LET US GO UP

Shalom Mishpocha.

We had an ambitious agenda for our day today. We started our morning with a quick breakfast after morning prayers, and then with our cool iPhone GPS in hand set out for a 1 hour walk to the Israel Museum.  This stroll took us through the elegant Rechavia Neighborhood of Jerusalem. We found lots of hills to hike up and only got off course a couple of times.  Beware of locals who say "its just around the block and to the left"...oy vey!  It is sufficient to say that we did enjoy our comfy walking shoes on this expedition.

We found The Israel Museum to be both enchanting and enlightening.  The two main attractions are a 1/50 scale model of the city of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, and the symbolic exhibit of the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient manuscripts.  We watched two documentary films both of which I found extremely interesting.  However, one tidbit that really stuck out to me was that the Dead Sea Scrolls were found the SAME day in November 1947 that the UN passed the resolution to form the modern State of Israel as a nation.

No one disputes that the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls is the most significant biblical archeological discovery in at least the last few hundred years (maybe longer).  Equally, for those of us who are tuned in to Hashem's plan of redemption and who study the Book, the rebirth of the modern State of Israel is the fulfillment of prophesy of epic proportions.  The fact that these two events occurred on the very same day in history is certainly no accident in my mind.That means that they were found two thousand years after they were written.  A similar reconfirming find of the revelation of the Living Word two thousand years later.

We had a fun taxi ride back to our side of town grabbed a bite to eat and were back at the apartment ready to receive Jonathan after work.  We went out for pizza on Ben Yehuda and had a great time.  It is really nice to know you can walk into almost any restaurant in Jerusalem and know that every thing is certified kosher.  What a nice change from America where we find it harder and harder to eat out.

Another cool and funny highlight from today happened this evening as we were out walking on King George Street.  Benjamin and Andy each had some shekels just burning some holes in their pockets.  We came up on a old beggar woman sitting by the street (unfortunately there are a lot of poor and homeless in Jerusalem).  The kids decided that rather than spend their money on candy and the like they would give tzedakah to the old woman.  Andy dropped her shekel in the lady's cup.  Then Benjamin reached over and dropped his shekel in her cup.  By now the lady's face lit up when she saw these little children and their acts of kindness.  Before Benjamin could retract his hand she grabbed it and kissed.  Benjamin was shocked!  We all chuckled.  But the kids were intrigued by the response.  Again, a bit later we came across a different woman begging and the kids were eager to repeat their mitzvah.  Who were we to refuse, so we gave them each some more shekels which they excitedly gave to the beggar with joy.  Benjamin came running back to us and said, "..at least she didn't kiss me this time."  It was funny and cute.  But also makes us think about how we as adults should have so much fun and joy blessing others

Jonathan is spending the night with us tonight to join us on our private tour of the Kotel tunnels, the Southern Wall of the Old City, the Jewish Quarter and the Hurva Synagoge tomorrow afternoon.  All that after a morning on the Mount of Olives.  Another action packed day tomorrow.  So, that's it for now...

Shalom,
Gabby and Clan