Today we went onto the Temple Mount, which is controlled by the Muslims. We had to take off our shoes to enter the Dome of the Rock, and we couldn't take pictures.
After that, we did the "tunnel tour," which goes under the Muslim quarter all the way down to the bedrock, and you can walk along the complete Western Wall. We got to stand at what the Talmud calls the Gate to Heaven, the point at which the world's prayers go to heaven. At the bottom, we walked on the original pavement of the street that ran at the base of the Temple Mount. We saw a Herodian stone that weighed 600 tons.
After that, I went shopping with Shannon, Will, Kyle, Adam, and Matt. We got back to the room and read, then I did my laundry by walking on my clothes in the bathtub. It was an "experience."
At 5:00, we met up to go to the Israel museum, where I saw the famous David inscription, the Aleppo Codex, the Isaiah scroll, the War Scroll, the Community Rule, the ossuary of Caiaphas, and the seal of Baruch. It was all very cool.
For supper, a group of us braved Taco Taco, a Mexican restaurant near our hotel. I think the guys were more interested in the waitress, but I enjoyed the Cat Stevens they played the whole time.
The humorous moment of the day came when Dr. B was explaining a depiction of Sennacherib destroying Lachish, and he mentioned "fiery faggots." We all smirked and glanced at each other like, "Okay, who's gonna laugh at that first?" I think I did the honors.
Well, time for bed.