Shot From the Hip

Well, back home for a week now and what a trip.  Thanks for those concerned about my safety.  It wasn't much of an issue.  .  I had a great time and am still sorting images.  Here is the first batch.  A few black and white images.  The full gallery: [Israel B/W]

 
The streets of the Jewish quarter.  I've never really met orthodox or ultra-orthodox Jews.

The Western Wall. While I was in Jerusalem, on purpose and by accident I came back to the wall over and over again.  I was drawn to it, thinking of God's promise to redeem Israel. Amazing how scripture puts current events into perspective.  Here's an interesting video about Messianic Jews in Israel.

Meeting with holiness. One has to admire the passion of the pilgrims

Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock in the background. Here it looks like an adult is taking a child to school. Shot at 8:30 am before the tourists have arrived. 

 
At the end of the day, after the pilgrims have gone back to their hotels and shops have closed. A child doing chores.

 
At the temple mount. One of the many gates for the local Muslims. No tourists here. 

Hebron. Children playing. Here the hatred between Jews and Palestinians was all around. Its sad that children have to grow up in that type of world

Muslim quarter. Didn't see too many nuns in the Muslim quarter. Even with all of the political tension, many of different faiths lived side by side happily and without incident.

Man praying.

The day after I arrived, I swung by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher just to get a lay of the land. Within minutes of entering a service had started. What fortunate timing.