Israel Day 2: Never a Sunday Quite Like This

If we were looking for a vacation of sleeping in and taking it easy, this wasn't it.

The bus left the hotel at 7:15 a.m.  Eat breakfast before that or go hungry.  (And there were some who went hungry--but not us!  Coming from China, it was easy to get up early--Our bodies thought it was already noon.)  Since all the church meetings are held on Saturday in accordance with the Jewish Shabbat,

Sunday is just another day.  Many of the local schools have 6 days of school, with Sunday being the first day of the week. So, first stop on a chilly Sunday morning:  the Orson Hyde Memorial on the Mount of Olives.

 The site is owned by the state but is maintained through donations to the Jerusalem Fund, and most of those donations come from LDS Church members.  An interesting historical note--Orson Hyde went through great personal deprivations to arrive in Jerusalem.  He was true to his task.  And in dedicating the land of Palestine for the return of the Jews, he used the key restored by Moses in 1836--the key for the gathering of Israel.

When other lands have been dedicated in modern times, they are dedicated for the preaching of the gospel. 

There was a blooming ground cover that was just lovely.  Finally we asked what it was--rosemary!

(I've only grown rosemary as an annual.  I've never seen it in blossom before).

But it certainly is used in a number of dishes in the area.

 After leaving the Memorial Garden, it was about a 45-minute ride out of Jerusalem to the Dead Sea

and to Qumran.  This country is SO small!  Jerusalem gets about 25 inches of rain a year because the area is hilly, but on the other side of those hills is the "wilderness" or desert, with 2 inches of rain.

 These mountains are where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The Essenes called themselves "Sons of Light", and felt that the Jewish religion associated with the priests of Jerusalem had become corrupt and they wanted to return to purity.  

If this looks like a baptismal font to you, you would be right, partly.  All religious Jews practiced ritual cleansing by immersion.  The water had to be "living" water; water that is flowing, not stagnant.  

So when the Jews went to John the  Baptist (Immerser), they were going for cleansing by immersion, which in the Greek became translated as baptism.  

From Qumran, we drove down the coast of the Dead Sea, to Masada.  Here Herod build a winter palace on a mesa that had canyons on every side.  I wouldn't have wanted to be one of his slaves, having to carry supplies up the "snake" path!  We got to ride up a gondola instead.  It was a pleasant 70 degrees as well.  I just have to mention how often we gazed at the blue skies and breathed in deeply of the clear air.  Many Chinese friends had said, "Isn't going to Israel dangerous?" To which we replied, "And breathing polluted Chinese smog isn't?"

 I haven't seen the movie "Masada"--I don't go in for movies or books where I know the ending is sad.

And there is a sad feeling here.

 Looking out over the dirt ramp the Romans built to bring up the battering ram.  Rome couldn't afford to have 900+ people hold out against them.  Bad public image and all.

 Looking over the the end where Herod's winter palace was built.  If you noticed the ear buds on each of us,

the guide used a wireless microphone, so we could be 100 yards away, looking at whatever we wanted and still hear his commentary.  I liked it! 

 If you look closely, there is a black line about half-way up on the walls--anything above that line has been rebuilt since excavations began a few years ago.

So, how many suicides at Masada?  Only one.  

Each man killed his wife and children.  Then section leaders killed their soldiers.

A group of pottery shards was discovered with 1-10, and it's theorized that

lots were drawn as to who would kill the last ones and then themselves.

As we discussed what would have awaited those men, women and children when the 5000 Roman legionnaires finally conquered, after being frustrated in their attempts for so long, it would seem that these were merciful slayings.  And the question was asked, "Would we choose the same in that situation?

Answer?  No, because we wouldn't be in that situation.  These were zealots looking for political gain while we believe in obeying the laws of the land we dwell in.  Still, a very sobering visit.

By the way, that's Rachel Davis who roomed with Alice all week long, and they had a GREAT time.

 The Dead Sea was a welcome change.  The water was, well, different.  35% mineral content, so it was more like a kind of soup--"thick" water.  It felt silky on the skin.

It was cute watching a group of Thai nuns go "spa-ing".  They had that good Dead Sea mud slathered on arms and legs, or just sitting and soaking their feet.

 The sign said, "Caution:  Deep Water!"  Kevin is in over his ankles!  Actually, the Dead Sea is dropping about one foot a year, which of coarse will increase the mineral content.

 It didn't take Kevin long to figure out that skipping stones could be enhanced because of the water.  He had one stone that practically rolled across the surface, 15 or 20 times.  

On the way out, the swimming laws were posted in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and English.

Good instructions.  Alice accidentally rubbed her eyes, or else some water was splashed in, and she was in pain.  With the help of some bottled water, she got them washed out and was all better.

Interesting factoids:  1) you can sunbathe for a long time here because there are two extra layers of atmosphere since it is 1300 feet below sea level.  Not many UV rays get through.

2) German health plans pay for psoriasis patients to come for 1 month to a Dead Sea spa.  They don't use the word "healed", but those patients have no psoriasis symptoms for the rest of their lives.  (So they say).