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My timing for seeing Israel has not been without Glitch.  Friday about noon ish the buses stopped for Shabbat, Sabbath.  They have started again tonight so tomorrow I can buy my book of Israel, but not to be defeated, we went into the Holy City last night..  It was a very long and difficult walk as we tried to find a short cut.   It was a short cut but very downhill then just as you might imagine, Very uphill, then we had to come home the same was.  But we were able to see a lot because their were no crowds.  We spent some amazing time at the Wailing wall.  Very beneficial for both of us.  The photos above are today within about a block from her apt.  First is a little close of Jaffa gate into the Holy City.  The rooftops are the oldest neighborhood of Jews that were built outside the city. You can't quite see the valley between them but I assure you that it is there.  The next is the same but of the park across the street from here, the neighborhood I mentioned and the the old city.  It is either park like with wonderful trees and flowers or barren rocks.  Next is the kid ton valley.  Seems that is where the Arabs live and the animosity between the is outstanding.  The Jews avoid them as though they were diseased.  Do not buy from their shops, speak to them unless in insult, I can't even tell the difference, but Hannah can.  She is a lovely lady but Ates the Arabs, and yet has to live here with them. Peacefully.   Thus the news we read.  Last is her apt.  My room is the top floor corner with the windows poem

N.  it started raining this afternoon.  Never rains in Jerusalem, so she is very happy.  I'm the tourist so not so much apply.

Now to today.  Up and off to Synagogue.  Quite a walk.  Not many cars here so when the buses stop, you stay at hoe or walk.  Large Sy seemed to me, but nice.  Only men participate so they sit on the main floor and the women in the balcony about 5 flights of stairs up.  Had an English bible and songbook, so I just read my English book, not exactly the Bible but enough so I knew where we were. But when the music began it was breathtakingly beautiful.  Truly no words I know will describe it.  No instruments,  all male, it makes me tingle to remember it now.  I really enjoyed being there, the congregation received a blessing from the high priest.  High priest are direct descendants of David.   Amazing again.  The bloodline is protected here and they are highly revered.  Learning about the Blackhats, the up shearing of 3 year old boys, when they get their first haircut and leave the ringlets by their ears forever, about bar misvahs for boys at 13 and girls at 12. All the boys scrolling is from the bible and the girls learn how to be wives and mothers.  The black hatters ave9-1. Children and you see the entire family walking everywhere.  They sorta live in their own neighborhood.  When you see the family, the Father leads followed by all these children then the Mother brings up the rear also dressed in Black.  Blackhats job is to pray and read the Bible.  Higher than his is the en dressed all in white from. Head to toe.  No one speaks to him and he speaks to no one, even amily.  Husband and wife in the orthodox Jewish families do not even pray together. 

Well enough about that part of the day, we went to a Succot on the way home.about 50 people, she knew several of them but does not go to their Sy because she had a run in with the Rabbis wife.  But for Succot it was ok.  We went in for the kibosh where you drink wine together and get it blessed by the Rabbi.  Since there was room, we stayed for the meal.  No cameras but was served in courses by Sy members like our Pot Lucks but all the food was provided by the Rabbi in conjunction with a Rich Jew somewhere.  We had Beautiful salmon, another fried fish, potato salads , coleslaw, peppers, beets, dips, humus, a spaghetti sauce, bread, wine, soda, water, then they served the eat, fchicken Switzerland, and cold cuts, then a wonderful hot soup of potatoes, beef, tomatoes and onions with lots of spices.  During the feast, the Rabbi would talk, some English, some not, everyone was friendly and loud, children playing everywhere, outside under a 4 sided tent with Reed for a roof.  Often when the Rabbi would speak, he would start or end itch everyone singing apply Jewish songs.  It was a lunch of a lifetime.  But they do it every Sat, just not usually in a Sucoh.  The Succoh is to remind them of the children of Israel wondering in the dessert with no structured homes ad under the stars.  Oh I got another chill. Folks it is amazing here.  It is even more spiritually awakening than I had dreamed of. Not sure about tomorrow.. Planning back to the Old City for church at Christ ChUrch inside the Jaffa gate, mostly English, Anglican.  Internet says their is a Baptist church but HAnnah says it is always closed when she goes by so ill check it out during the week and go next Sunday.