Day 9 - Our last day...

Introduction

Although it's not day 10, because our flight home leaves tonight, it's our last day in Israel so you know what tonight will feature, right?  That's right, our last supper (ba-dum, ching!  Hey everyone be sure to try the veal and don't forget to tip your waitresses). No, not as significant as the one that occurred 2,000 years ago but significant and sad for us in that our magnificent trip is coming to an all-too-soon end.

Our morning is free but we're scheduled to see the Israel Holocaust Museum, called Yad Vashem, and then visit the Garden Tomb in the afternoon before heading back to the hotel for dinner.  After that, we'll be transferred to the airport.

Before we left the hotel, Dad chose to be King Harold for a bit in an ornate lobby chair.

On to today's stops!

The Mount of Olives - Revisited

We had stopped here a few days earlier for a group picture and it was raining so hard some thought it was sleeting.  Pastor John later referred to it as the "Tempest on the Mount."  Today, however, the weather was beautiful - clear and sunny, although the temperature was in the 40s so everyone had their jackets on.  Here are a few pictures of the view.

 

  
Although pictures of the Teaching Steps were in the Day 8 post, here are a few more starting from our vantage point on the mount and progressively zoom in further that give some perspective to the distance.

One other thing - Guess what day it is?  That's right, it's HUMP DAY!  Kojack, a camel several had ridden who had taken the trip in previous years was there and his owners were offering rides right where we were overlooking the city and taking pictures.  As you can imagine, several in our group took advantage of the opportunity.

Kojack!

Pastor John and Mic (not a typo.  I found out after we got home that there was no "k")

Dave and Mary Jo Patterline from Harrison City taking their turn

 

Elizabeth and Vivian Somes showing they know how to ride with no hands!

Kojack was not averse to multitasking and was able to take care of business while transporting tourists.  Someone said they looked like Milk Duds.  The beat up can in the background was the Milk Dud "box."

During the camel rides, Dad and I were standing right near where passengers were getting on and off.  Here's Dad with Kojack.

And one more featuring Dad and I in some Arab headdresses.  Yes we bought them.  How could we not?

 

Yad Vashem

The name Yad Vashem, comes from Isaiah 56:5 and means "a memorial and a name."  It was created in 1956 by the Knesset, in order to preserve a record of the Holocaust (recall from an earlier post that the Knesset is the Israeli legislature).  Almost all high-ranking foreign officials are brought by the government to visit this place.

The Holocaust History Museum is the centerpiece of the site and includes visual as well as audiovisual documentation of Jewish life in Europe before the Nazis came to power.  A walk through the museum shows the escalation of persecution and internment leading to the hideous climax of the "Final Solution."  Although sad, heart breaking and disturbing, I've not been to the Holocaust museum in D.C and I thought it was a very worthwhile stop. 

Yad Vashem is encircled by the Avenue of the Righteous that is marked with several thousand trees bearing the names of Gentiles in Europe who risked and sometimes lost their lives in attempting to save Jews from the Nazis.  A famous name among the honorees that most will know is Oskar Schindler.

No pictures were allowed here.  I added links to the museum web site if you're interested in learning more (both links go to the same location).

The Garden Tomb

Located a few blocks north of the old Jerusalem city walls, the Garden Tomb is a beautiful spot of tranquility located in an otherwise bustling portion of what's called East Jerusalem.  The site was identified as Jesus' burial place in 1883 (as opposed to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher) by a British general named Charles Gordon.  A rock cut tomb has been discovered on the site as well as a cistern and wine press, typical features of an ancient garden, much like the one believed to be owned by Joseph of Arimathea.  It may or may not be where Jesus was buried.  It definitely resembles what the area would have looked like more than the church setting on top.

The Flight Home

 As I indicated in the "we're home" post, we started our journey home from the Tel-Aviv airport at 11:30PM Wednesday evening.  However, before that we put our bags through the x-ray machine, got our boarding passes, then exited Israeli customs.  A check of the boarding pass details showed  that Dad and I were no longer sitting together.  I'm not sure what happened since I had talked with US Airways before the trip to make sure we were sitting together for both the outbound and inbound flights.  Nevertheless, a quick discussion with the gate attendant took care of it and Dad and I were both in the middle section of row 33, just a few rows from the back of the airplane (another A330 if you're keeping track).  We were also very close to most of the other Harrison City folks.

We left Israel on time and after one of the smoothest landings ever, pulled up to our gate in Philadelphia earlier than our scheduled 5:20AM arrival time.  Even landing early the flight was still in the air over 12 hours.  Our arrival was early enough that we had to remain on the plane for a few additional minutes until US customs opened.  Dad and I officially reentered the US, reclaimed our luggage, rechecked our big bags, then had to go through security again in order to board our domestic flights home.  Once everyone had gone through security, we found that the Phoenix and Pittsburgh flights left from the A or F gates.  That meant going in the opposite direction from each other and time for us to say goodby.

In just a few short days I had gotten very close to the wonderful people from Harrison City Community United Methodist Church.  And judging from the hugs and a few tears as we said our goodbyes, it would appear that they felt similar towards me.  I am happy and humbled that I was so easily accepted and we could all get along so well.  A great group of folks and some that I hope to able to be call friends for life.

We went our separate ways and I found my way to the gate from where my flight home would leave.  The sun was up by now and it was clear but cold in Philly.  Jerusalem was also clear all day on Wednesday when we left.  The flight home was scheduled for just over five hours and, as I had said earlier, was extended about 20 minutes due to the stiff head wind all the way west.

Both Jerusalem and Philadelphia were clear (but cold) as we flew out.  In a bit of irony, about an hour or so before landing in Arizona, we encountered cloud cover and when we landed were under overcast skies in the Phoenix area.

From the time we got up on Wednesday morning in Jerusalem until I got back home Thursday afternoon, it was about 37 hours.  But I was back home and got to sleep in my own bed Thursday night.  In addition to to seeing my wife, Barbara, it was good to be home.

Dad's and my excellent adventure has come to an end and it was truly special.  However, as promised, I will very likely add a post with some final thoughts.  I'll try to get that done in another few days.

I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed sharing the trip.
Tim