Jerusalem History

Here are some fascinating, lesser-known facts about the Western Wall: 1. The Western Wall that we see today was built in 20 BCE by King Herod when he expanded the Second Temple. The First Temple, built by King Solomon in the 8th century BCE, was destroyed by the Babylonians when they destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jewish people into captivity. The Second Temple was built when the Jews returned from exile, and then it was embellished by King Herod. 2. The Western Wall is an engineering masterpiece. It is made of enormous blocks of stone carefully stacked so they will...

1. Studies show that there are olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane dating back 900 years, making them some of the oldest living olive trees in the world.2. When Neil Armstrong visited Jerusalem, he said: ‘I am more excited stepping on these stones than I was stepping on the moon.’ 3. Jewish people around the world face Jerusalem to pray. 4. Between 1948 and 1967 when the Old City of Jerusalem was under Jordanian control, Jews were not allowed to access their own holiest site - the Western Wall. In 1948, the area referred to today as ‘East Jerusalem’, which includes key Jewish sites such as the ancient Jewish Quarter and Temple precinct, was captured by Jordan. In breach of the armistice agreement, Jordan restricted all Jewish access to the Western Wall. It was only after the Six Day War of 1967, when Israel liberated Jerusalem, that Jews could once again pray at the site of their holy Temple. 5. There’s a specific medical condition that some psychiatrists call ‘Jerusalem syndrome’ in which visitors to the holy city are overcome with religious delusions, such as believing they are the Messiah, Elijah or other religious figures. Fortunately, it’s a rare illness, and some doctors doubt it even exists at all! 6. Every Passover a Muslim Arab called Hussein Jaber who lives in Abu Ghosh (an Arab town next to Jerusalem known for its loyalty to Israel) buys all the leaven in the land! According to the Torah, Jewish people should not own or have in their possession any products containing leaven for the whole week of Passover. Hussein Jaber helps the country keep this commandment by signing a formal contract to buy all the leaven in the Israel for $300 million. Of course, it’s an unspoken agreement that Jaber will not manage to settle the bill by the end of the Passover week, so the contract is annulled, and the bread returns to Jewish hands! 7. During its more than 6000-year history, Jerusalem has been conquered or reconquered over 40 times and razed to the ground at least twice. But what is it that makes Jerusalem so passionately desired, so fiercely fought over? Why does the city generate such strong emotion?

2,000 Years Old and counting. This is the Western Wall! The Second Temple stands proudly in Jerusalem. Yet King Herod decides to make his Temple even grander and begins a vast expansion project of the Temple Mount. The Western Wall forms one of the retaining walls that surround the Temple Mount. The Romans besieged Jerusalem and destroyed the Holy Temple. However, the outer wall, today known as the retaining wall, survives. Why would the Romans leave it standing? They wanted a tangible reminder that the mighty Roman Empire had succeeded in destroying the Holiest structure in all of Judaism. And...

1. Jerusalem Has Been Conquered Dozens of Times Few cities in history have experienced as much conflict as Jerusalem. Because of its spiritual importance and strategic location, the city has changed hands repeatedly throughout history. Historians estimate that Jerusalem has been: Captured or conquered more than 40 timesBesieged at least 23 timesDestroyed twice and rebuilt multiple times Major empires that ruled Jerusalem include the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantine Empire, Islamic Caliphate, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British Empire. Despite these constant upheavals, one thing remained remarkably consistent: the deep connection of the Jewish people to the city. For thousands of...