Saturday 9 August 2014 Arab Orthodox Fund Raiser, Church in Bethlehem

 

Sunday Aug. 9, Nora Kort from the Arab Orthodox Society invited us to a fund raiser for the people of Gaza at her museum just inside Jaffa gate in the Christian Quarter.

 

The Old City was just waking up when we went in about 9:30 a.m.

The head of the Greek Orthodox church spoke to us in Arabic so we didn't get a whole lot out of it.  We were the only non-Palestinians there.  Nora Kort is in the middle.

After they had a lovely traditional brunch at the museum.



The women at our table were all very gracious and wanted us to know what was happening in Gaza to their people.



Nora is always dressed elegantly and is the epitome of graciousness.

 

This was Miriam Griell's last week in the branch.  She has been a volunteer at St. Vincent's School for the handicapped for the last 2 years.  Miriam has made it possible for the students at the JC to come out each week to volunteer at the school in Ein Karem.  Jan Clayton and I were Miriam's VT so Jan and I would VT her by meeting her for lunch in Ein Karem.  It was tough but somebody had to do it.  Miriam turned out to be a very dear friend and a pillar in the branch.  She is going back to Austria to get a master's degree in occupational therapy.

 

This is the primary in Bethlehem.  Deema is holding her little girl Martina and Sahar is teaching the lesson.

 



Sahar, Nadeem Markos, and Jason



What a bunch of darling children.  They are all Palestinian except for Jeremy Simmons, the read head in the middle.  His parents, Amy and Eric Simmons are Americans from Las Vegas working in Ramallah.

Friday 8 August 2014 Jerusalem blimp, Telmans

It's always a bad sign when the blimp is in the air.  It means there is a high security risk in the city.  Aug. 8 was the Palestinian holy day (Fri.) and also the conflict was still active, so a blimp was flying over the Dome of the Rock.

Friday, Aug. 8, Telmans had us over for Shabbat dinner.  From L to R:  Linda, Judy Telman, Marybeth Jones, Tina Whitchurch, David Whitchurch, Stu Teleman, Gary Nickle, Alexis Nickle, Brent Jones, John Clayton, Jan Clayton.  The dinner was a farewell dinner for the Claytons and an introduction to the Jones who will be replacing the Claytons.

Stu and Judy are from Chicago and have been in Jerusalem about 30 years.

Wednesday 6 August 2014 Visit with Carol at Patient's Friends Society, crash corner conflict

Patient's Friends Society is one of BYU's contacts.  Their main emphasis is helping women who have had breast cancer.  They are located up at Augusta Victoria Hospital which is mainly an oncology hospital.  Carol Jarbari is the director of Patient's Friends and Eran Hyatt is the director here at the JC.  BYU helped fund a machine to test bone density. 

"Crash corner" is what we affectionately call the intersection above us on Mount of Olives.  It is a 4-way stop with no lights or stop signs.  It takes both patience and aggression to get through this corner.
 

Tuesday 5 August 2014 Street at the lower gate

During the "Protective Edge" conflict, there have been demonstrations on the street below the Jerusalem Center.  Tues. Aug. 5, there were fires along the street as well as rock throwing, explosions, fireworks used as ammunition, and a lot of banging and yelling.

Monday 4 August 2014 With Librarians Jennifer and Connie - Tower of David and Ramparts walk

BYU librarians Connie Lamb and Jennifer ? came to update the JC library and give it a through cleaning.  They got rid of a lot of magazines since they are all online now.  We took them around the city stopping at Shaban's souvenir shop.

 

They walked the Rampart's walk along the Old City Wallls.

 



Dome of the Rock



Left- Church of the Holy Sepulchre  Right- Church of the Redeemer

 



Steeple of Church of the Redeemer,  BYU Jerusalem Center in the distance



Dome of the Rock with Mount of Olives in background.  Augusta Victoria Tower is on the horizon.


King David Hotel with YMCA tower behind



Montefiore Windmill and colony was the first housing outside of the Old City.  Montefiore built the windmill as a way to grind wheat and make a living.  It wasn't successful and electricity soon was used changing the grinding process.  Today it is an upscale artist colony with nice apartments just west of Mount Zion.



This is a view from the Tower of David.  It was actually a mosque but people coming from Jaffa saw it from a distance and assumed it was part of the City of David, calling it David's Citadel.



This was a relief map showing the major civilizations

- Egypt, Jerusalem, Fertile Crescent, and Turkey 

The City of David picture

Painting of the original Temple Mount



Cannon balls from thousands of years ago used in protecting the city.

Blaine and Linda just happy to be here - in front of the city wall.

Sunday 3 August 2014 Israel Museum and Concert

On Sunday, Aug. 1, we went to the Israel Museum which is in West Jerusalem.  The exhibit they have now is on clothing.  We thought these bridal trousers were just the thing since so many brides now want to loose weight before they are married.  I think they had the right idea.

 

 

Linda in front of an apple core art piece.

 

Almost every Sunday evening is a classical concert at the center.  Linda and Blaine usher as well as the other service couples and 3-4 students.  This is the main hall of the center.



This night Blaine also announced the program.  He did a great job.

Wednesday 30 July 2014 Jerusalem Center - walking around at night

 

Blaine and I like to go walking together.  Lately with the conflict going on, we have been restricted in our walking trails.  On Wednesday, July 30, we went for a walk around the Jerusalem Center.  Below is a stone that was used in the process of making olive oil.  It is called a grinding stone and use of this technology dates back about 3000 years.  This is located on the south-west side of the center.

 



When we enter the center, the first people we see is security.  It's always a welcome sight and they are so helpful and friendly.  This is Murad.  He also works in a shop in the Old City.  I asked if his wife also worked.  He said no, it was his responsibility to take care of his family financially.  His wife took care of the children.



This is looking out from the 8th floor hall.