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On Monday November 2nd we shall tour the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount sits on the Eastern Hill of the Old City of Jerusalem above David’s City. It is holy to Jews as Har HaBayit, the site of the First and Second Temples. It is holy to Muslims as al-haram ash-sharif or the Noble Sanctuary to which the prophet Muhammad travelled on his Night Journey and from which he ascended to Heaven. For Christians it is the place where Jesus taught as a young boy and where, as a man, he overturned the tables of the money changers. On this tour we shall explore the history and significance of this important and controversial site and see some of the buildings which occupy it today.
We'll meet at 8.00 am just inside the Dung Gate (Bus lines 1, 2, 3, 38). Please wear modest clothing for this tour and do not bring prayer books, bibles, tefillin or any religious books or articles. On Wednesday 4th November we'll tour the Herodian Mansions and the Burnt House. On the eve of the destruction of the Temple the Jews were torn apart by internal struggles; rich against poor, Sadducees against Pharisees, Zealots against the peace faction. On the 8th of Elul, a month after they burned the Temple, the Romans set fire to the upper city. Some of the wealthiest families and priests had homes on the slope of the Western Hill with a wonderful view of the Temple. Their power and position did not save them from the disaster that was to come. We'll visit their houses and learn about their lifestyles and the strife that led to their downfall. We'll meet at 9.30 am at the bus stop by the Jewish Quarter parking lot (Bus 38). Each tour lasts 2-3 hours and costs NIS 60 per person plus any site entry fees. There are site entry fees of NIS 35 for adults, NIS 25 for senior citizens and NIS 16 for children on Wednesday's tour. Please register in advance 054-647-8955 or tourwithjack@gmail.com if you wish to join one of these tours. |
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