sisters were asked to sing at the evening fireside given by Bro. Ludlow’s. Bro. Ludlow emphasized the fact that Isaiah’s writings are the most quoted of all prophets by the Savior. He told us that he understood the initial fear that most people have of Isaiah’s writings and stressed that you just have to roll up your sleeves and get into it. The Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, and footnotes are the best resources we can use to unravel the words of Isaiah. Bro. Ludlow closed with his testimony that Isaiah was a prophet and that he prophesied of Christ and that the writings of Isaiah are important to understand. I feel grateful for the spirit that I felt this Shabbat and for the testimonies spoken and sung which strengthened my faith in the Savior.
September 20, 2007
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September 20, 2007
Spencer Kelly
6:30 breakfast came a little too early for most this morning, after yesterday’s fun free day at the beach and the Old City. Jimmy outdid himself in the kitchen again and cooked us up French toast, eggs, and the cinnamon oatmeal, porridge stuff that we all can’t get enough of. 7:30 Old Testament class just could not come quick enough yet, we waited patiently for Bro. Ludlow to begin.
Our discussion revolved mainly around covenants. We learned that the word covenant means to cut a bond, or karat be’rith in Hebrew. A covenant is “a solemn agreement between two or more parties,” “a promise of God to His children,” “a solemn agreement between God and His children containing His promises to us.” Bro. Ludlow spoke of the seven basic elements of a covenant and their possible usefulness on a future quiz namely: introduction, historical context, stipulations, ritual act, rewards and punishments, witnesses, and perpetuation. Covenants can be either vertical or horizontal; vertical meaning between God and His children and horizontal meaning between humans, either as individuals or groups. To our dismay time flew by as usual and before we knew it 8:30 was upon us and it was time to move to the forum for our Judaism class.
Looming uncertainty hung about us on our long walk from classroom 3 to the forum where our first Judaism quiz awaited us. We would be quizzed on material that covered hundreds of pages of reading, which of course, we did long before this day approached. The forum usually frigid as the Siberian tundra, was sweltering with anticipation of what was about to take place. The battle with Jewish history was long and hard but our class came out victorious in end with only a few casualties.
After the battle, separate ways were taken, Hebrew speakers to class and Arabic speakers to bed. Nap time was thoroughly enjoyed and we Arabic speakers came to lunch feeling mabsootin. Overly confident after spending an hour with the legendary Judy Goldman, the Hebrew speakers greeted us with a newly learned song and dance.
Numbering close to 50, we left the Center to see the ever impressive Israel National Museum. Oohs and aahs fell freely, as we went from exhibit to exhibit, from the strange art to the stranger. Cultured and hungry we quickly returned home to the Center and called it a day.
September 20, 2007
Spencer Kelly
6:30 breakfast came a little too early for most this morning, after yesterday’s fun free day at the beach and the Old City. Jimmy outdid himself in the kitchen again and cooked us up French toast, eggs, and the cinnamon oatmeal, porridge stuff that we all can’t get enough of. 7:30 Old Testament class just could not come quick enough yet, we waited patiently for Bro. Ludlow to begin.
Our discussion revolved mainly around covenants. We learned that the word covenant means to cut a bond, or karat be’rith in Hebrew. A covenant is “a solemn agreement between two or more parties,” “a promise of God to His children,” “a solemn agreement between God and His children containing His promises to us.” Bro. Ludlow spoke of the seven basic elements of a covenant and their possible usefulness on a future quiz namely: introduction, historical context, stipulations, ritual act, rewards and punishments, witnesses, and perpetuation. Covenants can be either vertical or horizontal; vertical meaning between God and His children and horizontal meaning between humans, either as individuals or groups. To our dismay time flew by as usual and before we knew it 8:30 was upon us and it was time to move to the forum for our Judaism class.
Looming uncertainty hung about us on our long walk from classroom 3 to the forum where our first Judaism quiz awaited us. We would be quizzed on material that covered hundreds of pages of reading, which of course, we did long before this day approached. The forum usually frigid as the Siberian tundra, was sweltering with anticipation of what was about to take place. The battle with Jewish history was long and hard but our class came out victorious in end with only a few casualties.
After the battle, separate ways were taken, Hebrew speakers to class and Arabic speakers to bed. Nap time was thoroughly enjoyed and we Arabic speakers came to lunch feeling mabsootin. Overly confident after spending an hour with the legendary Judy Goldman, the Hebrew speakers greeted us with a newly learned song and dance.
Numbering close to 50, we left the Center to see the ever impressive Israel National Museum. Oohs and aahs fell freely, as we went from exhibit to exhibit, from the strange art to the stranger. Cultured and hungry we quickly returned home to the Center and called it a day.
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