My Share of Sun in Israel
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Christmas at Bethlehem
Interior of the Nativity Church
Waiting for my turn to enter the Holy Manger
Finally I was able to get inside 
Bright lights in the interior of the Holy Manger
The Holy Manger
It is five days since our visit to Bethlehem but we are still ecstatic over the experience. This time we decided to go to Bethlehem on the Christmas Day itself because we wanted to see more of the place and the sites. We left Tel-Aviv Jaffa at 6 o'clock A.M. and arrived at the station around 9 A.M. We were able to visit the Nativity Church, the Milk Grotto and Church and the Shepherds' Field. Here are some pictures I took of our visit to the Nativity Church. Pictures on the Milk Grotto and Shepherds' Field will be on my next posts. ¶ 6:58 AM 0 Comments
Interior of the Nativity Church 
Waiting for my turn to enter the Holy Manger 
Finally I was able to get inside 
Bright lights in the interior of the Holy Manger 
The Holy MangerIt is five days since our visit to Bethlehem but we are still ecstatic over the experience. This time we decided to go to Bethlehem on the Christmas Day itself because we wanted to see more of the place and the sites. We left Tel-Aviv Jaffa at 6 o'clock A.M. and arrived at the station around 9 A.M. We were able to visit the Nativity Church, the Milk Grotto and Church and the Shepherds' Field. Here are some pictures I took of our visit to the Nativity Church. Pictures on the Milk Grotto and Shepherds' Field will be on my next posts. ¶ 6:58 AM 0 Comments
Monday, December 25, 2006
Mea Shearim - Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem
The sign warning against immodest passers-by
Chanukkah Lights by the window
We went to Mea Shearim on the seventh night of the Chanukkah Festival. 
A section of a Mea Shearim neighborhood
Ariella, our Israeli friend, was able to entice us into going to the Jewish quarter at Jerusalem before the Shabbat ends for us to see the Chanukkah lights that can be found lit on windows of houses there. And so last Thursday, off we went to the Mea Shearim quarter of Jerusalem, where the strictly Jewish people can be found.
The main street was long and narrow, and either we went along or came across men wearing the standard Jewish outfit, the black coat and hat. One wears exactly that the others, except us – and we did felt like outsiders in Mea Shearim.
There are alleys coming from the street and leading to neighborhoods where the strictly orthodox Jews reside. The surroundings were a bit shabby, and it looked like buildings and houses are cramped to every inch of the available space. On one building wall, there was a sign warning visitors wearing immodest clothes not to pass by.
As I take pictures, albeit surreptitiously, of the area, still a Jewish girl came upon us and gestured in an obviously negative manner while pointing to our camera. Obviously she wanted to tell us taking pictures is prohibited. Then she went on to another group who even has a movie camera and perhaps told them the same, for they immediately left the place afterwards. At least I was able to take some pictures, especially of Chanukkah lights.
¶ 11:47 AM 2 Comments
The sign warning against immodest passers-by
Chanukkah Lights by the window
We went to Mea Shearim on the seventh night of the Chanukkah Festival. Notice just one more light to be lit
A section of a Mea Shearim neighborhood Ariella, our Israeli friend, was able to entice us into going to the Jewish quarter at Jerusalem before the Shabbat ends for us to see the Chanukkah lights that can be found lit on windows of houses there. And so last Thursday, off we went to the Mea Shearim quarter of Jerusalem, where the strictly Jewish people can be found.
The main street was long and narrow, and either we went along or came across men wearing the standard Jewish outfit, the black coat and hat. One wears exactly that the others, except us – and we did felt like outsiders in Mea Shearim.
There are alleys coming from the street and leading to neighborhoods where the strictly orthodox Jews reside. The surroundings were a bit shabby, and it looked like buildings and houses are cramped to every inch of the available space. On one building wall, there was a sign warning visitors wearing immodest clothes not to pass by.
As I take pictures, albeit surreptitiously, of the area, still a Jewish girl came upon us and gestured in an obviously negative manner while pointing to our camera. Obviously she wanted to tell us taking pictures is prohibited. Then she went on to another group who even has a movie camera and perhaps told them the same, for they immediately left the place afterwards. At least I was able to take some pictures, especially of Chanukkah lights.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Garden Tomb of Jerusalem
Entrance to the Garden Tomb
A well-maintained garden
End of the Garden Tomb, from where you can see the Skull Hill 
The skull hill, so-called because of the obvious feature of a human skull on the cliff side
A closer shot on the clifftop shows what appear as tombs and markers
Here is a photograph of the rainwater cistern, the third largest in Jerusalem Israel
A peek down the cistern
Sign on the door says: "He is not here for He has risen." The tomb was discovered in 1867 by archaeologists 
A replica of the rolling stone that sealed the tomb of Jesus 
Tomb sign
The winepress - well-preserved and said to be one of the largest in Israel
The sign says "mornings closed" yet we were able to get in the Garden Tomb at Jerusalem Israel at 10 in the morning. You could see that the Garden Tomb (Jerusalem) Association is doing a good job in maintaining the Garden as it is apparently well-kept and preserved.
One of the popular Christian sites in Jerusalem Israel, the Garden Tomb belonged to a covert disciple of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, whose wealth was evident with the presence of a rainwater cistern and winepress in the garden.
The Garden Tomb and the Skull Hill (seen from the far end of the Garden) is said to be the actual site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The garden and hill fit the description of the tomb and crucifixion sites told in the Bible. And the Skull hill indeed shows the skull features. Other names of the hill are the Golgotha and the Mount Calvary.
¶ 4:11 AM 0 Comments
Entrance to the Garden Tomb
A well-maintained garden
End of the Garden Tomb, from where you can see the Skull Hill
The skull hill, so-called because of the obvious feature of a human skull on the cliff side
A closer shot on the clifftop shows what appear as tombs and markers
Here is a photograph of the rainwater cistern, the third largest in Jerusalem Israel
A peek down the cistern 
Sign on the door says: "He is not here for He has risen." The tomb was discovered in 1867 by archaeologists
A replica of the rolling stone that sealed the tomb of Jesus
Tomb sign 
The winepress - well-preserved and said to be one of the largest in IsraelThe sign says "mornings closed" yet we were able to get in the Garden Tomb at Jerusalem Israel at 10 in the morning. You could see that the Garden Tomb (Jerusalem) Association is doing a good job in maintaining the Garden as it is apparently well-kept and preserved.
One of the popular Christian sites in Jerusalem Israel, the Garden Tomb belonged to a covert disciple of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, whose wealth was evident with the presence of a rainwater cistern and winepress in the garden.
The Garden Tomb and the Skull Hill (seen from the far end of the Garden) is said to be the actual site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The garden and hill fit the description of the tomb and crucifixion sites told in the Bible. And the Skull hill indeed shows the skull features. Other names of the hill are the Golgotha and the Mount Calvary.
