Thanksgiving across Religious and National Lines | Ophir Yarden | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel

Thanksgiving across Religious and National Lines | Ophir Yarden | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel

Women in hijab and men in kippot aren’t usually found dining together.  Last week these and many others – Jews, Christians and Muslims, some observant and others non-practicing – joined together to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of their workplace.  This is not a coexistence project or an experiment devoted to peacemaking, but simply daily work – the mutual interest of all involved.  For 25 years Jews and Arabs have worked together in all realms at The Jerusalem Center of Brigham Young University, a branch of the great American university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).  In academics and instruction, in administration, support, security, maintenance and in the kitchen, Arabs and Jews work together.  Harmoniously.

Aptly enough, the event was scheduled for Thanksgiving eve on the U.S. calendar in a fine hotel in west Jerusalem (where the dietary needs of all could be addressed).  And just to broaden the cultural diversity, mostly American background music was provided by Garo, an Armenian keyboard musician.  Of course there were speeches and words of thanks – many of them.  And everyone understood as Tawfic Alawi, the center’s Associate Director serving as Master of Ceremonies, translated everything between the evening’s three languages: English, Arabic and Hebrew.  For some of us a highlight of the evening was the last speaker Nahum Nuriel, an Israeli Jew whose family hailed from Egypt. Mr. Nuriel commenced his remarks in Arabic and continued in Hebrew and English, as the translator stood idly by the side.

On several occasions speakers referred to the Center’s founding in the 1980 and to the troubles which accompanied its establishment.  Veterans of Jerusalem will recall the campaign waged by the self-styled anti-missionary group Yad L’Achim against the center’s founding.  (TheU.S.Dept. of State continues to monitor this group’s activities but Israelis know only too well that they have been joined by others, such as Lehava: Against Assimilation in the Holy Land, who have appointed themselves guardians of Jewish souls against what they define as spiritual dangers.)

Accusations against the Center’s construction focused on its highly-visible location on the Mt. Scopus – Mt. of Olives horizon, on the Center’s proximity to the campus of the Hebrew University and to the young Israelis studying there who would be vulnerable to the Mormon mission.  The specter of proselytization was invoked to encourage objection to the project.  One author wrote that it would lead to a “spiritual holocaust.”  By the end of 1985, protests at the site as well as a prayer-demonstration of several thousand at the Western Wall led to a no-confidence motion in the Labor government.  A ministerial committee was formed to investigate the matter.  During the investigation a Knesset committee requested that the LDS Church promise not to engage in proselytization. A signed commitment not to engage in missionary activities in Israel and Jerusalem – and to dismiss anyone involved in the Center who violated of the promise – was provided by the LDS Church.  It has been honored.

Full Disclosure:  For five years I have had the privilege to teach Jewish and Israel Studies to well over 1,000 BYU students.  The word on campus is clear: there is no proselytizing – or even discussion of Mormon beliefs.  I teach them Judaism; they do not share LDS doctrine with the local population.

The bottom line is that BYU’s Jerusalem Center has contributed to Jerusalem.  The center is open to the public for tours of the tasteful facility as well as for free concerts several times each month which have been enjoyed by thousands of Jerusalemites and visitors.

But the Center’s contribution to Jerusalem has gone beyond that.  This Thanksgiving Dinner demonstrated that the words of former Jerusalem Center Director Mike Foley, “the Mormon church’s presence in Jerusalem can do a great deal of work in providing the bridge of understanding between the Arab and Jews,” have proven quite true.

Last week of Jesus' Life field trip

Upstairs in the auditorium we just had an 'upper room experience'. This wasn't on the schedule originally. It was a really cool experience. On the stage they ( I think Brother and Sister Seely were in charge of it) had set up a 'triclinium'. This is the set up that the Savior and his disciples probably used for the last supper. I took a picture of it which I will upload to show you. A bunch of the guys portrayed the Savior and his disciples while Brother Seely read the scriptures and explained what things must have been like. I thought it was especially interesting when they showed how the Savior must have washed the disciples feet. Brother Seely explained that feasts are a time of joy, thanksgiving, and peace. Behind the set table was beautiful Jerusalem. I'm really going to miss this wonderful place and the wonderful experiences. We've sat in the auditorium together many times on Shabbat and taken the sacrament together. Tonight was the last time we'll sit there all together as now but each week when I take the sacrament I will reflect on the Saviors sacrifice for me and I will forever visualize Jerusalem.
Earlier today we had our second to last field trip "The Last week of Jesus' Life'. We went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. We went down into Lazarus' tomb. It's a long walk down steep steps, cram packed with tourists (some of them stinky). (It's really humid and hot in the tomb a lot like the pyramids.) There were lots of old ladies from Russia or Eastern Europe who went down there who hard kind of a hard time gettin out. While we were waiting in line, they slowly ascend the steps next to us huffing and puffing. It took a lot for them to go down and see the tomb. With each step they'd use the handrail or the handrail and a BYU student to pull themselves out. Outside there was a really nice palestinian woman selling frankinsence, myrrh, spike hard (the ointment the woman used to anoint jesus' feet), and mustard seeds. The woman's nephew, Issac, was his name was playing outside with a box aunts. The lady told us it was his forth birthday today. There was also an older lady who invited us in to show us her house. She told us about all the other Mormons she know including 'Danny' (Daniel Rona). (She asked us if Danny was with us). Very kind people, good stories.
(I need to finish my journals for Draper's class tonight so speed time)
Next we went to Bethphage, we'd been there before when we did the walk on Palm Sunday. The relic inside the church there is a rock on which the Savior used to mount his donkey for the triumphal entry. I really like the church there, it's small but nice. Next we went to the Pater Noster church. This church has different traditions as to what happened there. It was said that it was there that the Savior gave the revelation found in JS Matt 24 about the second coming. Crusader times they said it was where he gave Matt 4 the Lord's Prayer. Pater Noster means ' Our father'. Around the courtyard of this church is the Lord's Prayer written on tiles in 68 languages (including Cherokee)! Next we walked along the Palm Sunday path to Dominus Flevit. This is where the Savior sat on the Mount of Olives and wept over Jerusalem. (How oft I would gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens...and you would not). There's a church there with a beautiful view of the city. We walked to Orson Hyde Gardens where we ate lunch and then walked to meet the bus. (It was really good to get on the air conditioned bus, it was hot today, and humid. I can't imagine what it must be like to be here summer semester, walking is exhasting). The bus started to drive us to Mount Zion and the upper room but there were Israeli road blocks everywhere (because of passover holiday). Our bus couldn't get near the old city so they had to take us back to the center. In the afternoon I went back out into the city. Today it was Shea, Rich, and I. (It's so crazy to think back to the orientation, the airport, and the first few days of getting here. It was really awkward because none of us knew each other. It's hard to imagine now. Its fun to think back on first thoughts and impressions from only 4 months ago.) Out in the city today we kicked it around Christian Quarter road. This is my favorite part of town, it has the funnest shops. Got some t-shirts, and beads, and little artsy hanky scarves I found. There's so much cool stuff in the old city, hidden treasures, the shops seem to morph everytime you pass and you notice shops you have never noticed before. There are tons of details in the city. Just these past few days I've started to look up while going down the streets. There's a whole different world up there (maybe that's what Aladdin meant). You don't notice the balconies and windows and changing buildings up there. There's so much. I now recognize the shop owners (some by name) and am making connections all the time at finding my way around (now that we're leaving). I got the best hummas in town today (according to all the BYU students) at 'Linas'. I'd never been there before yet. The hummas was way good, perfectly mellow, with pinenuts in it.
Yesterday and the past few days I have been busy taking finals. Yesterday was our New Testament final in the morning. In the afternoon I went to Bagdadi's and got Colette's and Marie's nativities picked out and shipped. (He said they'd take 4 weeks to get there, by sea mail). After dinner a group of the students here had put together a Palestinian neighborhood appreciation night. There are lots of kids who play around the center (they build forts below the wall, climb around in the field playing with sticks and puppies.) who we talk to when we walk to and from the lower gate. A bunch of the students have befriended the kids and their families. Last night all of them were invited to the center for a party to say bye and thank you. It was a really fun night.
Tomorrow is our last field trip. We will be going from Gethsemane to the Garden tomb. When I get home I plan to go through and caption all my pictures so I remember what they are (that will take a while). Fill in the holes of the field trips I haven't explained. And write some reflections as to what I have learned from this whole experience. I feel very blessed to have been able to come here. This blog has been a great tool because it has helped me share my experiences. I'm so grateful for a family that loves and supports me. Its funny, as things happen to me while I'm here I find myself saying. Oh I want to tell my mom that, or Dad would really like to hear that. I have truly been born of goodly parents who have taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ. While studying the scriptures this semester I have been reading the scriptures and thought: Oh, I remember when Dad told me about the Savior doing that, or Mom and Grandma Simmons talking about Mary and Martha, or I remember the song from 'Savior of the World' that quotes that scriptures. There's real power in studying the scriptures, it goes all the way to the roots.
Okay, I've been typing for a good 2 hours, It's 1 am, I'm going to go finish my New Testament journals. Who needs sleep at a time like this? I'm really excited to come home and see you all again soon! love ya!
Emily

Less than a week now!

Okay, here's the story of the nativities. Yesterday I went back to Baghdadi's. (Aimee, Jared and I went out for a quick break from studying for the final.) When I looked at the nativity that we were planning on again, it looked huge (especially when I think about taking it home). Baghdadi showed me a small nativity made by the same maker (I really like the style done by this maker) for $100 dollars with the house. It was small but nice looking. I asked him if he had a medium sized one by the same maker. He did over on the other wall. It was just the right size for $175 without the house and $220 with it. (I think they were all out of medium and small ones when I went last time). I looked at all the pieces carefully. I like all the faces except how the Jesus looked so he gave me some others to choose from. Aimee found another one just sitting on the shelf underneath that had a really good face so I put that one in the manger it looked good (I don't know if he knew I took that one). The salesman got me to add another shepherd (A younger one kneeling down) but the camel he tried to add didn't match. After hand picking everything I really liked the set. (Oh no, I think I want this one for myself.) I asked him if he had any more of this style (same maker) and this size. He said this was the last one but no problem they could ship it to me (that costs 25 or 50 dollars!). He said they were expecting to get 6 more on Saturday, hopefully, from the maker. (I have his card so I'm going to call him saturday and find out if they got more). Anyway on with the story. I don't like the house with the music box in it but he pulled out another house that looked like a grotto but still had a palm tree on it. I put it all together. I like how this one looked although it didn't hold all the figures (some had to be outside), which is different so I like. I asked him how much for it all, he said $250. The whole set with the other house was $220. Aimee told him that didn't make sense because the other house was bigger (more wood) and was only $220 (although I had added a shepherd). He said the grotto house was nicer. We didn't give in and eventually he said okay to $220. Baghdadi boxed it up and we left. So now the question is. Should I go get another one? Do you like the medium size, or still the big and do you like the house? I'm a little worried about weight coming back in my bag. When I walked out of the store carrying the nativity Jared said I looked like I was going to fall over, a little off balance (he ended up carrying it home). I think it weighs maybe more than 10 pounds! Have a look at my picture and let me know what you think. There are also more designs at Omars but I think I like this one (they all have their pros and cons).
I just took my Near Eastern Studies final this morning. It was a hard test, that pretty much covers the history of everthing. I learned a lot studying for it the last two days. Tonight we are having our Seder (passover) dinner. I'm singing one of the songs in Hebrew with a group of girls. It should be a really cool experience. I'm really behind in New Testament now so I'm going to go read. Later!

Nativity shopping (JP and Marie this is for you)

Hey Marie and JP this blog is for you. Today after class I went out to look at Nativities. In order to get to Bagdadi's you have to pass Omars. As we were passing a guy ushered us in. 'Mormon's this is the shop, nativity.' "oh its Omars". Then Matt loudly said "Oh we're gonna go to Bagdadi's first, then we'll come". Ouu, I couldn't believe he said that....ouch..., Omar's not going to like us. Anyway Catherine and I went on to Bagdadi's but we didn't have anything to compare him to so we went back to Omars. He recognized me as one of the ones who went to his competitors shop first. If I asked him questions and prices he'd say "This is grade A top quality, I know you go to other shop, its okay... look at the faces... that is how you can tell the quality, they don't have faces like that." Omar had a really nice big nativity, lots of detail, polished $350.00. "This is the best quality" Then he told his friend to show me a different one. He said it was the same quality. It had almost as much detail but it was significantly smaller. He told me it was the last one he had of that kind. He said he sold 6 of them yesterday, but this was the very last one, for $160. That's a good price but I don't think you guys (M and JP would be satisfied with how big it is) . It wasn't nearly as big as Mom's and I didn't like how the baby jesus looked. I stood there thinking about it. The people I went with weren't really giving me any opinions and Omar was being very pushy. "Okay fine give her a camel" he said to his friend. The camel he added didn't match the set it was too small. I told him it was too small and he jumped back. 'No, no its perfect proportion!' I stood there looking at it (it really was too small) "fine, give her the bigger camel". I don't think the camel he put down was actually bigger. "Or you can have the kneeling camel". That camel looked sort of cool but it was still too small and didn't match the set. There were three wise men but only one shepherd. I asked him about that. Okay, I trade the camel for a shepherd. He pulled out a shepherd with a sheep over its shoulders. It looked cool but it didn't match the set very well. It just wasn't doing it for me, nothing to get excited about. The problem with Omar's shop is he didn't make me feel comfortable enough to ask for what I wanted. I was happy to get out of there. We went back over to Bagdadi's. Bagdadi let me take some pictures of what he had which I am now going to upload for you. (Sorry I don't have any pictures of the one at Omar's for you to compare.) At Bagdadi's I found one right by the door that was a complete set. Everything matched. Nice looking faces (I like the people faces a lot, the sheep and cows are a bit more stylized which I think actually looks cool, and they are nice and big. I really liked how big they were, they fill up your hand (see picture for size). I asked him how much without the stable. He said $300. The picture below is this nativity. I knew before hand that you guys said $250 so I was going to see if I could talk him down. "I only have $250 to spend from my sister." "No, really, $300 last price." I got his card and decided I'd have to come back after I talked to you guys again. (Picture above shows size compared to me. Also in Baghdadi's shop a nice more modern looking one, smooth without faces for $100. He had some more sets around that didn't really excite me more medium sizes I don't think as big as mom's (maybe I'm remembering Mom's bigger than it actually was). I think I heard Davy and Kristy got one from Bagdadi's for $150 that looked pretty good. I don't know (Maybe the more medium ones have been cleaned out by now.) (Also out in the old city, I saw today that have smaller ones lesser quality and pretty small for about $30 once you talk them down.) I don't think you really want one of those, they're small. Anyway, I gotta go eat dinner now. It seems like there's just a certain size where they seem big enough. I think you want it to look like its on a table on purpose. Let me know what your thoughts are. Love ya, Em

St. George's Cathedral

Tonight was an evening to remember. The BYU Jerusalem Center gave a concert at St. George's Cathedral here in town. Brother Galbraith's music was so perfect. It was like I was in Salt Lake Children's Choir again or something. He has such wonderful arrangements and is such a wonderful musician. It was a really exciting because I got to play my violin. I played Meditation by Massenet with Brother Galbraith and accompanied the choir with Sis Galbraith (violin duet) on Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart. I'm so happy I got to play in such a wonderful place in Jerusalem and with such wonderful people! The people we played for really enjoyed it. It was a wonderful evening.

General Conference, Field Trips, Galilee cont.

I really need to finish telling about Galilee. Just for an update of recent news. Today we are on lock down because there is I think a suicide bomber threat in the city. I'm kind of glad we're on lockdown becuase it means I don't have to choose between going out in the city and staying in. Our last finals are coming up. Everything is so crunched I feel like I'm drowning in information (I can't even imagine what spring and summer semesters must be like). I just got done practicing violin. I'm getting ready for the concert we'll be playing in St George's Cathedral on the 13th. Sis Lee just told me that a new service couple is getting here today and the Galbraith's are leaving Jerusalem the day after our concert. I didn't know that. Anyway, when I practiced todayI wanted to practice in front of a mirror. I went into the large women's bathroom on the 8th floor (its nice). The bathroom is right next to the security office. I knew all the security guards could here me but they didn't say anything (I could hear them talking a little bit). I heard one of them yell 'Bravo!' when I finished one of the pieces. After which I laughed, which they heard also and started laughing. When I finally left the bathroom they were all staring at me, Tarek complained of having a headache from the noise. Anyway, yesterday April 8 we took a field trip to Jaffa and Tel Aviv. I really liked the port of Jaffa. Jaffa used to be a really slummy dirty place but about forty years ago they fixed it up. Now, all the best artists live in Jaffa. Potters, painters. Its a really artsy town now. They have live concerts outside in the summer. Great place for tourists. The day before that April 7 (Monday) I went with a group through the Hinnom Valley also known as 'hell'- What is it?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinnom_Valley. (This wasn't really the hell part of the day becuase after that I went shopping, jk). Pretty much all of BYU went shopping on Monday, getting all their last souveniors. This can be stressful and I think I will try to avoid it in excess for the rest of my time here, otherwise I'll go crazy. Sunday April 6 we took a field trip to Neot Kedumim. What is it? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neot_Kedumim. This was a hands on day. We actually crushed our own Hyssop leaves (also called oregano) added another plant the lady picked and some salt and made our own Zartar to eat with our own pitas we made later. We learned a lot about the plants that grow in this area. (Hyssop, Cedars of Lebanon, barley (passover begins when it's ripe), almond trees, sycomore trees). We learned more about the customs of shepherding and farming (our guide had us try to shepherd goats and sheep. We learned there is a she goat that all the others follow, all you have to do is lead that goat. Real shepherds are good at this because the she goat knows their voice and is very sensitve to the shepherds every gesture. We were strangers so not so much. Our guide took the insights from nature to illuminate the Bible for us (We walked around, and she'd teach us things, reminded me of the movie 'Emma and Grandpa'). We were the first BYU group to do this tour so it was kind of an experiment. Saturday April 5, Sabbath was awesome. It was fast and testimony meeting, the last testimony meeting before us students leave. It was a time to really reflect on what all of the experiences we've been having really mean to us. We didn't have time for all of us to get up (there was a Dan Rona group there as well). When I thought about it, studying the prophets of old has really strengthened my testimony of the restoration! It's so exciting, such good news. We have living prophets today! It's so wonderful to think about all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and all that he will yet reveal. (Jeffrey Holland's talk in the Sunday afternoon session was all about this!) General Conference this weekend was amazing. It was so cool to watch it at 7-9pm and 11 pm- 1 am. I love the part when they welcome those joining by satalite or other transmission around the world, 'that's us!' (During the first session, Sadie was online instant messaging with her brother who is working in Taiwan. It was the middle of the night for him but he was watching it on the internet. Mormon's all over the world!) I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, they are so magnificent. Walking into the forum with the choir singing was glorious! It was really cool to sit in a congregation for conference. (I paid more attention then at home on the couch). It was especially cool to see our little Jerusalem branch vote/sustain in the Solemn Assembly. I've never done that before. The first presidency votes, the Priesthood, Relief Society, on down. We only have one young woman, and 2 deacons, teacher, priests in our branch. (They're all Seeley's and Ostler's, haha). Sunday night I stayed up with a few other students for the later session. It was funny to watch everyone falling asleep. I'm so glad I stayed up, so much good council.

Wow, its almost time for dinner. I was hoping to have explained all of Galilee by now but I haven't started yet.Back up on Mount Hippos. Shea tried everything to get his camera. He went and found a big metal pole, it was bent. I don't now he was supposed to make that work. Soon it was time for us to leave if we were going to make it back in time to go to the fish restaurant for dinner. There was a trail heading down that mountain that was marked 'Ein Gev'. The tour group of girls we had seen headed down that way. We didn't have much time so we started running. We had to go as fast as possible but be careful not to twist an ankle. It was really rocky. It was a beautiful view, so invigorating to run. We were running down the west side of the hill. It overlooked the sun getting lower over the sea of Galilee. I kept up with the guys pretty well. We only jumped one more fence into the other side of the grain field we had been in before, they convinced me because we were going to be late. Don't worry mom we picked up my sweatshirt in the bush on the side of the road as we ran by. Covered with dirt and sweat I ran back to my bungalow. I took a shower and made it to the bus in time to go to dinner!

At the fish restaurant I got a real St Peter fish with an eyeball still in it! Picture above shows us eating our ice cream for desert. After dinner we took a trip out to visit Tiberius. They took us to a large grocery store, just like costco where as a member of the class parties comittee I helped Lauren and Rich spend 300 shekels on smores and other junk food for our galilee bonfire! We walked around downtown Tiberius (it's really small) a litte bit and drove back to Ein Gev. The next day March 27 we had class in the morning. In the afternoon of this day we went on a hike. See photo at left. This was a free afternoon but we had the option of going on a hike in the Golan Heights to a waterfall. This hike reminded me of the waterfall hike we went on with the Young Single adults in Bryce Canyon (just the waterfall part) counts in the top 10 most beautiful places I've been. There were so many wonderful wildflowers and blossoms. None of the faculty went we just met up with a guide. Our guide was very knowledgable. As we went he told the front of the group about plants and they would pass it back. (Hey mom: Licorice plant grows wild here, I tasted it).

Okay, I had to take an hour and a half break to go to choir. It's late now so I'm going to quickly tell you about everything and then add pictures later. (Wow, side note, when Marie and JP helped me set up this blog I had no idea it would turn into this!)

Anyway, the hike was really beautiful it led to a waterfall with a pool where we could swim. It was freezing cold but eventually everyone was coaxed into jumping in.

The next morning Friday March 28 we went on our Jezreel Valley Field Trip. First thing we visited was Beth Shean. Beth Shean is really important historically becuase its in a very fertile area. It also guards the way to the coast. We had about an hour to explore the ruins. This picture shows the theatre stage behind me. There were some really cool Roman bath ruins to see. Lots of students took pictures of themselves climbing and posing on the ruins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Shean

Next we went to Gan Ha-Shelosha. This is a recreational place to swim (like Cherry hill or something). The cool part is the water all comes from natural springs. The water was so beautiful! It didn't feel like normal water (almost silky). There were two little rock caves to swim into. I scraped my legs on a bunch of hidden rocks under the water (adding to my tradition of hurting myself everday). They were so beautiful! The water glowed blue-green inside. The most exciting part of the trip were the little fish that would nibble on you. There was a certain part of the pool where if you stood the fish come, (they seemed to go for the heel bone). A little farther toward the rocks however their was a bigger fish that was actually biting! Rich, Danny, and Brooke showed me their scratches. Ouch! Rich said it was one of the scariest experiences of his life to be in the water with that thing biting him. Before we left a bunch of students and the lifeguard were trying to find the fish.

We changed really fast, ate lunch on the bus and went to the Bet-Alpha synagogue. The mosaic floor from this synagogue (600 AD, Talmudic times) shows Greek and Christian influence. The main picture on the floor is a Zodiac (totally Greek) and the architectural style of the synagogue is Christian. Next we went to a church in Nain. Nain is where Christ raised the only son of a widow from the dead. It was a beautiful little church up in a Palestinian neighborhood. Brother Draper gave a lecture and we sang hymns. Last we went to Mt. Tabor. At Mount Tabor our bus driver dropped us off and we rode in taxis up to the top of the Mt. There were lots of tourists (this is a big Christian site) so we had to wait in line to get in a taxi. I was toward the front of our group, eating an ice cream cone when a driver yelled that their was room for two more in a car. Lyndsey and I were closest so we went for it. It was a six doored taxi. Lyndsey got put in the middle door. I was going to sit next to her I thought. The taxi driver opened the last door where was seated a very large Italian woman. She had to uncomfortably scoot herself over to make room for me. I sat down, shut the door and we were off. Our taxi driver was the quintessential funny old Arab man. Lyndsay started to use her Arabic on him. He enjoyed talking to her. Whatever she said he thought was funny. He laughed really easily (it was almost like he was drunk, I hope not). The road up the mountain has lots of switchbacks. Lyndsay cheerfully enjoyed one of the turns, "woah". The old man thought it was great. To give Lyndsay a good time he took the next turn a little faster. "Woah". "Woah" Lyndsay repeated. Pretty soon the whole car was in on the game. Every turn this car full of Italians would giggle like little kids. 'Mamma mia!' the driver yelled as he went around the next turn (he probably drives lots of Italians up Mt.Tabor). The large lady next to me was just ticked. She tried to hold onto the seat in front of her but she was nearly drunken by her giddy laughter. Every turn it bubbled out of her. It was the kind of unihibited laughter that screams and brings tears. It was amazing. I sat up against the door eating my ice cream cone.

We got up to the top. Tom talked with some of the Italians (he served in Milan). I used the bathroom and checked out the Catholic trinkets in the gift shop. I was wandering around taking pictures while we waited for the rest of our group when I heard a lady behind us say "Hey, its the students from BYU." People in the Old City know we're BYU students but in Galilee? Turns out it was Anne and Truman G. Madsen!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_G._Madsen (Yes, he IS on wikipedia!) They are here in the holy land right now making films. Anne is doing one on Isaiah and Truman is doing one on the teachings of Jesus. They had their film crew, a small party of people with them. All of us were snapping pictures like crazy. Brother Draper was just coming up the mountain. "Richard?, good to see you". They visited for a bit and we told them what time the Tiberius branch met the next day for church. As we headed off, everyone was going off about how Madsen is THE authority on church history right now. I haven't really read any Madsen before. Chris told me I should listen to his propets tapes. (Apparently all the guys listened to them on their missions, nerds).

Anyway, Mt. Tabor is the traditional site of the Transfiguration. There have been many churches on this mountain commemorating in different ages. Currently there is a beautiful Fransiscan Roman Catholic church built in 1924. Inside the church mass was going on so we had to be quiet. On either side of the main area there are two chapels. One is dedicated to Moses and the other to Elijah. Moses and Elijah appeared to Peter, James and John during the transfiguration.

The next day March 29 we went to church in the Tiberius branch. In the morning Cami and I were running to the bus. I felt something go in my sandal. Ow, I thought it was a thorn or something, it was bee. I had stepped on a bee and it stung me! I had no choice but to continue running to the bus, I wasn't going to miss church in Tiberius! That is where I will leave you hanging for tonight. Tomorrow we have to be on the bus at 6:30! Guess where we are going. Masada! Also we're going to Qumran (dead sea scrolls were discovered here) and swimming in the Dead Sea. Thanks for reading, hopefully I don't have too many mitksks and you cna udersyaud.

Ein Kerem/ Lion's Club Violin Competition

Tomorrow is Shabbat. Right now there is a soccer game going on in the gym next to me. It's really loud so its kind of hard to concentrate. Ahh, okay now I'm in a classroom, thats better. I just got back from a visit to a synagogue. Ophir, our Jewish narrative teacher is taking 20-30 of us at a time (in 3 different groups) to visit a synagogue on shabbat evening. I signed up for the 2nd group which went today. It was really interesting to go to. The synagogue we went to Ophir said was Liberal Orthodox Neo-Chassidic (or something, if there's a way to label everything). The congregation was really welcoming to us. The meeting consisted mostly entirely of singing. The tunes were really catchy and very Jewish sounding (imagine that). Ophir later told us the songs were actually written only in the last 50 years, and are really popular in worship services now. Besides singing there was a little bit of talking in the middle. It's not really as organized as the church meetings we're used to. The man who got up to talk in the middle (he spoke in English because there were a lot of English speakers in the congregation) was just a guy from the community who felt he had something to say. No one asked him to. The actual Rabbi didn't do anything except make announcments at the end. We didn't even know he was the Rabbi until Ophir told us after.
Anyway before going to Synagogue today I also went with a group to finish a mural that James (resident art major) has been heading at the Princess Basma School for Disabled Children on Mount Scopus. This hospital is really close to the center. Students have been going up to work on it for the past few Fridays (they go on Friday because its the Muslim Sabbath and no one is there). There are lots of other murals on the walls a few from past BYU groups. Ours is the biggest and grandest of the BYU though (haha). James designed a scene that has a rainbow going over the earth with the moon the sun, planets and stars all around (I'll show a picture). It was great fun to paint. There's something really satisfying about slapping think paint on a wall with a big brush. While we were cleaning up brushs and stuff my roommate Heather's cell phone rang. She was in the bathroom so Natalie answered it for her. (She was expecting a call from her parents because they flew into Tel Aviv earlier today.) "Heather it's your Dad!" "You're here!, on Mt. Scopus!" Heather's parents were planning to go to Egypt first for a few days but their flight got messed up, so they're now staying in Jerusalem. It sounds like they had a rough flight experience. Their bags got lost so for church tomorrow, they're borrowing things. (Heather's Dad is borrowing Russel's pants!) It's really exciting that they're here for a few days, Heather gets to show them around!
Yesterday April 3 was a free day but I didn't go out until the afternoon cause I wasn't feeling all the way up to snuff. (A bunch of people are sick since getting back from Galilee, food poisoning? a bug? rigorous scedule? i donno what). We only have 2 and 1/2 weeks left. Many people went shopping to get all the souveniors they've been putting off buying. It's annoying when you just don't have the energy for all you want to do. I got a little studying done in the morning and then went with a group who met up with another group to go to Ein Kerem. Ein Kerem is an area of town on the West side (kind of near Mt. Herzl). First we went and saw the Marc Chagall stained glass windows inside Hadassah Hospital (the windows are in the hospitals synagogue). Next we went to the St. John the Baptist church. Commemorates where John the Baptist was born. This is a very beautiful church, maybe my favorite in Jerusalem. They told us we could sing. We sang 'Nearer My God to Thee' it was my favorite part of our visit. Next we found the best ice cream I've had so far in Isreal. It was an Italian Ice Cream shop. I never thought Pistacio ice cream would be good. Every flavor that had was good. We didn't get in to the Sister's of Zion convent that is right in that area (it closed at 5 not 6). Brother Huntington had told us this was his second favorite site in Israel. I guess we'll have to try to go back there sometime. To spend the rest of our time we wandered around and found "Mary's Spring". This is a fountain that commeorates the spot where Mary and Elizabeth met and 'the babe lept in Elizabeth's womb.' It was a really pretty fountain. There was a lady sitting next to it playing a really interesting instrument. She said it was called a 'Hang' from Switzerland (It'd be cool to find one). The sound really complimented the fountain water noise (really calming sound).
Also, I forgot to write about before. On April 3rd evening there was a violin competition here at the BYU JC. When we came in the upper gate from Ein Kerem there was a bride and groom taking pictures in the gardens (this is more common now that it's spring), and inside there were a lot of people around and a kid with a violin on his back checking in at the front desk. I went down to my room and sister Galbraith called about something and then told me there was a competition tonight of young violinists (16-17 years old). She said they were really impressive, chosen out of a larger group at an earlier competition. The winner would go on to a competition in Europe. I told her I'd like very much to go. She said to go up to the Oasis and find Bro Galbraith. Every person I passed while going up the stairs told me to find Bro Galbraith. "Oh, Emily, there's a violin thing tonight" "Emily, Bro Galbraith's looking for you"... There were 5 tickets for students. Everyone made sure I got a ticket. When I got upstairs my name was already on the top of the list. haha
The concert was sponsored by the Lion's club I think. The audience was full of middle aged Jews, probably members of the Lion's club. They remind me of the kind of people who attend the Utah Symphony accept even more boisterous people (kind of like 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'). There were lots of speaches and formalities at the beginning. They said everything in Hebrew and then in English (It took more than 30 minutes). They expressed how they love the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center. They say it on of 'the most beautiful places in Jersalem.' After the speeches,e ach of the violinists gave a recital. They played 3 or 4 pieces each. They were really good, lots of really intense dramatic showy stuff (the audience really enjoyed it). They played Sarasate (lots of tricks), Brahms, Carmen. About four of the pieces were repeated between the three of them. By the time they finished it had taken more than 2 hours. There was a man sitting behind us on the back row who would get upset and clear his throat if he thought he heard anyone whispering. The last violinist played the Fugue from Bach Sonata No1 in g minor. Right at the end of his piece someone a couple rows in front of us's cell phone went off. Appauled, the audience all turned to look at him. Many of them looked like they were going to pounce! The guy behind us about went crazy. Outraged he stood up and chastized the guy in Hebrew then sat down grumbling and rolling his eyes. The violinist began his next piece. The man with the phone was discusted. He climbed over everyone and furiously left the concert. I thought the concert was over but there was only a break while the judges were making their decision. Whew, I had to go, it was late and I hadn't started studying yet. Debbie wanted to find out who won so she stayed for the rest of it. She said it ended up going until 11:00pm! They had a thing set up so the audience could vote as well. The last guy who played ended up winning. I'm glad I got to go to the concert. It was a fun cultural experience.
I'm excited for Shabbat tomorrow. We are having a fast and testimony meeting only, then later in the evening, General Conference is going to be broadcast live to us from Salt Lake City!