David's Tower

Thursday morning and we were off to see David's Tower museum in the old city. The first thing our volunteer guide Rivka told us was that King David didn't build the tower, King Herod built it. It was misidentified during the Crusades and the name stuck.
She took us through approximately 2500 years of history of this edifice. Through the centuries it was controlled by Greeks, Romans, Jews, Turks, Christians, and probably one or two I've forgotten. Each owner added, renovated, left their mark on the buildings and grounds. You can see the different architectural styles. I am resolved to learning more about our history, about the disaspora, about what it means to be a Jew. We'll see if I can keep that resolution when we return and get caught up in our life style.
The volunteer guide, Rivka, made aliyah with her husband and five children (child 6 was born in Jerusalem) 25 years ago. Her driving motivation was to provide a safe life for her children. That surprised me, because Israel has been in multiple wars, and is continually having to defend herself. Rivka defined safe as being safe from a selfish life, from interfaith marriage, and from living Jewish values. I am not endorsing her comments, only reporting them.
David's Tower housed the Chihuly exhibit 2 1/2 years ago. There remains a large Chihuly chandelier in the main entrance to the Tower buildings and his glass Iris installation in the center courtyard. You can see the Chihuly Irises in the lower right hand photo.