fred lazaro has the story. >> tourism is big business in the holy land.millions of christians come here for the chance to retrace the footsteps of christ. among the most sacred rituals is to be baptized in the jordan river. >> being baptized for the first time in the jordan river. which is where jesus was baptized, it's awesome. words cannot explain how i feel. >> i feel freed. i feel at peace. my heart feels like it's been opened up. i can't put it into words. >> no words to explain. why i feel very, i feel very happy and free. >> unlike their faith, the river is in very bad shape. this is now the only place considered safe enough for human contact. for midwest of the rest of the jew near, the jordan is reduced to a trickle as it meanders through a region driven by war and tension. gidon bromberg is with the environmental group friends of the earth middle east. >> due to the conflict, due to the competition between the parties, between israel, jordan and syria, israel grabs half the water and a little more than a quarter is grabbed by syria and a little

fred lazaro has the story. >> tourism is big business in the holy land.millions of christians come here for the chance to retrace the footsteps of christ. among the most sacred rituals is to be baptized in the jordan river. >> being baptized for the first time in the jordan river. which is where jesus was baptized, it's awesome. words cannot explain how i feel. >> i feel freed. i feel at peace. my heart feels like it's been opened up. i can't put it into words. >> no words to explain. why i feel very, i feel very happy and free. >> unlike their faith, the river is in very bad shape. this is now the only place considered safe enough for human contact. for midwest of the rest of the jew near, the jordan is reduced to a trickle as it meanders through a region driven by war and tension. gidon bromberg is with the environmental group friends of the earth middle east. >> due to the conflict, due to the competition between the parties, between israel, jordan and syria, israel grabs half the water and a little more than a quarter is grabbed by syria and a little

. >> lehrer: special correspondent fred de sam lazaro reports on the dispute over water resources in the middle east. >> 98% of the historical flow of the jordan today no longer flows. we're left with this very, very sad sight. >> woodruff: science correspondent miles o'brien has the story of today's nobel prize winners for physics. they developed graphene, the thinnest yet toughest material known. >> lehrer: and we talk to philanthropist melinda gates about the push to improve job training programs at community colleges. that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> lehrer: the man who tried to set off a bomb in the heart of new york city will spend the rest of his life behind bars. the formal sentencing came today in a federal court in manhattan. faisel shahzad had already pleaded guilty in the times square bomb plot, and his life sentence was mandatory. but he remained defiant tod

for "religion and ethics newsweekly," this is fred de sam lazaro in st. paul. >>> in bethlehem, renovations are in the works for the curch ofhe nativity. the palestinian government announced it will again repairs on the church's roof, pillars and mo sakes, all of which have been damaged by centuries of weather, wear and tear. this will be the first major renovation for the church since it was built in the fourth century. the site draws millions of tourists each year to what was believed to be the place jesus was born. >>> on our calendar this week, sunday, halloween, is also reformation day for protestant recallinghe time in 1517 when martin luther nailed hto the dor in germany. all saints day, a time to honor all saints and martyrs. all souls day celebrated tuesday by catholics and protestants. prayers are said for loved ones who have died. also in the week ahead, hindu, the festival of lights, a popular holiday marking the victory of good over evil. that's our program for now. i'm bob abernathy. there's much more on our website. you can comment on all o