Today, the last day of our trip, is also the last day of the Jewish week: Shabbat, the Sabbath. That means that all restaurants and stores are closed and there is very little traffic in the Jewish part of the city.

At the Damascus Gate

We began our day late with a walk into East Jerusalem. Our first stop was at the Damascus Gate, the most ornate of all the city gates. It is also the site of brisk activity for the largely Arab residents of East Jerusalem as they head into the Old City markets.

We continued on to the Garden Tomb, a site considered by some to be the place of Jesus’ interment and resurrection. Students wandered through the lovely flowering garden and were able to enter the cave to see the tomb.

Entering the Garden Tomb

When we exited the site we were met by the Israeli hip-hop musician Sha’anan Streett, whom we met when he visited Rice last month, and a friend of his, Fayrouz Sharqawi, who works for a non-profit that engages in community organizing in the area called Grassroots Jerusalem. Together we went to a local restaurant where, over lunch, Sha’anan and Fayrouz spoke with us about life in Jerusalem and Israeli politics and answered many of our questions. Afterward they took us on a short tour of the commercial heart of East Jerusalem, pointing out sites of interest along the way.

A Walking Tour Through East Jerusalem

After lunch we went our separate ways for some free time. Students were able to revisit some of their favorite sites and relax. We met again in the evening for dinner together with Yossi Yeinan from Keshet, our tour operator, to discuss the high points of our trip, savoring our good memories and talking about what worked and what didn’t. The students were so enthusiastic about their wonderful experiences in Jerusalem that the conversation extended far longer than anticipated.

Early tomorrow morning our flight will leave for Istanbul, and tomorrow evening we will be back in Houston. That will bring to an end a magical week in Jerusalem for us and for our students.