Jerusalem - Day One

Jerusalem was beckoning the morning of August 30, 2022, and we began winding our way toward the Western (or Wailing) Wall of the temple. Our agenda for the day was aggressive, and we were self-navigating our way with the help of map master, Bob. Unfortunately, goggle maps did not seem to work in the ancient city, so Bob was left with using printed maps. We were in Jerusalem during a period of record high temperatures. It was already 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and quite humid. Even the locals were complaining of the extreme heat. 

It is helpful to get a birds eye view of Jerusalem to better understand where we were.  I found this picture on Wikipedia which I have posted here. Directly below the gold domed Islamic Dome of the Rock Shrine, is the Wailing Wall.

By AVRAM GRAICER - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36291082

Before reaching the place of prayer on the western wall, we walked past some ruins that were still in the process of being restored.

The Western Wall was much like I expected it to appear, with Jewish men worshipping on one side and women separated and praying on the right. As I approached the wall, several women offered me written prayers to say and stuff into the cracks of the wall. From what I would call the "entrance" to the wall, a large courtyard area was behind us and to the right was a walkway which led to the Temple Mount.

As we walked up the boardwalk to the temple mount, there was a small model of what the original temple would have looked like. 

The temple mount is considered a holy site for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is believed to be the site of King Solomon's Temple, and later, the Temple of Herod. It is here that Abraham is said to have placed his son, Isaac on the altar of sacrifice, and where Jacob's dream occurred. To enter this area, now controlled by Islam, one must wear clothing that covers arms and knees. That is why we are dressed as shown, despite the intense heat. It is the beautiful blue tiled Islamic Shrine, or "Dome of the Rock" which draws visitors to the mount, although non-Muslims are not allowed inside it or the other structures such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque praying hall. The Herodian walls and gates, surround the mount beautifully. The Mount of Olives is seen in the distance from the temple mount.

Leaving the sacred site, we wove our way through the narrow streets of the old city on our way to the City of David. Merchants pedaled their wares with colorfully arranged products enticing shoppers to visit their tiny stalls. Finding our way through these streets proved to be a challenge for Bob, but it was fun to see as we made our way to the Dung Gate exit.

Most of the City of David is a huge live archeological research project revealing all kinds of discoveries about the ancient city rebuilt by King Hezekiah, 2000 years ago. Beneath staircases, the remains of small dwellings have been discovered, where families hid out when the city was under attack. From David's city, is a path that leads to the temple has been discovered, which is currently underground. Depictions of what may have been along that path were on display. 

Shauna and I took the walk through the narrow water filled Siloam Tunnel, which remains in it's original state, having been carved out using only chisels and hammers. While doing so, Bob and Jim explored the dry Herodian Tunnels which were places of refuge during the last siege. The pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man is at the exit of the tunnel.

Heading back into Jerusalem through Zion's gate, we search for the site of King David's Tomb and the Cenacle or "Upper Room" where Jesus' Last Supper is thought to have occurred. David's tomb site is not considered his actual burial place. It occupies the ground floor of a former church, and the upper floor is said to be the Cenacle.

By this time, we were "starving", so when we got near our next stop, the Hurva Synagogue, in the "Jewish Quarter", we were quick to find a place to eat and cool off. We enjoyed some really good stuffed pitas and did a little people watching. The main purpose in going to this Synagogue, who because of the great view's said to be had from the top. We went to The Burnt House Museum/Katros House, which was an audio-visual depiction of a family from the time of the end of the 2nd Temple period. This family's home was discovered several feet below today's Jewish Quarter.

We didn't make it to the First Temple Model, but instead, we took a taxi to the top of the Mount of Olives.  As we wandered around a bit, we happened upon a place called "Tombs of the Prophets".  It looked like it was closed for the day, but as we were about to leave, a caretaker came and offered to take us inside and give us a tour. The catacombs, according to Jewish tradition, house the graves of the prophets Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi who lived during the 5-6th centuries B.C. However, modern research contradicts that theory. It was kind of a fun place to explore by candlelight.

We descended the Mount of Olives, passing by the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world, also known as the “City of the Dead,” located near Jerusalem, the “City of Life.” It is over 3,000 years old, dating back to the time of King David. It is a sight which can be seen from all around Jerusalem, just across the Kidron Valley.

We covered about a week's worth of sightseeing in one long hot day! It was a lot of history to try to understand and comprehend. But it will certainly be a day never to be forgotten!