Reflections from the Michaels Family:
Shopping for Talit in the Jewish Quarter, buying wooden candles in the Christian Quarter, drinking fresh pomegranate juice in the Moslem Quarter, three different faiths coming together in one very small space this was the theme of our family’s third day in Israel.
We began the day overlooking the Old City from a vantage point that clearly illustrates the importance of this tiny piece of land to three major religious faiths. Taking a picture that included the Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, and Church of the Ascension, and listening to the Moslem call to worship, one could not help but feel how truly unique this land is.
Our temple community was honored and moved to share in the B’nai Mitzvah of Haley, Dylan, and Max, with the Old City as the backdrop. Singing the Shma has never felt more special.
A few hours later our group was working with the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) packing boxes for needy Jews and non Jews alike. We also learned of IRAC’s efforts to assist the Sudanese refugees from Darfur. Most of these refuges are Christian.
A tour of the Christian and Jewish Quarters of the Old City later in the day further blended the many faiths represented in Jerusalem and illustrated many of the common thread between them. The tour progressed to the Western Wall and ended with a walk underneath the Moslem Quarter on one of King Herod’s streets built in 4 BCE. WOW!