Jerusalem from the south; UN Compound.

The last two Shabbats (Saturdays) in November, I walked home after congregation. It's a nice 40 minute walk and there's a park bench about halfway with my name written all over it. Above is some bougenvillia growing on the fence at Ramat Rachel as I begin my walk. Below is a photo of Ramat Rachel's Cherry Orchard and in the distant neighborhood is East Talpiot where I am headed. If you zoom in and can locate a little square building in the middle, that is the local synagogue close to where I live.

Below is the road I'm headed down. Jerusalem's City Center (downtown) is in the distance.

My camera battery went kaput on my walk from congregation so I will have to finish the walk some other time. Below is another sunrise in East Talpiot. Look how the sun is outlined through the clouds. I do like sunrises. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. Psalm 5:3

After congregation on Saturday, December 1st, the pastor, Meno, invited me and a father and son to have Shabbat lunch with them. On the way to their home we needed to stop and get some extra bread at an Arab Market since all the Jewish stores were closed for Shabbat. Below we are just north of the Old City. You can see the Dome of the Rock as it appears at street level. Just to the left of the Dome would be the Damascus Gate.

Below Meno is hustling in to get the bread since we are sort of "double-parked". Because the congregation meets on Saturday mornings when the buses don't run, getting to and from the congregation can be challenge. You either need a car, a ride with someone else, an Arab taxi (because they don't mind working on Saturday), or be close enough to walk. I am getting in the habit of taking a taxi to congregation and walking back. The congregation does own 3 vans and offers rides to as many worshippers as they can. Especially the elderly. Not only does Meno drive one of the vans but also his wife, Anat. Sometimes double runs can be made where you drop off a few worshippers that live close and then come back in 10-15 minutes to pick up others. Not a lot of pastors have to pick up their worshippers, then take them home later, and sometimes stop and buy bread. Only in Jerusalem. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..Ephesians 4:11-12

Below here we are at Shabbat lunch. In the foreground are two young mothers from Sudan with little babies. The two young mothers are currently staying at Meno and Anat's apartment until they are able to find a place to live. The father and son are originally from Chile but made "aliyah" (going up or immigrate) to Israel. Part of our afternoon conversation went like this. The older gentleman from Chile would say something to his son (who is in the IDF) in Spanish; then the son would repeat it in Hebrew; then Meno would repeat it to me in English. “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. Isaiah 66:18

Just recently, Meno and Anat built a room under their apartment. Similar to having a basement but you go outside in order to go under. This is now Meno's study and below is a picture of it. The walkway leads to the where the library will be in the future but the Sudanese ladies are currently staying there.

Below part of Meno's library has been temporarily moved. Our congregation is about 150 in number unless tour groups show up. We have had two tour groups before at one time. In the past few months, some Sudanese Christians being persecuted in Sudan have found their way to Israel. Last Saturday there were about 15 Sudanese at our congregation where they do feel welcome. Two weeks ago, Meno dedicated a newborn infant. His parents had literally walked across Eqypt to get to Israel when the mother was seven months along. She even had to climb some fences to arrive. For over 20 years, the Sudanese Christians have been persecuted and killed. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10. The congregation is starting a special fund to help. I also directed them to Christian Friends of Israel. Last Friday, at CFI, we unloaded a container of clothes from the USA. CFI currently has mens, womens, childrens, and infants clothing for all those in need. Four of those boxes were mine and I now have some addtional winter clothes. There are a lot of stories from our shipment unloading perhaps for another posting.

On Sunday, December 2nd, I went up the hill to the Tayilet (Promenade) to take some photos of Jerusalem from the south. We were having some blessed rain on and off all day.

The Dome of the Rock through the bougenvillea.

The Mount of Olives through the bougenvillea.

The Mount of Olives with the City of David in the lower left. King David conquered the stronghold of Zion and named the city after himself. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David)..... Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. II Samuel 5:7;5:9. King David is buried somewhere down there. So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David. 1st Kings 2:20. So is his son Solomon. Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. I Kings 11:43. And his son, Rehoboam. So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. I Kings 14:31. And his son Abjam. So Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. I Kings 15:8 etc., etc. You get the idea.

Below just south of the Mount of Olives is a barren hill called the Mount of Offense. King Solomon had many pagan wives and he let them worship there. But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. I Kings 11:1-8 No doubt that is why the Mount of Offense looks like nothing can grow on it even today.

His Holy City.

Some fall color in the foreground without the zoom.

Below are some young ladies in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force). They seemed to be practicing to be "under cover". You will notice that some have a make shift skirt around their IDF fatigues plus they are reading something like a script. They were rehearsing and taking turns. Then they got quiet when I stopped to take a photo. These young kids in the IDF ride the buses daily back and forth to their bases. It is very common to get on a bus and see some members of the IDF; Orthodox Jews; young Jewish children going to school; elderly Jews going to shop at the Shuk (open market); young mothers with strollers; etc. That's probably what they also say "today on the bus I saw an old guy who looked like an American from Texas or maybe Oklahoma!".

This photo below gives you a good view of the Kidron Valley between Mount Moriah (the Old City) and the Mount of Olives. When King David was vacating his throne because of his son, Absalom, he went from left to right in the photo. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.II Samuel 15:23. So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. II Samuel 15:30. During His triumphal entry, the Lord Jesus went from right to left. Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple.... Mark 11:1-11

Even within the Old City of Jerusalem you can be walking uphill and downhill. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. Psalm 125:2.

Looking behind the Mount of Olives where the city of Bethany would be. Bethany was where the Lord Jesus liked to stay with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. Mark 11:11....Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. John 12:1-3.

Where I headed around the UN Compound.

Behind the UN Comp0und, Olive Trees and barbed wire. Quite a contrast.

A nice pathway that probably leads to the City of David. That was not the direction I was headed today.

Looking in the distance you can see the Judean desert. It's amazing how quickly the terrain changes. Look closely and you will see the "partition fence" that makes today's headlines. The village in the foreground would be an Israeli Arab village. The village on the other side of the partition fence would be Palestinian Arabs. It all depends on where you were living when the 1948 War of Independence ended. The Arabs on this side of the fence have the opportunity to become Israeli citizens, vote, and own property. The Arabs on the other side of the fence were considered to be a part of Jordan from 1948-1967. The past 40 years have been discussion about giving the land back that was gained during the Six Day War of June, 1967. Never mind that the 1967 War was started by Arabs saying that "we will push Israel into the sea".

A lot of history on this sign below. You probably need to zoom in. For me personally, I think it would be too far to be the location of Caiaphas's House. However, for the UN Compound of today to be located on The Hill of Evil Counsel does fit.

The light blue flag of the United Nations flying over their compound. In 1967, this is where the country of Jordan made the mistake of attacking Israel first. After the Israelis successfully pushed back the Jordanian Legion here, then they proceeded over the next 2-3 days to take all of the Old City and the Mount of Olives. Last week's Annapolis conference is all about Israel giving back the land plus a lot more and basically getting nothing in return.

The main building at the UN Compound. Of course, anytime war breaks out anywhere, the UN is the first to vacate the premises. They do not accomplish much of anything.

A guard post at the UN Compound. When I was walking around the Compound a guard appeared on the inside of the fence and walked beside me for quite awhile. It may have really been the time for his rounds or perhaps they wondered who was this guy taking photos on a rainy day?

This is East Talpiot looking south from the UN Compound. My apartment house would be in the lower right about 7 or 8 buildings in. All the buildings look alike. No wonder in Jericho Rahab the harlot was told to tie a scarlet cord in the window so she could be identified. So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down...Joshua 2:17. Before my next walk in this direction I need to tie a large scarlet cord so I can recognize my apartment.

I like these guys.

I live on Mordechai ElQahi Street.

However, one block later the name is not spelled the same. This older sign says something about 1947. On November 29th, 1947, the United Nations voted to partition the land between the Jews and the Arabs. The Jews accepted the partition and called the land Israel. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; Isaiah 66:8-10.
However, the Arabs in all their wisdom, chose war instead of a state. And now, 60 years later, they are still asking for the state that they could have had back then.

Is the Lord taking care of me or what? Look closely at the tuna fish cans in the middle. Starkist is now making "tuna fish with chili peppers". I'm also showing you an example of how a can may be written in Hebrew on one side and English on the other. However, most are not and you just have to go by the picture. Like the tomato soup in a bag. You just pour hot water over it. The other bag looks like rice and some vegetables. I have not tried it yet. The tuna salad that says "piquant" has a "kick" to it. I'm not sure what "piquant" means but I like it.