September 8, 2000 — Mudeif Productions

Sabbath! We go to Nazareth. We had two goals: getting out of the house and not preparing lesson plans, and trying to call our friend who was visiting. Why go to Nazareth to make a phone call, you might ask? Good question. Our friend was staying in Bethlehem (West Bank), but was using an Israeli cell phone. You cannot call certain numbers in Israel from the West Bank, his included. Since Nazareth is in Israel, we figured we'd give it a shot, but he had left! Even though they meet for peace in Washington, there are annoying details like this in daily life.

We visited the Church of the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel visited Mary. The church above the grotto has murals from around the world depicting Mary, including the one at left of La Guadalupana from Mexico, making Elizabeth recall her wonderful visit to Oaxaca in July.

*Signs marking the Shehab Eldien Mosque.*

Next door is the proposed site of Shehab Eldien Mosque, which has been the subject of some controversy. In the absence of a building, the people worship outside, making us think of Rally Day.