Jerusalem Shalom

 Last day in Israel and celebrating Purim in Jerusalem.

Shopping corridor, street in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City Jerusalem.

A newly constructed synagogue in the Jewish Quarter and plaza of Jerusalem.

Celebrating Purim.  Notice the Tzitzit, tassels at the four corners.

Bar Mitzvah

Headed through the high security check point again to visit the Western Wall.  Not as long a wait as to get into that walking bridge into the Arab controlled Temple Mount.

Red poppies or anemones grow everywhere right now in Israel.

There is a barrier between the men and the women on the Western Wall.  Many Bar Mitzvahs on the Wall this day.

Some women stand on chairs to watch the events on the men's side.

Large group of women read the story of Queen Esther aloud for Purim.  They all roared, waved flags and noise makers to drown out Haman's name during the story.

Prayer along the wall.

Where the Western and Southern Walls meet.  Original stones from the time of the second temple.

A Bar Mitzvah on the Western Wall outside the place on the wall where the Orthodox are gender separated.  Mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers can be present here.

On the Southern steps where Jesus departed from the temple following His last public address.  His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple....  "Do you not see all these things?  Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."  Matthew 23-24:2

Sitting on an original step up to the temple.  A step that Jesus taught from.

The exit gate was just above these steps.

An early Christian cross marking this 2000 year old garden tomb with the symbols for the Alpha and the Omega.  Revelation 1:8, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Shalom for now, Jerusalem.  The Lord will return.  He will return as he ascended on the Mt of Olives.  The mountain will be split in two.  The ancient doors will be lifted up.  The King of Glory will enter into His city.  Oh what glory!