Holy Places in Jerusalem

Day 6 journal by Beth Dobyns

Today we have seen a number of the Holy places in Jerusalem. Our group had an excellent tour guide accompany us as we visited theTemple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall (WailingWall). Along the way we discussed the sense of shared origins in these sites, realizing that these same places of reverence are the cause of discord among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is admittedly a different feeling to be told that we had to take off any cross jewelry and we could not take Bibles onto the Temple Mount. Since this particular part of the site is common to all three groups no one is able to bring any “symbol of ritual” on the visit. It is also a little different for us Disciples to discover that there are some places which we are not allowed to enter. Respect for other traditions guided us in understanding this direction. Our group also visited the Mount of Olives and the Gethsemane Church as well as the Dominus Flevit Church, the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. An outcropping of rock is preserved in the Gethsemane site as the place where Jesus knelt to pray. The church contains some lovely mosaics and it is a quiet place to stop for prayer. Outside….the grove of olive trees stand guard. Some have been planted on special occasions over the years, and some of the trees are ancient. The gnarled trunks and dusty green leaves present a living witness to struggle and celebration over the years since Jesus moved among the streets and gardens of Jerusalem. The group also had a chance to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as the Church of the Resurrection. This church is considered one of the most holy sites in the world, for it is believed to be built over the tomb of Jesus. We were certainly remembering the words of the song, “I walked today where Jesus walked.” This afternoon we toured areas in the West Bank and learned a lot more about Palestine. We heard about the separation barrier and its impact on the communities on either side. It was a day of listening once again, and trying to understand more about settlements and their development over the years. It is a complex situation and a place in the world that is often the focus of debate and disagreement. We found this to be an amazing opportunity to see communities that are so near the Holy Sites and so far from peace. Every day we have had the opportunity to learn/see more than we can process. But we have been honored to have the time each day to debrief our experiences and impressions from the day. It is helpful to be able to ask for clarification while we are here. We have also had some moments of levity, and that is part of the trip as well. Perhaps you will see a picture of some of the cats of the Middle East! We have seen them everywhere. We have also had the chance to sample Turkish coffee almost every day along with all kinds of wonderful food. Our group is grateful for the hospitality we have received from so many Christians every day of our journey.