Today started quietly strangely as our first meeting wasn't until 10:30. While I was waiting around at Ecce Homo, down the street about 100 metres there was a demonstration going on about the Israeli government's decision to close access to the mosque found on the old Temple Mount. With so many Jews celebrating the end of Sukkot on the other side of the Western Wall, it was feared that stones may be thrown over the wall. The protest was being made by Muslim woman about not getting access to their place of prayer and because the schools inside that area were closed for the day. Apparently there were soldiers blocking the way and tear gas may have been used to disperse them. Rosemary, from our group, was there and took some photos ... a Palestinian woman pulled her into her shop to keep her out of harms way when the crowd was being forced back. All very dramatic but once again , fairly normal for around here say the nuns and we are still safe.
On a brighter note , we did manage to get a lesson about this latest Jewish feast sitting in a sukkor attached to one of the temples in the Jewish quarter
The feast was explained to us and we were provided with a bit of a feast as well
That's it from me as it is now Thursday and I need some shut eye.
In the afternoon a few of us had Arabic coffee over the road and went for a walk through the souk once more.
We had an afternoon class on Catholic Jewish relations again and after tea went down to the Western Wall to watch the celebrations of the concluding day... the start of the eighth day of this seven day feast actually ... If that makes sense... With the celebration of Simchat Torah - the final day of reading the Torah for the year.
The festival involves dancing joyously cradling the Torah. A few of the male pilgrims, including myself , slipped on a kippah and slipped on down to Western wall to watch the celebrations close up. It was awesome being there amongst it all but I did feel a bit awkward being there also... Although many said with a kippah on , I fitted in quite well.
This evening I have spent quite an enjoyable time talking to a group of Year 12 students from Berlin who have been lucky enough to be on a trip into the Holy Land for a week long camp experience. I had quite a long chat to a guy called Jannek ( pronounced Ya - neck) and also Wanda ( Vanda), Antonia and Sophie. All spoke quite good English and they told me of their night sleeping out in the desert last night. Sounded like a fantastic experience ... Although they were all afraid of scorpions of all things.
Not much else to report tonight , although I forgot to say I watched a great movie on you tube last night in my room that had been recommended by one of the guides that dealt with the political situation a little here known as The Lemon Tree. I highly recommend it . Think a serious version of The Castle, set in Israel
Not many other photos today telling stories so I'll include one of the dreamy shots I took while listening to Marcie talk about Sukkot
Oh... And here is Marcie, our lecturer, demonstrating what the Jewish people use as part of the Sukkot celebrations ... A palm branch, a willow branch , a myrtle branch and the "fruit of majestic trees" .. citron .. A citrus fruit like a lemon.
Unknown steps today but not quite 10000 I think . Oh well , always tomorrow
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