Tuesday, May 21.
~ Joan Deming
Our day in the Old City of Jerusalem. It’s a bit overwhelming to visit the holiest places in Jerusalem for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, all within a few hours. We had the best guides: Aouni Bazbaz at the Al Aqua Mosque compound, and Mike Sa’adeh as our guide for the whole day.
Aouni Bazbaz, our guide at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound 
Michael Sa’adeh, with Amy
Getting to visit Al Aqsa during Ramadan was an even rarer privilege than usual, although we were only able to enter the Dome of the Rock. Settlers were threatening violence at Al Aqsa building itself. The Dome of the Rock is such so beautiful and peaceful. Unlike the tense atmosphere outside in the open-air part of the mosque compound, and very unlike the crowded frenzy of the Wailing Wall Plaza or the pushing crowds in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock was an oasis of peace.
We ended our day at Tantur, meeting with Dalia Landau, co-founder Of Open House and one of the subjects of Sandy Tolan’s book, The Lemon Tree.
