The Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem is to the south of the old city, and borders the Armenian and Muslim Quarters by the Zion gate and the Golden Gate through the Temple Mount and comprises some 2,282 residents. Archaeologists brought to light remains from all the major periods of Jerusalem history here and many remains can be seen beneath the new buildings. The Western Wall of the Temple Mount adjoining the Jewish Quarter is the most sacred spot for Jews, which has been for centuries a place where Jews have come to pray and confide their emotions. Here are some of the sacred places:
The Western Wall
The Western Wall is a stretch of wall lasting 485 metres and which is associated to Jews with holiness, as it is a sacred site that rests against the Temple Mount, and which Jewish people believe is a religious place where they pray and express themselves. It is mentioned in Revelation 11:1-19 :
“Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
The Western Wall is a very special place for Jewish people, where they place notes to God and pray alone, so women and men are separated.
The Western Wall borders the Jewish Quarter and the Temple Mount, and is the remains of a Holy Temple that was the most sacred site in Jerusalem. It is also known as Kotel and Jews believe that it was the location of the foundation stone from which the world was created. It also links to the stone where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
Since the Holy of Holies was destroyed, the notion of eternal Divine Presence became associated with the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. It is now the closest place to the Holy of Holies so Jewish people like to go there to pray, as they feel closer to the foundation stone.
“Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
The Western Wall is a very special place for Jewish people, where they place notes to God and pray alone, so women and men are separated.
The Western Wall borders the Jewish Quarter and the Temple Mount, and is the remains of a Holy Temple that was the most sacred site in Jerusalem. It is also known as Kotel and Jews believe that it was the location of the foundation stone from which the world was created. It also links to the stone where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
Since the Holy of Holies was destroyed, the notion of eternal Divine Presence became associated with the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. It is now the closest place to the Holy of Holies so Jewish people like to go there to pray, as they feel closer to the foundation stone.
Hezekiah's Tunnel
Hezekiah's Tunnel was built during the 8th century BC a channel of water from the Gihon Spring, being the only Spring in Jerusalem when the city was under attack from the Assyrian army, and is named after King Hezekiah.
In scripture it says "Hezekiah also plugged the upper watercourse of the Gihon waters and brought it straight down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works." (Chronicles II, 32:30)
The Hezekiah's Tunnel is important to Jews because when the Assyrians attacked Jerusalem which was where a lot of Jews lived they managed to supply the city with fresh water using the Tunnel they had dug under the City of David. It contributes to Jerusalem being important to Jews because it was a great victory over a powerful army.
In scripture it says "Hezekiah also plugged the upper watercourse of the Gihon waters and brought it straight down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works." (Chronicles II, 32:30)
The Hezekiah's Tunnel is important to Jews because when the Assyrians attacked Jerusalem which was where a lot of Jews lived they managed to supply the city with fresh water using the Tunnel they had dug under the City of David. It contributes to Jerusalem being important to Jews because it was a great victory over a powerful army.
The picture on the left represents the discovery of the Siloam inscription found in the Tunnel in 1880, and the right picture shows the image of the inside of Hezekiah's Tunnel, which stretches under the city.