The Western Wall Tunnels (Lindsay Goldfaden)

In the period of the Second Temple, the Romans were there because it was a Roman Empire. There were also soldiers there to keep the Roman peace. The Romans threw the stone until the wall was the same height as the rubble. This was a good time for the rebellion to break because, it was Passover. Back in the old days, the Southern wall was more important then the Western Wall because, that’s where the entrance was. The double exit on the left is the exit and the double entrance on the right is the entrance. Mourners do this opposite so people can apologize to them. Around the Temple was a sign that said “if you are a non Jew, you are requested to stop outside, and he himself will be reasonable for his punishment.” Only the Kohan ha-gadol (the high priest) was allowed go into the Holy of Holies of the Temple and only on Yom Kippur. The Jews pray at the Western Wall because it is closest to the Temple. The Praying compound today is between the Arch and the Stairs. 488 meters was the full length of the Western Wall. 67 meters is the length of the Prayer area of the Western Wall. The closer you get to the center of Temple Mount, the holier you are. Jews don’t pray underground because, there is more room outside. The Ministry of Religious Affairs wants to build a Synagogue completely underground. The praying compound is a little part of the wall. Muslim houses cover up some of the wall, so today we are going under the houses. Temple Mount was a garbage dump during the Byzantine period. In 1967, Israel let the Waqf Muslim committee run affairs on Temple Mount. At that time this committee was Jordanian and now it is Palestinian. Defense Minister Dayan made a few decisions, they are all prayer on top of Temple Mount will be only Muslim and Dyan takes down a Muslim neighborhood to make room for Jews to pray. In 2000, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon went onto Temple Mount and stood between Al-Aqsa mosque and the Golden Gate. This was the trigger for what became known for that reason as the Al-Aqsa intifada. Ariel Sharon doing this makes it so non-Muslims can’t go on Temple Mount. 2 years ago they changed it so now you can go up there but not in the Dome of the Rock or the Al-Aqsa mosque. Before Ariel Sharon did this, non-Muslims were allowed in the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque. Ariel Sharon has a house in the Muslim quarter.