Vignettes of the World
What is known in the West as the Wailing Wall is known to the Jewish people as the Western Wall. It is the famous remains of the Second Temple. Built during King Herod’s time, the remains was part of the wall intended to serve as …
The Old City charmed visitors with its crisscross streets. Bazaars selling all kinds of oddities along the roads form an air of festiveness. The goods and fruits shine incredible colors upon the Old City’s characteristic sandstone buildings. The street signs in Old City displayed English, …
“We think this is where World War III will begin.” Alla____hu Akbar! Alla_____hu Akbar! At the Dome of the Rock, groups of men shouted this repeatedly. Meaning “God Allah is Greatest,” this phrase often preceded terrorist attacks in the West. Located on the Temple Mount …
“It is not important where Jesus died but why he died.” I rose in excitement on my first morning in Jerusalem. There would be a full day of sightseeing, and the Hortus Gethsemane (Lat. The Garden of Gethsemane) was to which I most looked forward. …
“Reverend, don’t you want to buy some of these, maybe for your wife?” “No, thank you. There are many in Heavens,” my father said. I witnessed my father’s first act in Jerusalem and it was brilliant. He found a perfect way to bring forth the …
I was sad to leave Tiberia. Yet the journey must go on, for the tour was making its way to Jerusalem, the ultimate destination of our pilgrimage. Mount Tabor was believed to be the site of Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9). The …
From what I gathered, the broad religious orientations within the Jewish communities in Israel are orthodox, reformed, messianic, and secular. Jews aside, other people of Palestinian and Arab descents also live in Israel with their own religious affiliations. Our tour guide in Israel was an …
The last stop before Jordan River was St. Peter’s home, and we also saw the ruins of a synagogue adjacent to it. The statue of Apostle Peter holds a key and a live fish swims at his feet. The key symbolizes St. Peter’s office as …
Due to the historic influence by the Romans and the Greeks in this area, my Latin learning in Ovid has prepared me for this trip in unexpected ways. The Temple of Pan was one such example. Like other ruins, the Temple of Pan (Banias as …
“Shalom!” I witnessed my father’s first act in Israel, and it was brilliant. We entered Israel via a land route from Jordan. As we crossed the border over to Israel, two Israeli soldiers came on board to check the bus. The two men carried a …