TIYUL DAY....today was our last tiyul of the summer session. Our leader Ofir has been great, he actually grew up around the corner from me in University Heights for a little bit and went to school with our Mayor's kids.

Rollin and I walked to the Jaffa Gate together...on the way we ran into Matt. We walked through the Arab shuk to get to the Southern Wall excavations at Mercaz Davidson. Its really neat learning about the history and seeing Robinsons Arch. There was a small inscription in the wall that was pretty high up from when the street level was much higher. They date it from around the 7th century. It says "You shall see and your heart shall rejoice." Historians can date it by the relative height of it and that it was during a period of happieness because of the nature of the quote. We saw a virtual tour of the Kotel at the Davidson center, was so interesting to see what it would have looked like on the Temple Mount at the time and where everything took place. Everything was done from an archeological standpoint so they couldnt show what things looked like inside the Beit Hamikdash.

We took a break for lunch in the center of the Old City and then went to the Herodian mansions. Interesting to see the mikvot (ritual baths) in someones home. Afterwards, walked with Michael, Ben Z., Rose, and Rachel to the Kotel. Very powerful there everytime I go.

So glad to come back to the apartment and just relax for a bit. Jill and I went to Malka Mall for dinner at the chinese restaurant. Jeremy, his sister, and Raina joined us there. Jill and I then went and saw "Island" a very intense movie about cloning and the future. Like a rollercoaster full of action! Nice way to spend the evening. Came home, called the bro, got stuff done...gnight.