Shabbat Shalom

On this Feast of the Presentation (see Luke 2:22-40) we have left the Sea of Galilee to come up to Jerusalem. Along the way, we stopped at the Jordan River to remember the Baptism of Jesus, by John.

We came by way of the West Bank and again reflected on the political challenges here, reminding us that we have not come to "Bible Land" but a real place where real people continue to try to figure out how to live together.

In the photo to the left, you can see the Dome of the Rock in the distance, above Rabbi Fellman's head. We have come to Jerusalem, the city of peace, in time for Shabbat. Tonight we will all attend a Kabbalat Shabbat service together at the Masorti Keillat Community, which will be followed by a Festive Shabbat Dinner. And then on Sunday morning we will all attend the 9:30 am Mass in Arabic at St. George's (Anglican) Cathedral. Tonight we are in West Jerusalem, the Jewish part of the city. On Sunday morning we'll be in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian part of the city.

This is an amazing thing and goes to the heart of this pilgrimage. We have been studying texts together and learning from one another. As we come to this weekend we have an opportunity to share worship with each other; not toward the goal of trying to convert the other, but toward continuing mutual respect and perhaps even some holy envy.

In preparation for Shabbat, as the city prepares to shut down and rest, we went to market. The two images here hardly begin to capture the energy.  As Aviva told our group last night, it can be a little bit hectic "getting ready" but when the sun goes down, that's it. What's done is done and what is not done is not done and at that point you "let it be." I am looking forward to this evening and to this shared experience. Tomorrow morning I plan to go exploring into the old city, and enjoy the morning without any agenda. Our days have been full and we've been taking it all in. But even God rested on the seventh day, and so shall we.