This week has been devoted to seeing the sites of Jerusalem. On Tuesday, as you know, I went up to Mt. Herzl. Wednesday I went to the Israeli Museum. Did I learn a lot about ancient Israel.  They have this incredible exhibit called Pharoah in Egypt. First off, Canaanites are attributed to creating the first alphabet. They did this by choosing about 30 symbols similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics and assigned a sound to each of them. The sound usually being the first sound in the word symbolized by the hieroglyphic. These Canaanites were working as miners under Egyptian rule in the Sinai. The Hebrew alphabet is derived from this start. Egyptians ruled over Canaan until about 1130 BCE. ALso interesting is the rule over the lower kingdom of Egypt from 1700-1560 BCE by the Hyksos who could have been Canaanites.  This coincides with when Joseph was in Egypt. When the Hyksos were expelled, many remained as slaves. Unfortunately there is no archeological evidence of Israelites being in Egypt or evidence of the exodus. Josephus associates the Hyksos with the Israelites but many modern day experts refute this. Fascinating. So many pieces of a puzzle. 

On Thursday I went back to the Old City, the Kotel and some of the archeological sites by the southern wall of the Temple Mount. There were hundreds of soldiers waiting to take their oath of service at the Kotel. It turns out that Thursday is a popular day. So right by the Dung Gate were groups of people with drums and other musical instruments dancing and celebrating. Then the young man is led under a chuppah to the Kotel. There unfortunately he reads from the Torah on the men’s side while the women most watch from the women’s side by trying to see over a barrier. Please support the Original Women of the Wall so hopefully things can be changed. This group is trying to make it so women can read Torah at the Kotel. The group Women of the Wall have compromised by giving up this quest and joining with Masorti (conservative) and reform leaders to create an equalitarian place of worship near the Kotel. I would like both the ability for women to read from the Torah at the Kotel and there be equalitarian worship at the Kotel not nearby. 

After all this I walked through the Old City buying some gifts for my family in both the shuk (Arab market) and the Cardo, Jewish quarter area of shops. Got a beautiful mezuzah for my son Nathan for his new home. This morning I walk up with a slight cold so will take it easy the next few days. Monday I march with Women Wage Peace to the Knesset and Tuesday I go to Jordan for three days. Busy week. Shabbat Shalom.