I next visited the "Wailing Wall." This wall, which is thirty-five or forty feet high and two hundred feet long, is constructed of immense large stones which show their age by the grass and other matter growing in the fissures and crevices. Many Hebrew characters appeared on the stones up to about six feet high, and the smoothness of the stones is attributed to the tears and kisses placed upon them.

Upon approaching the wall, I beheld, first, women praying in many different positions, and crying as though their hearts would break. Who knows of their sorrows? and trouble? Their arms uplifted toward the heavens. The opposite end of the wall found the men, attired in costumes from all parts of the world, praying and crying also, because of the destruction of the Temple and the past glory of our people. I too had the feeling of holiness. I was standing on holy ground - the place where hundreds of thousands of our people were tortured - where rivers of blood from my people flowed, and where now rivers of tears are shed and where prayers are offered by our suffering people to our God. Prayers to restore us to that land and that glory of old. My tears too mingled with those of my brethren as I prayed to our Heavenly Father to give Our People rest and peace. Even a heart of stone would melt at this Wailing Wall.

There are daily services here and it seems that the stream of people never ends. I was there at the Pesach service. It was crowded. The Torah was read by different persons taking turns, from the reading desk.

On the streets leading to this wall are found many beggars who, I was told, are professional beggars and many of them are well situated financially, and who have been following this method of making a livelihood for many years.

Next a visit to the Kings Tombs. The guide led the way to the entrance in the wall. A keeper opened the door and after paying the fee we were furnished with candles and led down a very broad stairway to a great opening cut out of the solid rock, one side of which was another entrance and on the other side a pool for bathing. With our lighted candles throwing a dim weird light we followed into the cavern where we found innumerable passageways to little rooms which contained niches cut into the stone walls for the coffins of the kings. There were probably hundreds of rooms and it must have taken hundreds or perhaps thousands of years to complete this cave. This labyrinth is empty now as it was explained to us that the French soldiers invaded it, took all the treasures of gold and jewels, and destroyed the bodies of the kings, however some of the bones were found later which have been returned and covered with stones. This Tomb of Kings is a marvelous work of art.

The Cave of Shimon the Zadick! Here came the Jews to learn. About twenty foot square, the cave was furnished with stones on which to sit. Candles were placed on the walls. Here was where our Forefathers studied the law of Isreal, and they found comfort there, studying the Holy Book for they were the people of that Holy Book.

The cave of Sanhedra was also cut out of rock. In this cave court was held and disputes settled.

The zion War Orphanage occupies a large two story stone building. We were met by the manager who showed us first the kitchen which was spotless, as were the pots and kettles, the storeroom where groceries and all edibles were kept. The work shop and clothing room found women making and repairing the boys clothing. The shelves were partitioned off into bins, all numbered, and in each bin was placed an overcoat, suit of clothes, underwear and shirts, all very nice and new. I examined the springs, mattresses, and pillows of the childrens beds and found them very desirable. On each bed was hung a little bag which contained a comb and a brush. A clean towel was placed upon each bed. The dining room, with long tables, was very inviting. On the top of a flight of stais was a synagogue in which the children assemble in pursuit of their studies. They were a nice lot of children, healthy and very clean looking. They sent for us and displayed very good training. After giving Rabbi and Mrs. Margolis donation of three dollars, and my own, we bid them good-bye.

The Cave of Machpelah, at Hebron, the burial place of Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and others was out next destination. As we reached the entrance a quarrel ensued as to who should get our entrance money and the quarrel developed into a fight. The guide, thinking that it would not be safe for us to enter the cave took us around the other way so that we saw the exterior. This place was very untidy, in fact very dirty. The guards permit visitors to advance but seven steps up the stairway. No one is permitted to see the graves.

Then into the stone quarries of King Solomon we were led. Here too we were given candles to light our way with the guide and an Arab boy in the lead. The cave is very large and deep, with many passageways and leads up to the Temple era. How the ancient craftsmen cut the great stones and work to beautify them is a mystery. What power did they have to move these immense columns and bring them to the Temple and be hoisted into place. Was there only light furnished from small candles to work in the dark caverns?

On April 7th I was invited by a party of Americans to join them on a visit to Nabules, Mt. Gerizim, where the Samaritans would brng the lamb offering for Pesach. We took a lunch, wine and fruit, and for the reason that is was our intention to remain at the top of the mountain throughout the night we engaged two automobiles and a guide who was a friend of the party. We started about one o'clock in the afternoon and passed the place of the prophet Samuel, Arthured, Kalendid, Chaluzim settlement, Spring Kalenda, dividing line between Benjamin and Ephraim, Ramale, Bethel, Shiloh, Jacobs well, Mt. Nebal Samaira, saw Mt. Sinai, and at 3:30 o'clock we reached Nabules, left the automobiles with the chauffeurs, engaged two Arabian boys to carry the baskets, and started to climb the mountain. The path was full of stones and it was difficult to walk. We encountered Arabs who offered to rent us their donkeys so that we could ride up the mountain, and after making the bargain with them we mounted the animals. Upon reaching about one-half the distance the Arabs demanded pay again. We refused and dismounted and began walking again. When within a distance of about eight hundred or a thousand feet from our destination a group of Arabs, about twenty-five or thirty in number, barred our way, refusing us passage. There was nothing else to do but to retrace our steps. As we started on our return journey the Arabs started to throw stones at us. One of the women in our party was hit and she fell down, bleeding. Then the cry came for us to run for our lives. One stone grazed my head, another my back. An arab hit me on the back with a heavy stick and tore from my shoulder my kodak which hung there. I surely thought that this would be my end. They had knives. O how I did run over the rough stones - my mouth so dry that I could hardly breath. I had, however, provided myself with some Holland gin, I hurriedly placed it to my lips and took a drink. That gave me new strength, and after repeating this a few times as I ran, I was able to gather up all my strength. I reached the hotel in safety, and a short time later the others in our party came straggling in and with them the wounded member who received the proper attention.

We later learned that there was another attack on the other side of the same mountain. In this party nine were badly injured as the attack was far more severe. The wounded were taken to the hospital on stretchers. The tourists all assembled at the hotel and the military police were called for protection. With one automobile equipped with a machine gun and twelve machines following, we returned to Jerusalem, arriving there at 11:00 P.M. It seemed that all Jerusalem was excited over these disturbances. For two days I was unable to walk, and my nerves were shattered. I called on the American Council to report the outrage. They took my statement and promised to take drastic action.