To the Old City

After a typical Bethlehem breakfast, we checked out of the Paradise Hotel and got on the bus for our journey to Jerusalem. On the way, our guide Sam gave us some information about the Jewish people. He pointed out that the settlements on the hills as we passed could be noted as either Jewish or Arabic by the way they were built: Jewish settlements were organized, had red roofs, and were identical in every way. Arabic settlements were more organic, disorganized, and seemed to just grow out of the hills. He also said that there were three kinds of Orthodox Jews in Israel: The Haredi Jews are the most extreme, practicing every aspect of the law, and were always dressed in black suits and hats. They had mustaches as well (the men; he didn't explain how the women were dressed!) These Jews came from Eastern Europe. The Hasidic Jews are descendents of the Pharisees, and always sport a beard. The other kind are called Conservative. The little skull cap that they wear on their heads is called a 'kita" and if these are white, they are Conservative Jews, and if they are black they are Orthodox Jews.

Sam also noted that a lot of Jews aren't religious, and the Jewish state is secular, not religious in nature. I am interested in finding out a lot more about the Jewish religion and its different sects.

We were told not to bring Bibles, rosaries, or wear cross jewelry as we entered the Old City. We waited a while in line to go through security. One of our group didn't know this, and his Bible was confiscated by the security police. The women were told to have their shoulders and knees covered. Two of our ladies were sent to get shawls to cover their bare arms! Everywhere, we saw young, uniformed Israelis with huge, automatic rifles. It was a little scary.

The city of Jerusalem is surrounded by a huge wall, and it is divided into a Christian quarter, an Armenian Quarter, a Moslem Quarter, and the Jewish Quarter. More on this tomorrow.