Day 11 – Tuesday, September 20: Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Garden Tomb, Farewell Dinner, Flight Home (for those not doing the Turkey extension)
On this last day of the Israel portion off the tour, we started at 7:30 once again. The temps were beautiful today, with a crisp cool air in the morning and sun and a high of about 80 in the afternoon. We read from Psalm 137 about how special Jerusalem was to those in Exile in Babylon.
Yad Vashem
Our first stop of the day was Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum and Memorial. It is named after Isaiah 56:5 (“To them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name…”). We first entered the Valley of the Communities, marking all the towns and cities where Jews were killed throughout Europe. We then heard Shlomo’s testimony about how he lost 12 family members in Vilna, Poland. We also walked through the Children’s Memorial. 1.5 million children were killed. On our own, we walked through the Museum. It was a somber experience.
Israel Museum
Also located in West Jerusalem but closer to the Old City, we visited the Israel Museum. We saw three things here: A 1:50-scaled model of 2nd Temple Period Jerusalem, the Shrine of the Book, and the archaeological wing of the museum itself. In the museum (we had to drive back to the museum at 4 pm to see the artifacts) we saw highlights of artifacts, such as the Hazor standing stones, the Dan Inscription, the silver amulet from a Hinnom tombs, the Lachish Letter #4, the “to the place of trumpeting” inscription, the Pilate Inscription, Herod’s bathhouse and sarcophagus, and many more. We ended with seeing a 1,900 year old “pie plate.” 🙂
“I cannot believe today was our last day here in Israel. This Israel trip has been eye-opening and heart-inspiring. We have seen so very much, more than the typical tour. Today was a great last here in Israel!”
Garden Tomb
Our last stop of the day was to the Garden Tomb. This is an alternative and must later location (end of 19th century AD) for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. We saw the rocky scarp (Golgotha) and the proposed tomb. We enjoyed a special time of worship, with Pastor Marcus leading us in Communion. Following the footsteps of Jesus first in the Galilee and now here in Jerusalem, and considering God’s salvation made available to each of us through Christ was a perfect way to end not only this last day but the tour.
We drove back to the hotel. We enjoyed our “Farewell Dinner” at the hotel at 6. Those flying home tonight then departed at 7 pm for the airport. There are 11 of us who are continuing on to Turkey to see the seven Churches of Revelation.
Day 12 – Wednesday, September 21: Ben Gurion Airport or Turkey Extension
