Dig it in Israel

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Today's trivia question Wed 8th

How many wives can a Bedouin Sheik have?

Yesterday's trivia question:

How many gates does the Old City of Jerusalem have?

Answer:

It has 11 gates but only 7 are used.

We met a Bedouin Sheik. This is the assembly room that we met in. We drove for 1 1/2hrs each way on windy back roads.

This is Dr. Oren Gutfeld our archaeologist who was also our interpreter since the Sheik only speaks Arabic. The Utah Valley University students recorded an interview with the Sheik. We are not sure when, but they will post it on their blog.

2 of the Sheiks camels. He raises camels but he prefers Arabian horses.

This is a Bedouin village that is part of the area that he rules over and protects.

Here is the Sheik. He is a very powerful man in his community and cares for and protects approximately 500 families. He has built 2 grade schools and 1 high school and is an advocate for education for women. Over half of the students are girls. He is very proud of how many children, approx. 420 students, go to school from his tribe.

Laundry day. They don't have a lot of possessions because family is a higher priority.

This is the Sheik with one of his 25 children. He is allowed up to 4 wives and he said he doesn't know how many grand children he has because there are so many.

We presented the Sheik with gifts for the schools.

A Bedouin tending his sheep.

Just for fun....

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tuesday, May 7

Trivia question: How many gates are there to get into the old city of Jerusalem?

Yesterday's trivia question answer:

The Old City has a total of 11 gates, but only seven are open.

Today's trivia question:

How many wives can a Bedouin Sheik have?

Today we went underground to the western wall. We learned how the wall was made. It took thousands of slaves to build the wall for King Herod. The blocks of stone that were cut for the western wall were 12-14ft. long and 4-5ft. tall and 9ft. wide. It was so cool to see.

This is an original column that was built for King Herod.

This is a typical older Jewish man in the old city of Jerusalem.

Fresh bread baked and sold everyday. It is so yummy!

I loved to walk through the ally ways of old Jerusalem and see all of the shops. It makes me feel like I have gone thousand of years back in time. There is lots of cool things to look at!

As we were walking we saw this fresh pita bread being baked and just had to get some. It was delicious!

This was one of my favorite shops with hundreds of colorful scarfs to look at.

Cute little Jewish boys going to preschool they each have their little yamacas on.

These are women praying at the wailing wall.

As I went down to the wailing wall I was given a little piece of paper and a pencil to write my prayer or blessing on, then I put it in one of the cracks in the wall.

The women are supposed to put veils on their heads to show respect and then they can go to the wailing wall. This is me trying to put my veil on.

I had a very fun day and I learned a lot.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Yesterday's trivia question:

Since there is no living thing in the Dead Sea, how did ancient civilizations benefit from the Sea?

Answer to yesterday's trivia question:

Ancient civilization benefited from the Dead Sea by using its high salt content to preserve their meet.

Today's trivia question:

What is a Cistern?

OLD JERUSALEM AT THE WAILING WALL BRIGHT AND EARLY IN THE MORNING.

DOME OF THE ROCK ON THE PALESTINIAN SECTION OF OLD JERUSALEM.

THIS IS A PART OF THE WALL OF JERUSALEM THAT SURROUNDS THE CITY.

THE WATERS OF BETHESDA WHERE JESUS WALKED AND HEALED THE SICK. READ THE STORY OF THE BLIND, CRIPPLE WHO SAT ON HIS MAT AT THE WATERS EDGE, HOPING THAT SOMEONE WOULD HELP HIM IN SO HE COULD BE HEALED. JESUS TOLD HIM TO PICK UP HIS MAT AND GO HOME...HE WAS HEALED.