SUNDAY, 21ST JULY 2013

SUNDAY, 21ST JULY 2013

Our day started at 8.30 a.m. with a lecture from Rabbi Levi on Jewish Worship.   We knew him from the visits we have made to the synagogue so it was really good to have him with us and to learn more about worship which has been followed since the time Jesus used to pray these same prayers.    Much more to follow when my notes are written up.

At 11.00 a.m. we left to go to Yad Veshem, the Holocaust Museum.   The visit was in two parts, first the outside areas which took about two hours to complete, followed by the museum which is built through a hill. The whole complex is amazing and very evocative - so much death and abuse of all kinds - but then so much heroism and faith both by those who suffered and atrocities and those Righteous Gentiles who saved thousands of Jews, putting their own lives at risk to do so.    To say it was a gruelling visit is an understatement.   The area which touched me most deeply was the Memorial of the Children.  But all the thoughts of what so many suffered and the  lives lost  in such horrific circumstances ........

Our next destination was Ein Kerem, a Community of the Sisters of Sion.   A absolutely beautiful location with lovely gardens where we could take time to meditate and reflect, and then share some thoughts on the day at a plenary session before going to Mass.   Again, I attended but administered the Reserve Sacrament to myself, no other non-RCs were there.  

The Sisters provided a lovely supper, and then it was in the minibuses to return 'home' and to start our preparation for TOMORROW when we depart at 8 a.m. for the Desert for a camel ride, a part-night in a tent, at 4 a.m. start on Tuesday to watch the sunrise, and at sometime a dip in the Dead Sea.  I think we are back here in time for supper Tuesday so hope to catch up on the blog then.