My November teaching trip to Ukraine has taken an unexpected detour--it now appears that I will be returning to the United States by way of Israel! My nephew, who is a graduate student at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has invited me to visit before or after my visit to Ukraine, and I have decided to spend a few days in the Holy City during the week of the American Thanksgiving holiday.
This detour will be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream! I have for years studied and thought about Jerusalem and its many holy sites--in particular the Temple Mount and its environs. It will be a fascinating comparison to see this special place with the sights, sounds and impressions of Ukraine fresh on my mind.
My tentative plan is to complete my teaching in Kyiv and Kharkiv on The 19th of November, to visit special sites in Kyiv on the 20th and 21st, and then that evening (Saturday) fly to Tel Aviv by way of Riga, Lithuania. I will arrive in Jerusalem early on Sunday morning the 22nd, and stay until early Friday morning, the 27th of November, at which time I will fly back to Salt Lake City by way of San Francsico, California.
