Jerusalem

Today and yesterday were our trips to Jerusalem. We woke up at 5:45 am, had a quick breakfast, then were off to the bus for a ride. After a failed attempt at napping, I awoke to see that we had arrived at our first destination, Mount Gilboa. We started at the top, taking a little time to go over the history of Saul and Samuel while we overlooked the climb that we would soon be taking. While our teacher spoke of the judges and their failed attempts to hold leadership, I looked over the land in front of us and couldn't help but be amazed that a ruler in ancient times could even control such a spread of terrain and people.

Our climb down was a little more intense than I would have guessed. The steep mountain face, which we had been told was battled on, seemed intimidating by itself, let alone when soldiers from enemy lines are trying to kill you. One kid tripped and took a little tumble and got a bunch of thorns all over him. That was a bummer. We learned in class about how having height advantage in battle is crucial for victory, and looking up from the bottom of the mountain after we had finished certainly confirmed this idea. Looking up the huge mountain face, I wondered how anybody could conquer and defeat a people, given such a danger and a disadvantage.

We then went to a natural spring pool, with the cleanest water I've seen in Israel. Hung out there for a little, had some good ice cream, got back on the bus, then went to Jerusalem. We stayed at a hostel over night that was actually really nice. I was expecting the worst.

Next day we woke up bright and early and went on another little hike. We saw the recreation of ancient irrigation systems, with steps on the side of a mountain face that allowed water to flow from the top to the bottom, giving water to all crops that needed it. We also went into a little cave and our teacher had everybody turn off the lights, and not counting the glow in the dark bracelet that somebody had, we were in almost complete darkness for a few minutes. I couldn't even see my own hand in front of my face, and I couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like to live long ago when electricity was nonexistant and candles were the only artificial source of light. We then went to the remains of the temple and saw the place where Solomon was crowned king of Israel. We mapped out what the City of David was like and how the Canaanites were in such close proximity. Seeing the remains of the city, even though excavated and old, seemed so crazy to me. You really only think about ancient events happening in textbooks, but standing next to a spot where you know something amazing and historical happened can't really be put into words.

We spent the rest of the day shopping and hanging out on Ben Yehuda street, then we took a bus ride home and rested after our long two days.