Day Three: Exploring Beyond the Walls

This morning we walked with our Palestinian guide Ali around East Jerusalem, near but outside of the old city. He spoke at great length about the architecture and also the beginning of Arab settlement outside the walls. The morning concluded when we started him on an impassioned explanation of his politics. We pushed him, he pushed back, and an interesting and fruitful discussion ensued.

After leaving Ali, we had another lunch of hummus and falafel in East Jerusalem.

Following lunch we met up with our Jewish guide Ophir again, this time in West Jerusalem. We walked around the modern downtown city center (while modern, all buildings are required by law to be constructed of the sand-colored Jerusalem stone). He then took us through cloistered ultra-orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, explaining their many features and the practices and culture of the residents. Between exploring these neighborhoods, we had a brief period of free time in a West Jerusalem market. Many bought fruit and other snacks.

we took an extended walk back to Ecce Homo, where we ate a rather quick dinner before departing for the Western Wall plaza. There we took a tour of the tunnels below ground that descend to the base of the wall that is not visible from the surface. Along the tour we stopped at a point in the wall nearer the believed location of the Holy of Holies of the second Temple than the Western Wall. Given its proximity to that area, it is a much-revered site.

Upon leaving the tunnel, we briefly entered the Jewish Quarter of the old city for ice cream. While eating, Bob explained the Talmudic and Torah reasoning behind several kosher practices. We then proceeded back the way we had come – through the Muslim Quarter – to Ecce Homo.

Tomorrow we visit the Temple Mount and have other lectures and visits scheduled.

(Picture: Lunch and spices in the West Jerusalem market we visited)