July 8 Today was a day dedicated to my Christan friends. We traveled to the Church of the Annunciation where Mary ( whose name was Miriam) spoke to the angel. We went on to the place where Jesus gave his sermon and to where he spent most of his years in the Jewish town of Capernaum. The ruins date back to the time of Jesus ant the temple that remains is built on top of the temple where Jesus preached. We saw artifacts indicting that this was a Jewish town The "Star of David" is for decoration and did not become a symbol of the Jewish people until the 20th sentury. Ther Menorah , however WAS a symbol and proves that at the time of Jesus this place was Jewish. We went on a boat ride on the sea of Gailee followed by a jaunt into the Jordan river. A hot day but very interesting.

How wonderful to celebrate Shabbat dinner with Elaine and Steve with their new group! The Mamilla hotel is glorious and I got to eat wonderful food and awesome CHOCOLATE!! I told the group how luck they were and retold the story of the missing luggage and my daughters eye opening wisdom about the Jews who also never got their luggage! The group was truly touched by this story.

July 7 Shabbat Shalom I have not written since July 3rd and will try to fill in the days without great detail and a lot to read. I am feeling better now and back to normal. We had an exhausting and exhilarating week of study on Anti Judaism in the ancient world and the medieval era of Christianity. It led to a lecture on Modern anti antisemitism in Europe 19 and 20 century. July 4, although significant for Americans was also a Holocaust remembrance day in Czech republic due to an infamous killing Of Jews inside a temple. We also had an intensive tour of the museum led by our director Ephraim Kaye. We had some time to explore on our own as well. We also had a lecture on Yiddish literature which was both humorous and pensive. Our day was NOT over as we explored the Yad Vashem web site and how to navigate it. That evening we were invited to the Tower of David light show which was a beautiful history of Jerusalem projected onto the ancient walls through technology. July 5 we explored the complicated politics of inter was Poland and of Israel today. We then went to the museum visual center . Yesterday we heard the testimony of Hannah Pick a survivor and friend of Anne Frank. Today we toured the Old City in detail.Once again I stood at the wall in awe and with a feeling that one can not explain unless you have touched he stones surrounded by others in prayer. For Christians the Church of the Holy Sepluchar was a dee3p religio9us experience. We ended at 1pm and all went our own ways. I actually walked backed alone somehow finding my way through the alleys and confusing streets of the Old city. Tonight is Shabbat and I am heading over to the Mamilla hotel to meet up with Elaine with her new group. I hope to make it make for the Shabbat dinner with my own group. I am trying hard to inhale every moment every second. Tomorrow we will head North for an excursion to the Gailiee. I will call my cousin maybe we can meet up. Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem

July 3 ade it through the tour of Jerusalem although I spent most of it on the bus. One of the participants from Montreal, Jean, was kind enough to have and share anti biotic with me. I had an uneventful evening staying in my room all night.... Feel better today not 100% but better. Today is devoted to Judaism and Anti Judaism in ancient times and Medieval Christendom. The morning covered the times frm 500BC and the destruction of the two temples, the influence of Greece and the relationship between the Jews and the Romans

July 2 Arrived back to hotel yesterday. Amir and his family were kind enough to drive me. Here is Israel many feel that a trip by car for an hour is far! I have not been feeling well the past two days and really hope it resolves itself. Our seminar opened with a lecture/discussion with Dr. Palmach Schindler abut God, History and the Jews. There is an optional tour of Jerusalem that I am not sure I will participate in.