July 1

This is our last day of field trips and the most poignant. Our first stop was at the Holocaust History Museum. As we entered the Exhibition Pavilion, it was amazingly quiet and reverent. There was no talking, no pictures, but lots of tears. The exhibit took us through the German (and other countries) persecution of the Jews beginning with Hitler. Exhibit after exhibit showed pictures, artifacts and video of survivors.

We only had two hours to complete the 180 meters of exhibits and that was too little time, yet way to much to absorb. The most heart breaking pictures were those of the children. The expressions of despair on their faces was almost too much to handle. Man's ability to inflict so much pain of his fellow man is hard too understand, yet we still see it all around the world. The frightening thing is that we are capable of similar behavior (maybe not as atrocious) when we fail to submit to the second of the two great commandments - you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

As I said pictures inside were not allowed, but I did take a few outside.

This is a plaque honoring Corrie Ten Boom and her family - whom many of us know as the author of the Hiding Place. There were many plaques, including one for Oskar Schindler.

A railcar used to transport Jews to the camps.

We then visited the Israel Museum where we saw the model of Jerusalem in the 1st century prior to its destruction in 70 AD. The model was amazing and is constantly updated as new facts about the city are uncovered. It is built on 50:1 scale. If you would like to see an interactive view of the model click the following link: Model of Jerusalem.

This is the temple area and part of the city looking from the east to the west.

We then drove up to Shilo(h) to visit the early location of the temple and the Ark of the Covenant. This is where Hanna prayed for a child and was blessed with Samuel. Samuel grew up here under Eli's training.

The excavated temple site (lower part of picture). It is not at the top of the hill, but down the hill on the north side.

Our last stop was at the Garden Tomb - the alternative site to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Archeologists and others are not in agreement over the location. Whatever the location, out tour guide gave an excellent and horrifying description of an actual crucifixion. Our pictures and images from our growing up years are not exactly accurate.

The tomb inside the cave.

This is an ancient olive press uncovered at the site.

June 30

We left our cottage by the sea today and headed around Galilee to the west. We stayed at a hotel run by a Kibbutz at En Gev on the eastern shore of the Galilee directly across the sea from Tiberias. This is a picture of the cottage Don and I stayed in for three nights with the tour bus in the background.

Our first stop was at Zippori, a city about three miles north of Jerusalem which was re-built during Jesus' childhood years and where it is presumed that his father worked as he was a builder and probably worked with more wood. There is a whole lot more stone here than wood. Most like Jesus went with him and helped.

This is a picture of Roman Road from the 5th Century. It is completely original.

Our trip then took us through the modern city of Nazareth and to the Mount of Precipice which is the traditional site of Jesus escaping from the Pharisees by disappearing off the side. The view from here was magnificent. The Southern Galilee and the Jezreel Valley is in the background.

Harod Springs is where Gideon formed his army of 300 out of 32,000 and attacked the Midianites and defeated them. The Springs are located a few miles south of Mt Moreh where the battle occurred.

A typical lunch when we are in the field. Pita and something with hummus, carrots, pickles, olives, etc.

Our last stop was at Bet Shan, mentioned several times in the OT. The major part of the city was destroyed by earthquakes as can be seen from the columns below. They lay where they were excavated.

This is a public latrine near the theatre. As you can see the facilities are a bit crude and very public.

June 29

Today we went on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. The water was very calm - no need for divine intervention for our safety. Here is a picture of our group boarding.

We then went across the sea (of course) to the place where a fishing boat from the 1st century was displayed. It was found in the muck of the sea, removed, moved and preserved - an especially complex undertaking. No one is saying that Jesus was on this boat - but this is the type of boat he would have been on.

We then went to the traditional site of the serving of fishes and loaves by Jesus and then on to the Mount of Beatitudes - a beautiful place which may or may not be the exact location but everything fits. I had a good time of prayer in the church. This is a view from just behind the church to the Sea of Galilee.

Our next stop was at Korazin, one of the cities Jesus cursed. There was an excavation there with many interesting areas. The most interesting thing (other than lunch) was these Rock Badgers. There were about 30 - 40 of them there when we arrived, but they scattered.

We then went to Capernaum where Jesus and his disciples lived and ministered frequently. Here I am at Capernaum with the Sea of Galilee at my back. Capernaum is on the north side of the Sea.

This is at the Arbel Cliffs high above the Sea of Galilee. It is the site where Herod went looking for men who were fighting against his empire. They lived in caves with their families. One father actually threw his family off the cliffs rather than be captured.

June 28

Today was an active day at several archeological digs. There are so many here that one could spend the better part of a year just visiting the major sites.

The first site was at Hazor north of the Sea Galilee. We ran into the lead archeologist, Amnon Ben Tor and he gave us some details of the site and of the probability that Jesus visited this site. He is well known in archeological circles.

This is a picture on an active dig that just resumed.

We then headed for Dan, the traditional northern reaches of Israel - think Dan to Beersheba. This is a picture of the springs at Dan which are at the head waters of the Jordan which flows into the Sea of Galilee. This was one beautiful piece of property. We hiked through a forest that was equal to any nature walk in the States.

Me at the top of Dan with Lebanon in the background.

These are the Solomonic City Gates of Dan. This is where commerce was conducted and where an adversary had to pass to attack the city. It is also where the men hung out while the Proverbs 31 women were working their fingers to the bone.

This is an example of a modern kitchen in about the 5th century AD. I never saw the microwave!

Finally, here I am standing at the entrance to a synagogue at Qazrin.