The View from the Old City

Last week on a cloudy Friday Jerusalem afternoon, I took a trip to the old city for lunch and some sightseeing in the Christian Quarter with my friend Mike who is hoping to become a Lutheran minister. We had a great time admiring the momentous city around us, and talking christian theology at the top of the bell tower at the Lutheran church of the Holy Redeemer, and a inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Its been so wonderful to be back in Jerusalem, walking these holy streets. I'm still spiritually preparing myself for a trip to the Kotel, but I know a return visit is just around the corner.
Following are some pictures from our afternoon.

Settlements

I've been thinking and reading a lot about the never-ending issue of Israeli/Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. As with everything in Israel, this is a really complicated issue with every party faithfully holding to their unerring positions. Right now I'm feeling faithfully in solidarity with those who are continually having their land and livelihood stolen from them and forced to live lives worse than second-class citizens under an occupying military regime, but I hope to keep learning and hearing from people from all perspectives while I'm in Israel.
In the meantime, I wanted to share two news media stories on the settlements. The first is a recent 60 minutes piece, which the source I received the link from (http://www.endtheoccupation.org) describes as "the first time that a mainstream U.S. media outlet has dared to accurately portray what Israeli occupation and settlement mean for Palestinians living in the West Bank and to explain to the American public why this system is apartheid."


Watch CBS Videos Online

Following is a recent investigative piece by Haaretz, one of the main Israeli newspapers, on a, until recent, secret government report and survey on the growth and construction of all Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Secret Israeli database reveals full extent of illegal settlement

Blog Update from Jerusalem

Hello Friends,
My apologies for the lack of activity on my blog. I've been having many exciting adventures and new learning experiences over the past couple of weeks in Jerusalem, but as usual, I've been procrastinating with condensing my life abroad into concise blog posts to share with you all. I think I'm going to deviate from posting in chronological order, and just try to get things up as they come to me. I hope all is well with you wherever you are.
Shabbat Shalom,
Micah

Photos from Shabbat at Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea

Arrived safe and sound in Jerusalem

well, I finally made it! I'm sitting in the lobby of my hostel for the night in downtown Jerusalem. I had a frantic plane change in Frankfurt where I only made it on time because they held the flight for a group of Pilgrims and got a special bus to get us to Tel Aviv. Because of them I made the flight, but the baggage didn't make it. I'm staying in the hostel that I stayed in last time I was in Jersualem, so its nice to have a little bit of familiarity; including the Buena Vista Social Club playing in the lobby, haha. Tomorrow I head to Hebrew University campus, register for the semester, and hopefully have my baggage delivered to me.
I'm excited to be here, but a pretty overwhelmed by the enormity of it all and how long I'm going to be in Israel. I think a good nights sleep will help put things in perspective, and I look forward to writing about my first reactions to being back in Israel with a fresh mind and optimistic attitude.

Leaving For Jerusalem Tomorrow

Hello Friends and loved ones. I board a plane for Israel tomorrow. More on my thoughts and feelings to come soon. I hope to use this blog to stay in touch over the coming 6 months and give you a taste of the new life I will be making for myself.
In Peace and With Love,
Micah