Early in the morning, we set off for the Dome of the Rock, which is located in the Muslim side of Jerusalem. To do that, we had to go through another border checkpoint. The Islamic side prohibits the bringing of Bibles and religious literature across, as evangelism over there is forbidden.
As we climbed the ramp over and over the wall, we got a glimpse of the people worshipping at the Western Wall.
Short History of the Western Wall
In 37 BCE, Herod was made king of Jerusalem and he decided to renovate the Temple. The Western Wall (a.k.a. the Kotel) is all that remains of that Temple. In Matt. 24, after leaving the Temple (and after the incident of the Widow's Two Mites), Jesus and His disciples go to the Mt. of Olives. There, as the sun shines on the Temple, Jesus mentions that "not one stone will be left upon another". Thinking that something as momentous as the destruction of the Temple would be akin to the end of the world, the disciples then ask two questions saying:
"Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
Jesus replies by describing both the conditions that hint at His return, and also at the destruction of the Temple itself.
The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 CE. In spite of the destruction that took place, the foundations of the Temple remain (although all the stones on top of them are now gone). The Western Wall was the closest area to the Most Holy Place (where the Shekinah Glory of God once rested), and that is why the Jews go there to pray.
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My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.
Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. (Proverbs 6:20-21) |
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| Chief Rabbi Shlomo "Solomon" Goren |
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| Mic at the Western Wall |
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| The women's side |
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And now, crossing over to the Islamic side of Jerusalem
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| Will write what our guide "Mickey" said about this later... |
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| Security... Just in case anything happens.. |
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| On the way back into the Israeli side of Jerusalem, we crossed a bar-mitzvah :) |
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Next Stop:
Bethlehem
Our guide didn't make any effort to bring us to the Dome of the Rock. Had I known about their schedule earlier, I would've gone by myself :(
ReplyDeleteAww... don't worry, that's all we did. We walked to it, then around it. No one was allowed in at the moment.
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