ISRAEL AS HOD  (day 109)

ISRAEL is sandwiched between EUROPE & AFRICA with a population of 8 million people.

ISRAEL is an incredibly complex country and at the same time for such a small country it is one of the most historically interesting countries. The Sense of History is all around. ISRAEL has both an amazing landscape and culture. 75% of the population is JEWISH /  ISRAELIS  & 18% are MUSLIM / ARABS. It is the most holy & spiritual country on the planet, yet it is still secular. The CHRISTIANS believe that CHRIST was crucified here & they can worship at the CHURCH of THE  HOLEY SEPULCHER, MUSLIMS worship in the DOME OF THE ROCK, where the PROPHET MOHAMMAD received the KORAN from ALA, & the WESTERN (WAILING WALL ). All that is left of the original wall that was built around JERUSALEM  in the time of the 2nd TEMPLE, is where JEWS go to pray. In addition to these there are many other religious sites related to the different religions i.e.. BAHA'I.

Since the country is in the desert is in the desert & the Israelis wanted to produce their own food all year round the Israelis developed a DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM for watering for growing crops.    All forests in the country have been planted, nothing grows naturally the only food that they have to import is meat. It was not just drip irrigation that the Israelis discovered. They improved it to work in different settings i.e UGANDA. The ISRAELIS are leaders in technology which they share with the USA and the rest of the world.

ARAB ISRAELI conflicts have been a thorn in the side of peacemakers for a long time. In the past whenever there seemed to be an agreement which would put an end to the conflict hardliners and extremists push things back.

AS HOD
Our ship docked in the port of AS HOD in the Southern District of ISRAEL, on the Mediterranean coast.

ORTHODOX JEWISH MAN SERENADING SHOPPERS AS THEY WALK BY

ENTRANCE TO THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM 

ENTERING THE OLD CITY

A YOUNG SOLDIER THAT HAPPENED TO BE WALKING BY & OUR GUIDE 

A MESSIANIC TEMPLE

JEWS FOR JESUS

MANY ROMAN CITIES HAD A CARDO  

A GRAND MAIN THOROUGHFARE FLANKED BY 2 ROWS OF COLUMNS 

THE CARDO WAS THE MAIN COMMERCIAL AVE. OF JERUSALEM FOR ALMOST 500 YR

AN ORIGINAL PAINTING OF HOW THE STREET ACTUALLY LOOKED

AND THERE WE ARE

CHILDREN GROWING UP & PLAYING & HAVING FUN IN THE EXCAVATED ANCIENT ROMAN CARDO RUINS

THE WESTERN WALL & THE COURT YARD FROM A DISTANCE

A MUSLIM TEMPLE ALONG SIDE THE WESTERN WALL 

THE DOME OF THE ROCK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL 

WOMEN PRAYING ON THE WOMAN'S SIDE OF THE WALL 

RABBIS CONDUCTING A BAR MITZVAH ON THE MEN'S  SIDE OF THE WALL

COMMUNITIES, CONDOMINIUMS FACING THE WALL, THAT SELL FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS 

THE MARKETPLACE IN THE JEWISH QUARTER

CHURCH THE HOLEY SEPULCHER THAT WAS BUILT ON THE GROUND WHERE JESUS WAS SAID TO BE CRUCIFIED 

CHRISTIANS KNEELING, PRAYING, & RUBBING MEMENTOS TO TAKE HOME ON THE  STONE WHERE IT IS SAID THAT THEY PREPARED JESUS'S BODY FOR BURIEL

CHRISTIANS STANDING ON LINE WAITING TO ENTER THE TOMB WHERE IT IS SAID THAT JESUS'S BODY WAS KEPT FROM GOOD FRIDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY WHEN HE ARROSE BEFORE HIS BODY WAS BURIED

THIS MAN IS THE KEEPER OF THE KEY TO THE CHURCH 

THE JOB HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO MALES IN HIS FAMILY FOR THE PAST 800 YRS.

Apparently there is a great deal of territorial fighting between all of the different Christian faiths who have areas of worship in the church and by making sure that the church is in order before locking the doors at night the is doing an important part of his job.

ISRAEL Continued tomorrow ...