A country the size of New Jersey
On top of Israel’s history and political nature, it’s important to keep in mind it’s a pretty tiny country (the size of New Jersey, no exaggeration.) That means all these hotspots of significance are condensed into a limited physical space. This dynamic has its downsides, of course, but when it comes to traveling and group excursions, it’s actually convenient. The structure of this Dialogue is such that half our time focuses on Israeli and Palestinian Literature, while the second half centers on the conflict and resolution. As a result of that, our excursions so far have been focused on cultural elements of both Israelis and Palestinians.
One of my favorite excursions so far took place not far from our home base of Jerusalem, which is Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. As one of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, its significance cannot be understated. The division of the Old City is the most fascinating part for me. When you approach the area of Temple Mount, you have the Western Wall on one side representing a site of immense religious significance in Judaism. Merely meters away you find the Dome of the Rock, a site so holy only Muslims are permitted to enter. The fact that these two cities are so closely located really speaks to the role of religion in this city. I could say that visiting the Dead Sea or hiking in the south were the most fun excursions, but I think the deep significance of Temple Mount struck me the most.
In addition to the physical sites, the guides who help us understand the importance of these places also play a big role. We recently took a five-day excursion, practically all over the country, with a local Jerusalemite named Alon. Over the course of these five short days, Alon became our beacon of light – whenever we were lost (both physically and mentally) he guided us. He provided us not only insight on the locations, but would occasionally quip about his personal connection or the Israeli connection as a whole, in order to contextualize these places a bit more. Without guides like Alon, the stories of these landmarks would be buried deep underground. Thankfully with their guidance, the stories are revived and can truly be appreciated.
