Sept 25, 2007, Tuesday - Day 19

Monday was a big day for Bar Mitzvahs. They take place twice a week. It is a joyous occasion and everyone is happy. A family invited me to stand on a chair to peer over the women's side to the men's side of the wall to take photos. It was a very busy place and chairs to stand on are difficult to come by.

The Jewish Quarter is preparing for Succot. It is customary to build a tent with palm branches for a roof and spend time during the upcoming week in the tent. This feast is to remind them of the God of Israels presence during the exodus from Egypt.

St. Annes church is a Roman Catholic Church maintained by a catholic organization in South Africa. The Roman Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary was buried in this location. This is also believed to be the location of the pools of Bathesda used during the second temple period and Byzantine period to collect rainwater from the Bathesda Valley. The Christian New Testament describes a healing miracle performed by Jesus near the pools of Bathesda during the second temple period.