Day 9 – Sunday, May 12: Yad VaShem, Israel Museum, Shephelah
Our morning started, as usual, with breakfast at 6:30, followed by a 7:30 a.m. departure. We are pretty used to it now! The weather was once again perfect, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 70s. We read from Psalm 137 as we left for our first site, Yad VaShem, a solemn and reflective place.
Yad Vashem
Our first stop in the morning required us to drive to West Jerusalem. Here we visited the Israel’s Holocaust Museum & Memorial. It is called Yad Vashem, named after a verse in Isaiah 56:5 that mentions the “memorial and a name.” We first visited the Valley of the Communities. Here we heard the personal story from Shlomo about his family during this tragic event. He lost 12 family members in Vilna, Poland (pictured). We then walked through the Children’s Memorial and the museum itself. It was a somber experience recalling the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of six million Jews.
Israel Museum
Just a short distance away (still in Western Jerusalem) is the Israel Museum. Because the Museum as closed, Shlomo was still able to get us in to see the 1:50 scale model of 2nd Temple Jerusalem. We retraced the ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem and in the Temple.
Gezer
In the afternoon, we descended west to the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah. Our first stop was Tel Gezer. Located on the Aijalon Valley, this was both a Canaanite and Israelite city, full of walls, towers, and gates. We saw the replica of the “Gezer Calendar.” We also read from Ecclesiastes 3 about the “seasons of life.” From the observation mound we saw the Aijalon Valley mentioned in Joshua 10. Among the Middle Bronze ruins many of us used the new steel stairway down to the bottom of the water system (175 steps down). This water system was originally used by Canaanites. We then left these Canaanite ruins and continued to the Israelite (Iron Age) area to see ancient house structures and a chambered gate dating to Solomon (1 Kings 9). Walking back to the bus we saw the Canaanite high place and standing stones.
Beth Shemesh
From here we continued south to visit the site of Beth Shemesh. Located along the Sorek Valley, Beth Shemesh was a prominent Israelite town known for their many water cisterns. Across the valley is Zorah, the hometown of Samson (Judges 13-16). Further west down the valley was the Philistine city of Timnah where Samson’s first wife was from (only 3.5 miles away). We also read the narrative of 1 Samuel 6 about the Ark of the Covenant being returned to Israel by the Philistines living in Ekron. We could see the story unfold right before our very eyes! The battle between Amaziah and Joash also took place here (2 Chronicles 25).
Beit Guvrin
We added an extra stop this afternoon and went to Beit Guvrin. In the days of the Old Testament, this was called Mareshah. It was the home of Micah, the prophet. After driving past this site, we continued to the Bell Cave. It is carved out of the softer limestone. The cave was fascinating to see.
“Today was another great day, with a variety of sites. We began in a solemn visit of Yad VaShem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum & Memorial. It was sobering to also hear Shlomo’s story of losing 12 family members in Poland. It was quite moving!”
Socoh
From here, we drove back north to the site of Tel Socoh. This ancient city located along the heart of the Elah Valley has been not excavated, yet mentioned in the story of 1 Samuel 17 (the Philistines camped on the ride between Azekah and Socoh). It was in the narrow part of the valley where David battled Goliath. David faced the battle with this giant in the confidence of the Lord! We can face our battles with the same confidence!
We returned back to the Hill Country of Judah by taking a unique two-land road back to Jerusalem and our hotel. Following dinner, we enjoyed another optional walk to see the rolling stone in front of Herod the Great’s family tomb. At 8 p.m., we stood in silence in honor of the fallen soldiers of Israel since 1948. Tonight and tomorrow is Israel’s Memorial Day (called Yom HaZikaron in Hebrew), a solemn day, especially in light of al the IDF soldiers who have died in the ongoing war in Gaza and in the north.
Day 10 – Monday, May 13: Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Church, Garden Tomb, City of David, Southern Wall Excavations, Holy Sepulcher Church
