November 3, 2009

Bob’s Sabbatical

November 3, 2009

 

            It
poured rain most of the night, and is still raining this morning.  As a result, the few pictures I tried to take
are pretty pitiful.

            Today was
a day to try to get ourselves “into” the Jerusalem experience.  Andrew began by reading Psalm 122, a prayer
for the peace of Jerusalem.  It was a
reminder that Jerusalem is a place with a long history, which has many images
and many associations to people of several faiths and to people from many
cultures.  To underline this, he talked
about the many names by which this city has been called, since at least the 3^rd
Century B.C.  Then it was known as Salem,
“peace.”  Other names include, City of
David, Zion, Antioch in Judea, Aelia Capitol, Anasgtasis (“place of
Resurrection”), Al Quds (through three Muslim periods), and Capital (now
claimed by both Israel and Palestine).

            We were
reminded that with a history like this, it is very hard to identify it, and
very hard to label those who people it today. 
Andrew stressed that we must always see it as a city of memory and a
city of hope.  Many of the memories are
deep, many are painful.  It is also a
city of hope, that always seems to be looking ahead to an ultimate reconciliation.  We concluded with Psalm 87, speaking to the
inclusive character of Jerusalem.

            A few
demographics:  there are about 10 million
people in Israel.  7 million are in the
State of Israel.  There are 1 million
Palestinians in Gaza, and 2 million in the West Bank.  There are about one/half million Israeli
settlers in the West Bank.  In 1948,
there were about 30,000 Christians. 
Currently there are about 10,000, and the number continues to drop.

            We then
went across the Kedron Valley to a convent, Beit Abraham, where the nuns have a
ministry of hospitality to people of all three faiths that claim Abraham –
Jews, Muslims and Christians.  Because of
the rain, we were not able to go to their roof, which apparently has wonderful views
across the valley to Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.

            This
morning, Susan and I said that we didn’t really feel like we were in
Jerusalem.  It feels like any other city.  On the bus coming back this afternoon, Andrew
asked, “do you feel like you have arrived?” 
We answered with a resounding, “Yes!” 
We are looking forward to the days ahead, and I promise to get better
pictures.

    Peace,

       Bob