Day 12 – Wednesday, January 15: Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Old City – Rampart Walls, Holy Sepulcher Church, St. Annie’s Church, Pools of Bethesda, Eastern Gate
Today was another full day here in Jerusalem. We enjoyed sunny skies once again, with highs in the 60s. This morning was slower-paced as we visited two museums. We read Psalm 137 as we left the hotel at 7:35.
Yad Vashem
We departed the hotel and drove to West Jerusalem, specifically to Israel’s Holocaust Museum & Memorial. It is called Yad Vashem, named after a verse in Isaiah 56 that mentions the “memorial and a name.” Before the museum opened, we sat in a nice shaded area among the Avenue of the Righteous (with trees dedicated to righteous gentiles who saved Jews during WW II. This incudes trees dedicated to people like Oscar Schindler and Corrie ten Boom). We heard the personal story from Shlomo about his family during this tragic event. He lost 12 family members in Vilna, Poland.
It was a somber experience walking through the Children’s Memorial and the museum itself on our own, We were reminded of the horrors and atrocities of the Holocaust and the loss of six million Jews. We left the museum around 11 a.m.
Israel Museum – Model of Jerusalem
From here we drove to the area of the Knesset, Israel’s parliamentary building. Across the street is the Israel Museum. Although the museum was closed today (unknown to us), we were at least allowed to see the 1:50 scale model of 2nd Temple Jerusalem. The model gives us a good idea of what Jerusalem looked liked during the time of Jesus.
Old City / Rampart Walk
Changing up the afternoon schedule a bit, we entered the Old City of Jerusalem through the Jaffa Gate. Here, we accessed the entrance to the Rampart Walls for our walk around part of the Old City. These walls date to the Turkish/Ottoman Period, being built by Suleiman the Great (1520-1566) between 1537-1544 AD. The view from high on these walls was quite interesting! We walked from the area of the Jaffa Gate to the Zion’s Gate on the south side of the Old City.
Holy Sepulcher Church
We then walked from the Jewish Quarter to the Christian Quarter, specifically to the Holy Sepulcher Church. Built in 325 AD, this is the traditional location for the death and burial place of Jesus. It very well could be that Hadrian, the 2nd century AD Roman emperor “tipped us off” where he thought the tomb of Jesus was! The archaeological and historical records favor this site over the Garden Tomb. Because of the lack of people here, we literally walked right into the Edicule (enclosing the suggested tomb of Jesus).
!
“We saw a lot again today here in Jerusalem. The day started with Yad Vashem (a solemn visit of Israel’s Holocaust Museum), and ended with joyful singing inside St. Anne’s church. We also had fun walking on the walls of the Old City!”

St. Anne’s Church / Pools of Bethesda
From the Christian Quarter we walked to the Muslim Quarter where we visited St. Anne’s Church, a Crusader Church. The acoustics in the church are incredible, providing a 6-7 second echo. We enjoyed singing here! Next to the church is the Pool of Bethesda. We read John 5 of the miracle that took place here. After walking out of the Old City (Stephen’s Gate, also called Lion’s and Jericho Gate), we walked along the eastern wall to the base of the closed Eastern Gate.
We returned to the hotel for dinner and a free evening. What another great day here in Jerusalem!
Day 13 – Thursday, January 16: City of David, Southern Excavations, Jewish Quarter, Allenby Bridge Crossing, Mt. Nebo, Overnight in Amman







