The Land of Israel is like no other!  If you have never been here, put it on your “must do” list.

Once again, I spent the day observing and mingling with people.  I wandered around the government district today and even got a chance to enter the Knesset (Israel’s parliament building)!  Here are some pictures from today:

You may be surprised that foreign visitors can actually enter the Knesset and listen to lawmakers debate various pieces of legislation!  Can you imagine walking into Congress to observe the US Senate or House of Representatives?  This is very similar, with one exception:  You will notice that there is hardly anyone present on the Knesset floor.  That is because MK’s (members of Knesset) are allowed to sit in their office and watch via secure connection to the Knesset!  If you are an MK and wish to speak, you must enter the Knesset floor and speak at the appointed time.  Thus, there is lots of “coming and going” during sessions!  Interesting!

The surrounding district is filled with various ministry buildings (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc)  Nearby is a mall that looks very much like an American mall, and new construction of upscale apartments (pictured above).  There is construction everywhere!

I also managed to find my way to the Central Bus Station which is a bustling place!  It is also a mall and has a very diverse mix of people coming and going from various parts of the country.  Soldiers often travel home (which they are allowed to do regularly) via the bus system in Israel.  Mass transit (light rail and bus lines) is extensive in Israel, allowing citizens and visitors alike to get anywhere in the country.

I want to share some Jewish experiences from my “wandering”:

• When in Jerusalem, beep your horn!  You need no  specific reason…just beep for the fun of it.  However, if you’re really ticked off at someone, beep multiple times!  Apparently that works because in my many trips to Israel I have yet to see a single wreck!
• Let’s talk security!  There is a reason travelers must arrive at Ben Gurion airport 3 hours before departure.  Despite the high tech nature of the airport, one must pass through several stations (check-in, interrogation, bag check, passport control, carry-on luggage search), each one requiring your passport, and some requiring that you answer multiple questions.  God forbid they want to search your luggage!  They will unpack it for you, but re-packing is up to you!  (Thankfully I didn’t have to endure that this time!)  It is the most secure airport in the world.  (You drive through security even before you get to the terminal.  From that point forward, you are under surveillance…and they profile!)
• Security at the Knesset was another story.  I was on foot, but when I entered the zone blocked off for traffic, I was approached by a police officer.  Keep in mind that virtually all security personnel in Israel (IDF, police, border patrol, etc) carry automatic weapons!  He kindly asked where I was headed, then directed me to the right place.  In the gate area, they asked for my passport, asked why I was there, scanned my belonging (and me), gave me a badge and pointed me toward the Knesset building!  No one accompanied me, I wandered around the grounds and entered the Knesset building.  (You’ll see in the picture above that virtually no one was there.  No guided tours today.)  Once inside the building, another security guard pointed me in the direction of stairs and I made my way to the observation area!  Point being: I was definitely free to wander, but they undoubtedly keep an eye on everyone from a distance.  The mere presence of armed security all over the place is a pretty good deterrent for those wishing to scheme!
• The basis of Jewish life is family.  Throughout Israel you see families going places together, playing together, and just being together.  One of my favorite experiences in Israel is hearing little ones cry out to Abba (Daddy).  It is a sweet picture of how we should be with our heavenly Father.  Today, though, I walked out of a mall behind a young father carrying his 2-year-old little girl.  He was singing a song to her, then teaching her to sing it too!  Of course they were speaking Hebrew, so I couldn’t understand all of it.  With my elementary understanding of Hebrew, though, I could tell it was a song about his love for her.  What a fabulous experience!
• When I left the Central Bus Station and approached the connecting light rail station, there were many soldiers patrolling the area.  A group of girls exiting the Bus Station with bags full of chips and cookies began distributing them to the soldiers on patrol.  This happens fairly frequently in Israel, as citizens care for their soldiers.  The soldiers were grateful, and the girls found great joy in blessing them.

That’s just a taste of Israel!  The people love life and they care for one another.  If you happen to be in front of a horn-beeper, just wave!  It seems to be the way they communicate!

I’m heading home.  Thanks for joining me on my journey, and stay tuned as I continue to share the Blessed Hope!  One last time…shalom from Jerusalem!