Study Abroad at BYU-Jerusalem: Weaving and Ruins

On our way to our destination, we stopped at a weaving factory and took a tour (Note: Mom, you would have loved it). These women, that don’t have much of an education, make their money on their weaving wool into blankets, pillows, tapestries, and other products. They first have to spin the wool to get it into nice thin strands, then they can dye it, then they put it on a loom and sit on their knees all day weaving away. It was super fun to see how they made their products.

Tel Arad was full of ancient ruins that showed how people lived, how they got water in their watering system, where they lived, and how they worshiped. As we were touring the place, two workers were uncovering stones in the temple. My professor pointed out the sacrificial alter and the Holy of Holies. Most of the ancient people used their houses to store their personal belongings, but they mainly spent their time out doors or in social places.

Tel Be'er Sheva was my favorite. It had more ruins and this time, we got to see the rooms divided up into very tiny places in the home. One of the coolest parts was walking down the original steps into a cistern (that used to be full of water) and going through a tunnel they used for their watering system.