Dome of the Rock and Call to Prayer

I've only been out here for three weeks, but I'm already going to have to play a lot of catch-up. Field trips every Monday and visits to the city as often as possible have made already this a very full trip. I really don't even know where to start!

My first week here flew by so quickly....maybe the extreme jet lag had something to do with it. But i got to see one of my favorite sites so far....the Dome of the Rock! It is the third holiest site to the Muslim world, and it is a spectacular and beautiful shrine. The architecture is almost mathematically perfect. Which may be fascinating to only a few people like me. 

This site is one of the places that I've felt the most safe in the entire city. It's so peaceful here, and I could really feel the love and devotion that Muslims have for their God. Another thing that really amazed me on my first day was the call to prayer at 4:30 am. This is something that I don't know if it would work in the US. It was a most amazing experience. Less than 24 hours in Jerusalem and I had already cried haha. I had no idea that the first of their five daily prayers happened right before dawn. The speakers (called minarets) nearest the Jerusalem Center (or the Mormon University as everyone calls it) broadcasts a live singer. It was amazing! The prayer was so beautiful, and I was overwhelmed by the deep commitment and devotion of these people. I listened to the prayer go on for a full thirty minutes with my awesome roommate Jessica on the balcony. You could hear several other towers projecting different melodies far off. The city had a other-worldly fog/mist around it that truly made it mystical. We both got the chills as the prayers ende and hung in the air. That day I knew that I have the opportunity of a lifetime to step into another world unlike anything I've ever really known.

Shabbat Shalom!

Welcome Sabbath! We in the JeruCrew actually worship on Saturday. It's actually been really neat that a lot of my coolest experiences have taken place on the Sabbath.

I was so privileged to be able to go to my Israel and Judaism professor's orthodox synagogue on Friday night to be able to attend their evening meeting. Days on the Jewish calendar are from one evening to the next, rather than one morning to the next, because of the scripture in Genesis 1:5 saying that "the evening and the morning were the first day". So going on Friday night meant that I got to participate in an extra meeting to welcome in the Sabbath! We sang a number of songs that personified the Sabbath as a bride to fit a Jewish legend. I think the coolest part was how there not anyone person in charge really. Every part had a volunteer leader, but he would only start a tune for the congregation to sing the next psalm. Children and adults participated. The music and Hebrew language are beautiful! I loved watching how each person showed their devotion a little differently, but everyone gave their all to singing.

To respect the Orthodox Jews' customs, we didn't take any pictures. But it was such a neat cultural experience. Thanks Mr. Ophir Yarden!

I love my city!

Well I'm giving in. I wasn't planning on creating a blog, but it seems like it would be a really great thing for me to be able to keep in contact with everyone at once. And per your requests, more of you can see my grand adventures! I will be sure to put as many pictures as I can on my blog, but I will actually make a book out of them after this semester. So, no there might not be pictures for everything, but I promise you'll see them if you'd like. Who knows how often I'll be able to get on here, but I can't wait to share my experiences with you. I am currently attending Brigham Young University's Jerusalem Center Program for the Fall 2013 semester. I live in a beautiful building overlooking the Old City that so many people hold so close to their hearts. I've only been here for about two and a half weeks, but my heart has already been significantly changed for the better. I love the people here more and more every day.

A special thanks to every person who helped to get me here, however big or small your contribution. I couldn't have done this alone.

Here's to the time of my life!