The Sunday After (the weekend)

Hello from Israel! It’s Sunday morning, and I’ve spent my first weekend in Jerusalem (from Thursday night until Sunday morning). Friday morning I got up bright and early and went to the Old City. I had no idea where I was going, except I knew how to get to the gates. Once inside, I wandered around the ancient streets, seeing the Armenian, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Quarters. In the morning I found a hole-in-the-wall café, where there were Palestinian fellows inside having their morning drinks and smoking hooka, a steamy tobacco pipe. I went in and got a cup of mint tea for 3 shekels- about 70 cents- and listened to their conversation. I had no idea what the old fellows were saying, but I did pick up “Hamas” and “Abbas.” The PLO elections are this week- it should be interesting to see what transpires.

After visiting the café, I spent a few hours browsing the market place. I learned how to bargain, and picked up all sorts of groceries and things that I needed (raisins- 1 kilo for about $2.25, some cheese for 15 shekels, sheets for 30 shekels). I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre again- this time without a pushy guide- and was able to sit and pray for a while. It was still magnificent to be there, even though for many it’s just a tourist destination (there are plenty of stereotypical tourists, with big cameras hanging around their necks, for whom the Church has no special significance). On the way home, I decided to travel through East Jerusalem. There were not any good ways to get to the Hebrew University- the way the roads and walls are set up create a very effective barrier between the Jews and the Arabs.

Saturday was the Sabbath, so me, Josh, and Elliot (Catholic friends of mine) decided to go exploring. Josh knows Arabic, so we decided to visit the Mount of Olives, which is in an Arabic neighborhood. We didn’t find any churches that were open, which was disappointing, but we ended up traveling down to the Old City from the Mount of Olives. We spent more time going through the shooks, eating way too many sweets as we went. After a couple consecutive days in the markets, I can say I’m no longer an easily-dooped American.

Last night I went to church with some Evangelicals I met (something for which I’m exceedingly thankful to God). We went to a Messianic congregation, with the service in both Hebrew and English. It was no Baptist church- the congregation was somewhat charismatic (although I don’t think anyone was speaking in tongues- then again, I'm not sure I can tell the difference between Hebrew and tongues), and the service was less-orderly than I would have liked- but it was so refreshing to be at church. I think I may continue to go there, because the sermon was preached in English and then translated into Hebrew, which would definitely help my Hebrew skills.

Today we have the morning off of school, and then return this afternoon. The class I’m in is far below my level of learning, but it’s a necessity because my communication skills are so poor (the classes are taught in Hebrew). During the regular semester I’ll be able to resume where I left off at Georgetown.

I hope things are going well back in the states, and I hope to correspond with you soon. All the best, Jason.