Obama's visit to the Holocaust Museum (Pictures)

It's too early to make me tear up, and I usually don't, but for some reason reading the article about Obama's visit brought tears to my eyes. I also have some more pictures over the jump.

JERUSALEM — Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama toured Israel's Holocaust memorial Wednesday, laying a wreath in memory of the 6 million Jews who died and saying, "Ultimately, this is a place of hope."

Obama toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial on a Jerusalem hillside as he moved through a busy day of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

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I won't really have too much commentary on this one, I just thought it was interesting to see Obama like this. He's always thoughtful and reflective, but looking at these pictures, and reading his statements really makes me see him in a whole new light.

Obama drew an unusually warm welcome from Israeli President Shimon Peres, who said his greatest wish is for a "great president of the United States. That is the greatest promise for us and the rest of the world."

"God bless you," said the 85-year-old fixture of Israeli politics, who joked that he was speaking as one young man to another. Obama is 46.

At the Holocaust memorial, Obama wore a white skullcap as he laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the Nazis.

Later, he said: "I am always taken back to sort of the core question of humanity that the Holocaust raises. That is, on the one hand, man's great capacity for evil, and on the other hand, our ability to come together to stop evil."

He added, "So despite this record of monumental tragedy this ultimately is a place of hope because it reminds us of our obligations and responsibilities hopefully to raise a better future for our children and our grandchildren." He said he hoped he could bring his two young daughters with him on his next trip.

In signing the guestbook, he wrote, "May we remember those who perished, not only as victims but also as individuals who hoped and loved and dreamed like us, and who have become symbols of the human spirit."

Here are some more pictures:

I'll see if I can find the full statement, but overall it sounds like a beautiful and insightful trip. I'm glad we can see how Obama interacts with other people and cultures on the world stage. I was a little underwhelmed when I found out he was taking this tour, but given its resounding success thus far (knock on wood) I'm glad the campaign is smarter than I am :o)