Monday, November 10th

Day 8

See the first picture below for the view of Jerusalem from our hotel room window this morning. Due to some reported unrest in Samaria, the tour company (Aliyah) canceled the day’s planned itinerary. Instead, after breakfast, we loaded the busses to begin the day shopping at a gift shop in Jerusalem. Bartering for shofars, scarves, jewelry, and wooden sculptures was the business of the morning. I was not thrilled that our itinerary had changed into an opportunity to buy things. However, I did appreciate some of the intricate wooden sculptures. See the picture below of the sculpture of Jesus calming the sea. Earlier in the journey, a jewelry merchant had been allowed onto the busses. I spotted him keeping an eye on things in the store that morning. He had also appeared at the Bedouin camp yesterday. I approached him and respectfully commented that he appeared to be quite the entrepreneur. He smiled appreciatively.

Next we visited an area along the outer wall of Jerusalem, considered to be where Pilate had sentenced Jesus. See the picture below of a section of the outer wall. Then we walked down into the valley of Hinom, where children were slaughtered under the rule of the worst of Israel’s ancient kings, and where Judas is thought to have hung himself. Today the valley is a lovely grass-covered park. See picture of the Hinom Valley below.

We had lunch at a restaurant located beneath the roof upon which we had worshiped the previous evening. Then we stood at a spot from which we could see the area where Samson, and each of his parents had lived (see 1 Chronicles 4; and Judges 16:28). We then visited the Valley of Elah, which is the battleground where David took on Goliath in the Shephelah area of Israel. See the picture below of the ancient field of battle. We even acted out the incredible act of faith by David when he slew Goliath. See the picture below of David taking aim. Some of us collected stones from the same dried creek bed from which David likely drew his stones. See picture below of Shelley with a small, smooth stone.

I did have the opportunity for a second spiritual discussion with Henry today. I had noticed that he regularly paid very close attention to Rabbi Jonathan’s teaching. Henry acknowledged that he is in fact on a spiritual journey. I encouraged him to not only listen to Rabbi Cahn, but also to share any questions with him as he is a fellow Jew, who was once on such a journey of discovery himself.

We ended the day as scheduled with another beautiful experience in what likely had been a shepherd’s field, complete with olive trees overlooking Bethlehem, the city of Jesus Christ’s birth. There, Rabbi Cahn delivered a special teaching about the town and its environs. The evening concluded with worship songs including Christmas carols, sung by candlelight. Then it was on to dinner and another overnight in our Jerusalem hotel, as we contemplated entering into old Jerusalem the next morning!

A Small, Smooth, Stone

Copyright 2026 Rich O’Brien