July 9th

      The group started there day off of with a hike in Jerusalem, where they walked thought the hill sides and in caves with fresh water. It was a fun way for them to see the land and be able to experience some of the natural beauty of the hillsides. After the hike they had an intro peula(conversation) about the Arab Isreali conflict. 

      This morning, the group took in the larger view of Jerusalem at the Haas Promenade. Here they learned about how Jerusalem has grown since Biblical times when the city ended at the gates to what is now referred to as “The Old City”. They also learned a bit about the contentious issues and rhetoric of land and the security/separation barrier/wall/fence, which can be seen from the promenade.

Afterward, the MBIers visited the outside of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) building, after which they had some time to walk around, shop, and eat out in Jerusalem both in the Machneh Yehudah open-air market, and the Ben Yehudah outdoor-mall. MBI then spent some time hanging out in a Jerusalem park before heading over for an interactive history lesson about Jerusalem at the Time Elevator. 

The Time Elevator is a journey through the rich 3,000 year history of Jerusalem. Star of “Fiddler on the Roof,” Chaim Topol, plays the lead character who amid crashing ceilings, splashing water, and other special effects, leads the group through an unforgettable journey moving through Jerusalem’s historic turning points; beginning with the City of David and ending in the 1967 Six-Day War, in which East Jerusalem, including the Kotel, was captured and annexed by Israel. The time elevator was used as an opportunity to discuss how we relate to the modern and Biblical History of Jerusalem and its centrality as a place of meaning in Israel.

In the evening the group had some down time to relax after a long ful day. Photos to come tomorrow.