Today we traveled from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem. On the way we passed by Masada, an ancient fort located between the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. (Credit to Ms. Pack!) Masada was built by Herod the Great 2,000 years ago, right before the first Jewish-Roman War. It is now one of the World Heritage Sites and represents Jewish rebellion and their pursuit of freedom from the Roman Empire.
During the leisure time in Jerusalem, we crossed the city in a bus, went to a beautiful sight to overview the entire city, and joined the Purim parade! It was a very colorful parade on Jaffa Street, with lots of interesting costumes. This is one of the most prosperous parts in Jerusalem with many small but refined and cultural shops. We even saw a family dressed up as the Incredibles!
After our late lunch and a short period of resting, we visited the Old City of Jerusalem: an orthodox, sacred area where people make connections to God. We all wrote down our wishes and put them on the Western Wall. There were many people praying in front of the Wall, forming a spectacular view that echoed with my heart. We also learned about the controversies between Jews and Muslims today on the possession of the Old City: they both believed that their ancestors built this grand heritage. One thing that upset me was the separation and inequality between women and men in front of the Western Wall. In orthodox (and especially ultra orthodox) Jewish traditions, women are only allowed to pray silently. The area open to men is bigger than the women’s praying area, with beautiful tables and chairs for men to sit and pray out loud. Here is the separating wall between genders:
However, (the positive and more pleasant experience was that) we also saw a blending of culture in the Old City! People from all over the world, with different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures, all come together to pray to their common God. At this moment, I really hoped that everyone could find peace in their hearts.
