I promised to bring him a crucifix.

He was my publicist in Manila, a devout Catholic with whom I’d become friends. I was a nominally observant Jew about to visit Israel with a delegation of Philippines-based journalists.

“If you don’t mind,” my Catholic friend asked, “could you bring me a cross from the Holy Land?”

It took some doing. First came the challenge of finding just the right crucifix. Which turned out to be easy, given the vast abundance of them in the curio and gift shops of Jerusalem.

Ah, but then came the gentle suggestion from our Jewish guide experienced in leading followers of Jesus through their Savior’s homeland. “Place the crucifix on the Stone of Anointing,” he instructed. “Take a photo of it there, give it to him with the cross, and your friend will be forever grateful.”

And so I did, and so he was.

That legendary stone is where the body of Christ is said to have been prepared for burial. It sits just inside the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)