![]() |
JERUSALEM, O JERUSALEM! ‘Now we stand within your gates, O Jerusalem’ – Ps. 122:2* In the wee hours of Nov 23 2004 I arrived in the ancient city of Jerusalem. I was anticipating a working vacation. My intent was to meet Mordechai Vanunu face-to-face, and help him as much as I could with his computer work. Unfortunately the authorities confiscated his computer and have so far refused to return it, so there was not much help I could provide there. But I did get to visit with Mr. Vanunu during that week, and I saw many of the sites – and sights – of one of the most important cities in the world. Like Berlin during the time the Germanies were divided, Jerusalem is a place where East meets West in the middle of the city. Also like Berlin, the word ‘WALL’ comes to mind. But Jerusalem is also a convergence point: language, faith, culture and history all intersect here, from a million different directions. Not to mention the amount of play it gets in the Scriptures! So I have described in this narrative some of the vantage points from which I saw and experienced this beautiful city. These views include the voices of people whose words spoke to me that week from the printed page: Bishop Riah Abu el-Assal, Uri Avnery, Angie Zelter. I hope some of these words might speak to you too. Peace! Gail * This was the Psalm reading in the Book of Common Prayer for Nov 23, the day I arrived. |