Thoughts from Ed Marut

July 1, 2007

Our third day in Israel and everything gets better and better. We sifted through discarded earth that was removed from in front of one of the Old City's walls. Neil found an ancient coin. The rest of us found pottery shards, tile pieces, mosaic, and glass. It will all be sifted through again by experts. We then learned about some of the history of how Jerusalem was built, and the levels of each period. We went to the Western Wall where we deposited messages, prayed, and meditated. To be at our holiest site is a feeling that can not be described by words. To stand there stirs up such emotions. We toured the tunnels underground next to the wall and exited at the Muslim Quarter. We continued to the Jewish Quarter for lunch. Our tour day ended by visiting the tour of David. We are one set of exhausted pilgrims. But not exhausted enough to meet Rabbi later in the evening on Ben Yehuda Street for some unbelievably delicious custom-mixed yogurt. Mmmmmm.

July 2

Although it was too hot to climb up Masada (I actually listened to other people), three of us took the challenge to walk down. It gave us some perspective of how difficult it was to get there in ancient times. Herod built the first temple known outside Jerusalem there. As fun, we floated in the Dead Sea and did mud packs. Oh Boy!!!!!

July 3

Today we experienced Yad Vashem. It should be mandatory that leaders of nations be subjected to its power. We planted trees and served as messengers, bringing prayers from friends back home to the Wall. At the Wall, I donned tefillin for the first time. This entire trip has been an emotional roller coaster. It is truly an experience that all people should be able to have. Shalom for now.....Ed.