Jerusalem, cont.

In order to get a better understanding of how ancient Jerusalem looked, we visited the Israel Museum and spent quite a while walking around the enormous model of the city, as our guide drew our attention to various elements (for example, the Antonia fortress, where the Roman garrison was stationed).

The best part of the model is Temple Mount--it's so splendid, and so different from how it looks today. Definitely a must-see.

We also walked through the exhibits of various antiquities that have been found, the most notable of which are the Dead Sea Scrolls. Seeing them in person after reading so much about them was very cool. Finally, we drove to Yad Vashem (the Holocaust memorial and museum). Being able to honor the individuals who perished and suffered during this time was truly a blessing. For me, the most touching area was the children's memorial. One enters a dark room full of "stars" (thanks to an immense network of fiber optic lighting, glass, and probably mirrors), and as one feels one's way through the room by holding to the bannister, a volunteer steadily reads out the names of the 1.5 million children who died, including their ages and nationalities. It's a tribute that is both touching and fitting.