Because it was once again Shabbat, we had a lazy Saturday, and because I was in the holy city I felt I should respect the rules of Shabbat and not use my camera. Not everyone felt the need to do so (which is fine), and so I was able to steal a few pictures from others to use here.
After breakfast, we had a group discussion time where we could ask the rabbi anything we wanted, anything on our minds about Judaism or Israel, etc. It was very informative, I'm sad it was only an hour long. Questions ranged from the origin of Kosher rules to Jewish emotions on the Islamic structures on the Temple Mount to historical tidbits.
After lunch, Yonit organized a little excursion so anyone who wanted could go on a Shabbat walk. We went to a rose garden and wound up at the Knesset (Parliament). Just like the previous night, because it was Shabbat the streets were empty. No cars and, what worked out well for us, no public transportation. That meant we could walk all over the streets, all over the train tracks, with no fear of anything coming our way. Yonit, who lives in Jerusalem, wanted to take advantage of this and do something she's never done before: walk over the Chords bridge. It's a new bridge in the new city of Jerusalem that the new Light Rail train runs over - no cars drive on it, and there is a pedestrian part to it but we wanted to dance on the tracks.
David, "Tebowing" on the Jerusalem Chords Bridge
After walking over the chords bridge and through a lovely rose garden (not blooming much in winter, but still nice), we found ourselves at the Knesset building, which houses the Israeli Parliament. Of course it was closed on Shabbat, but we still got a good look at the building, and a security officer came over to make sure we weren't causing any trouble.
A photo Greg took of the Knesset that I edited a little.
We made it back to the hotel just in time for Havdalah, then we had a little demonstration by a couple Israeli charities - one was a bone marrow registry, which apparently Israel does a lot of great work for, and one was a T-shirt company whose proceeds went to another charity.
And, of course, we had to light the Chanukkah candles!
Tony, helping a couple boys nearby light one of our extra menorahs.
Finally it was time to go out! And it was pouring rain! Our evening activity was to go shopping on Ben Yehuda, which is a big shopping street in the new city of Jerusalem. I actually thought the pouring rain made it a much more fun adventure. It was Christmas Eve, and being in a Jewish state on a Jewish trip it's easy to forget that all religions are thriving in Israel, especially in the holy city, so it seemed surreal at first to hear a choir singing Christmas carols. Perhaps the fact that it was a Chinese choir, singing in Latin, in the pouring rain, down the street from a giant illuminated menorah, that made it surreal... but it was nice to hear them, since Christmas is virtually nonexistent commercially in Israel. It was nice not to be bombarded with Macy's ads and being aggressively marketed to like in the States, but it was also nice to have that little touch of home.
Chinese choir singing Latin Xmas songs on Ben Yehuda
Giant glowing menorah!
Rain on Yaffo St.
After ducking in and out of stores and getting thoroughly soaked, Becky and I went in search of dinner. We found a place called the Waffle Stop, and got some delicious crepes there (logically), then took refuge in a restaurant's abandoned sidewalk canopy until it was time to meet the bus again. We were freezing, but I had a blast playing in the rain.
Becky and I, soaked!
Delicious crepe!
The next day was the last day of Birthright!
[As always, I do not put every single picture I take into this blog. To see the entire album of photos I took while on Birthright, go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtashalocke /sets/72157628872433827/ When I get to my extended, post-Birthright part of the trip, there will be a new album for those photos as well.]
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