24 Photographs

Streets, sights, and tours within the Old City.

Outside and inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Walking back from an early (so early!) mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The market: colorful, busy, and delicious. Falafel, smoothies, and coffee — impossible to pick a favorite.

The Dome of the Rock.

By the Weeping Wall.

Beside the Israeli West Bank barrier.

These photos capture only a fraction of the various adventures of Israel Trek, but these are some of the experiences I will always remember. Walking through Jerusalem (especially the Old City) and seeing many historical and religious sites allowed me to reflect more on my own spirituality and religion. Through our lectures, I learned more about the history, politics, and culture of Israel, of which I admittedly knew little about. I also learned more about the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the stark physicality of the Israeli West Bank barrier was a powerful reminder of how personally and deeply this conflict has affected so many lives. Though I’ve been left with more questions than answers, more mixed feelings and thoughts than clear answers and solutions, I am incredibly glad and grateful that I had the opportunity to see and experience a bit of a country that is so heavily discussed.

Not pictured: the interesting and engaging lectures on complex issues from an array of speakers, the wonderful and challenging conversations with other Trekkers, the wide expanse of the Judaean Desert, the blue calm of the Sea of Galilea, and the wild excitement of Purim celebrations in Tel Aviv.

(My camera died, I’m sorry.)