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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: The Land called Holy - advice for pilgrims?
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Qoheleth.
Semi-Sagacious One
# 9265
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Posted
I'm going on an organised pilgrimage/visit of the Holy Land in September - but with some free time. Any sage advice from Shipmates who have trodden this way before would be welcome: practical or theological.
[I suggest that we try to avoid tangents about the messy politics, except where directly relevant to the pilgrim]
Thanks
Q.
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The Benedictine Community at Alton Abbey offers a friendly, personal service for the exclusive supply of Rosa Mystica incense.
Posts: 2532 | From: the radiator of life | Registered: Apr 2005
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L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
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Posted
Depends where you're going - are you based around Jerusalem or are you travelling throughout Israel.
First: I'd stop thinking of it as 'The Holy Land' but rather as visiting Israel, which is a newish, modern country.
If you're venturing widely and have free time as appropriate, look at some of the Roman sites which may not be on your itinerary - Caesarea is amazing. If you get a chance to cross the border into Jordan, Jerash is also one of the top 10 Roman sites in the world.
Back in Israel, Acre has some fascinating places, and in Haifa there is the Baha'i temple.
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Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
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Cottontail
Shipmate
# 12234
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Posted
I second most of what Leo said, especially the boat trip across the Sea of Galilee and Yad Vashem. (Arrange for a quiet evening after Yad Vashem. It is so utterly devastating that you will need some recovery time.)
Re. the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: if you can, wander along there for 11.15pm on a Saturday night. There will be crowds waiting outside for the gates to open and the Christian Sabbath to begin at midnight. Then join the queue which will lead you to the tomb itself, crawl in past the terrifying priests, and spend your precious 30 seconds contemplating the resting place of the body of Christ. Then hang around as long as you want afterwards for the celebration of the mass, and absorb the ancient and holy atmosphere.
Try to get to Masada. You can walk up there or take a cable car, and it has an eerie power. You will also come away with an insight into the utter madness of Herod the Great.
And for something totally different, spend some time in Jaffa. It is a bit of an artists' colony these days, and is quite lovely.
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"I don't think you ought to read so much theology," said Lord Peter. "It has a brutalizing influence."
Posts: 2377 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Margaret
Shipmate
# 283
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Posted
Have a wonderful time! We're going in October, and as I haven't been for nearly twenty years I'm wondering what I shall find this time. I'd second what everyone else says and add talk to people (not difficult because this is a part of the world where people are much better at talking to strangers than the British) - talk to Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians, and get some idea of how rich and complex this place is, how horrible life can be here and also how hopeful.
Posts: 2456 | From: West Midlands UK | Registered: May 2001
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
One place I rather like in Israel is Haifa. I'm not sure if it is a touristic highlight (although I rather like Mount Carmel), but I really like the atmosphere of this city. It's rather open; people told me that it's the only place where a Jew and a Palestinian can walk together over the beach and no-one will bat an eyelid. That may be an exaggeration, but it does say something about the atmosphere of the city.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Qoheleth.
Semi-Sagacious One
# 9265
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Posted
Thanks for the advice, folks.
Q.
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The Benedictine Community at Alton Abbey offers a friendly, personal service for the exclusive supply of Rosa Mystica incense.
Posts: 2532 | From: the radiator of life | Registered: Apr 2005
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
quote:
leo: There's a lovely view over the Bahai temple from the site where, it is claimed, Elijah took on the prophets of Ba'al.
Yes I saw that. I liked it.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Taliesin
Shipmate
# 14017
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Posted
Bethlehem is lovely. As Leo said, do take the time to visit the shops in manger square, and the peace centre.
Posts: 2138 | From: South, UK | Registered: Aug 2008
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