“Close your eyes and imagine that everything you now wish for can come true if you really, really try”
Jerusalem is founded over 3,000 years ago, and is holy to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The historical heart of the capital of Israel - Jerusalem – is the Old City- the place of living history. Only 7 of the 11 Gates are open, and the narrow streets and suqs ( marketplaces) is full of life and bustling crowds. By Jaffa Gate, we can follow ancient footpaths to Western Wall- which has other names- Wailing Wall or The Kotel- the last remnant of the support wall constructed around 19 BC as part of the renovation by Herod the Great. This is the closest connection to Hashem ( Hebrew for God) It has been a site of pilgrimage and prayer since the 4th century. More than a musty place of rocks and dust, this limestone structure is alive unlike other relics. The best time to experience the wall and what it means to the faithful is Friday at sunset, the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, where it transform into a mix of the penitent engrossed in prayer and jubilant crowds who dance and sing the night away as they celebrate the start of the Jewish holy day. It is this personal connection with the millions who did exactly the same thing over the generations- writing notes and placing them in the cracks.
The History of the Western Wall
The Western Wall, known in Hebrew as HaKotel HaMa'aravi (the Western Wall) and often referred to as the "Wailing Wall" in English, is the last remaining outer retaining wall of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Construction: Around 19 BCE, King Herod the Great initiated a massive expansion of the Temple Mount. To create a larger, flat platform for the rebuilt and enlarged Temple, he constructed four massive retaining walls. The Western Wall is a part of this western retaining wall. The lower sections of the wall, characterized by large, precisely cut stone blocks (some weighing several tons), are Herodian in origin, dating back over 2000 years.
Destruction of the Temple: When the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Temple itself was largely razed. However, the massive retaining walls, including the Western Wall, remained standing.
Centuries of Prayer: For centuries after the Temple's destruction, Jews were often barred from the Temple Mount itself. The Western Wall, being the closest accessible point to the site of the Holy of Holies (the Temple's inner sanctuary), became a focal point for Jewish prayer and mourning over the loss of the Temple.
The Name "Wailing Wall": The term "Wailing Wall" was largely coined by non-Jews who witnessed the sorrowful prayers and laments of Jews at the site. While still used, many Jews prefer the term "Western Wall" as "Wailing Wall" focuses on the mourning aspect rather than the wall's significance as a remnant of the Temple.
Modern Era: After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel gained control of the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall. The area in front of the wall was cleared to create the Western Wall Plaza, allowing for larger gatherings and easier access for prayer. Today, it is administered by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.
Significance to the Jews
The Western Wall holds immense religious, historical, and national significance for the Jewish people:
Remnant of the Holy Temple: It is the most tangible remaining connection to the Second Temple, the center of Jewish religious life for centuries. Jews believe the Divine Presence (Shekhinah) never departed from the Western Wall.
Closest Point to the Holy of Holies: While Jews are currently restricted from praying on the Temple Mount itself due to religious sensitivities and historical complexities surrounding the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall is the closest accessible point to the presumed location of the Holy of Holies. This makes it the holiest place where Jews can freely pray.
Symbol of Loss and Hope: The Wall symbolizes the destruction of the Temple and the long exile of the Jewish people, but also their enduring connection to Jerusalem and their unwavering hope for future redemption and the rebuilding of the Temple.
Center of Prayer and Pilgrimage: For centuries, Jews from around the world have directed their prayers towards Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, and the Western Wall has become a central site for pilgrimage and personal prayer. It is a common practice to write prayers on slips of paper and place them in the cracks of the wall.
National Symbol: In modern Israel, the Western Wall has also become a significant national symbol, representing Jewish heritage, resilience, and the reunification of Jerusalem. Important national ceremonies, such as the swearing-in of IDF soldiers, often take place there.
Archaeological Findings at the Western Wall
Archaeological excavations around and beneath the Western Wall have yielded significant findings that shed light on its history and the history of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period and beyond:
Herodian Stonework: Excavations have revealed the impressive scale and craftsmanship of the original Herodian construction, including massive stone blocks weighing many tons, laid without mortar.
Robinson's Arch: The remains of a monumental archway, known as Robinson's Arch, extending westward from the southern part of the Western Wall, have been uncovered. This arch once supported a grand staircase leading up to the Temple Mount during the Second Temple period.
Wilson's Arch: Located in the northern part of the Western Wall Plaza, Wilson's Arch is another significant remnant of a bridge that connected the Temple Mount to the Upper City of Jerusalem. Excavations beneath it have revealed well-preserved sections of the Western Wall and even the potential remains of a Roman-era theater or council chamber.
Water Systems: Discoveries of ancient water cisterns, channels, and aqueducts in the vicinity of the Western Wall provide insights into how the Temple Mount and the city were supplied with water.
Ritual Baths (Mikvaot): Several ritual baths dating back to the Second Temple period have been found near the Western Wall, indicating the importance of ritual purity for those visiting the Temple.
Byzantine and Islamic Era Remains: Excavations have also uncovered layers of construction and artifacts from later periods, including the Byzantine and early Islamic eras, reflecting the various rulers and inhabitants of Jerusalem throughout history. This includes remnants of Byzantine buildings and early Islamic oil lamps.
First Temple Period Artifacts (Indirectly): While direct evidence from the First Temple period at the Western Wall itself is scarce (as the current wall dates to the Second Temple expansion), artifacts dating back to the First Temple period have been found in the Temple Mount Sifting Project, which analyzed soil removed from the Temple Mount area, providing indirect evidence of earlier activity on the site.
Tools of Construction: Recently, archaeologists discovered a chisel believed to have been used by the builders of the Western Wall during the Second Temple period, offering a tangible link to the people who constructed this monumental structure.
Underground Chambers: The discovery of a complex of underground chambers carved into the bedrock beneath the Western Wall Plaza, dating back around 2000 years, has provided further insights into the urban planning and potential uses of the area during the Second Temple period.
These archaeological findings continue to enrich our understanding of the Western Wall's history, its connection to the Second Temple, and the broader history of ancient Jerusalem, further solidifying its significance for the Jewish people and for historical research.
WESTERN WALL TUNNEL
The Western Wall Tunnel excavations, conducted primarily since Israel gained control of the area in 1967, have revealed a wealth of archaeological information about the Western Wall and the surrounding areas. Here's a summary of the key findings:
Herodian Period (1st Century BCE - 1st Century CE):
Extension of the Western Wall: The tunnels exposed approximately 300 meters of the Western Wall's original 485-meter length, revealing the monumental scale of Herod's construction.
Massive Stone Blocks: The excavations showcased the impressive Herodian masonry, including enormous, precisely dressed stones, the largest of which, known as the "Western Stone," is one of the heaviest objects ever moved by humans without powered machinery.
Robinson's Arch: The base of this monumental arch, which once supported a grand staircase leading to the Temple Mount's Royal Stoa, was further exposed.
Wilson's Arch: This intact arch, supporting a bridge connecting the Temple Mount to the Upper City, was extensively explored, revealing underlying structures.
Ancient Streets: Sections of paved Roman-era streets that ran alongside the Western Wall were uncovered, providing insight into the urban layout of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.
Ritual Baths (Mikvaot): Several ritual baths dating to the Second Temple period were found, highlighting the importance of ritual purity for Temple visitors.
Water Channels and Cisterns: The remains of water channels, including a pre-Herodian Hasmonean aqueduct (dubbed the "Hasmonean Channel") and the large "Struthion Pool," which supplied water to the Temple Mount, were discovered.
A Monumental Public Building: Recent excavations near Wilson's Arch revealed the remains of an opulent public building from the Second Temple period, possibly a city council building or a reception area for dignitaries entering the Temple Mount. It featured ornate chambers and a fountain.
Construction Tools: In a significant recent discovery, a chisel believed to have been used by the builders of the Western Wall was found, providing a tangible link to the wall's construction.
Post-Second Temple Period Findings:
Roman Theater-like Structure (Odeon/Bouleuterion): Beneath Wilson's Arch, the remnants of an impressive Roman-era theater-like structure with approximately 200 seats were uncovered. Interestingly, evidence suggests it was never fully completed or used, possibly due to the Bar Kokhba Revolt.
Byzantine Era Remains: Evidence of dwellings and other structures from the Byzantine period were found in the tunnel.
Early Islamic Period: Remains of a bridge connecting the Upper City to the Temple Mount, mirroring an earlier Second Temple period bridge, were discovered.
Crusader Period: The remnants of a Crusader-era church were identified within the tunnel complex.
Mamluk Period: Urbanization from the Mamluk period, including public buildings that eventually obscured much of the Western Wall until the 1546 earthquake, was evident.
Later Artifacts: Various smaller artifacts like pottery, coins (including Islamic-era gold coins), and other relics from different historical periods have been unearthed.
Significance of the Findings:
The archaeological findings in the Western Wall Tunnels have significantly enhanced our understanding of:
The Grandeur of Herod's Temple Mount Project: The sheer scale and intricate planning of the Second Temple complex are vividly illustrated.
Daily Life in Ancient Jerusalem: Discoveries like streets, ritual baths, and water systems provide insights into the daily lives of the city's inhabitants during the Second Temple period.
The Temple Mount's Infrastructure: The sophisticated water management systems highlight the importance of this resource for the Temple and its numerous visitors.
Jerusalem's History Through the Ages: The presence of remains from various periods underscores the continuous habitation and transformation of Jerusalem over millennia.
The Destruction of 70 CE: Piles of collapsed stones found within the tunnel provide direct archaeological evidence of the Roman destruction of the Temple Mount.
In conclusion, the Western Wall Tunnels serve as a remarkable archaeological site, offering a unique underground journey through centuries of Jerusalem's history and providing invaluable information about the Second Temple period and the enduring significance of the Western Wall.
The first three benedictions state the fundamental beliefs of Judaism in the one true creator God;
1. God of History
2. God of nature
3. The God who sanctifies
The intermediate benedictions 4-15 are petitions. 4-9 are personal in nature;
4. For understanding
5. Repentance
6. Forgiveness
7. Deliverance from affliction
8. Healing
9. Deliverance from want.
The 10th -15th benedictions are national petitions;
10. For the reunion of Israel
11. The righteous reign of God
12. Against slanderers, informers and traitors***
13. For the righteous
14. The rebuilding of Jerusalem
15. The Messianic King.
Benedictions 16-18 are regarding service to God:
16. The Hearing of Prayer
17. The Temple Service
18. Thanksgiving for God's mercies.
19. Grant Peace
Since the prayer Jesus taught his disciples (The Lord's Prayer) is apparently an abbreviated version of the Amidah ("Standing," in Hebrew) or Eighteen Benedictions, I think it is important for Christians to be familiar with this central prayer of Jewish religious life. The prayer is very ancient, some of the changes to it being made 200 years before the time of Jesus. The prayer is also very beautiful, full of scriptural quotations and allusions.
Every Jew was obligated to pray the Eighteen Benedictions daily; however, in times of emergency, one was permitted to pray a shortened form of the Eighteen, such as the Lord's Prayer.
Rabbi Eliezer, a younger contemporary of Jesus, taught this abbreviation of the Eighteen: "May your will be done in heaven above, grant peace of mind to those who fear you [on earth] below, and do what seems best to you. Blessed are you, O LORD, who answers prayer." Note the phrases "your will be done" and "in heaven above ... [on earth] below" as in the Lord's Prayer. Also note the parallel between "grant peace of mind" in the prayer Eliezer taught and "deliver us from evil" in the prayer Jesus taught.
The headings in capital letters (e.g., "THE GOD OF HISTORY") that summarize each benediction or blessing are for reference only, and are not to be recited. The characterizations of God, which always follow "Blessed are you, O Lord," also can be used to summarize each benediction, and, if strung together, comprise a nice description of God:
God is the shield of Abraham;
the one who revives the dead;
the holy God;
the gracious giver of knowledge;
the one who delights in repentance;
the one who is merciful and always ready to forgive;
the redeemer of Israel;
the healer of Israel's sick;
the one who blesses the years;
the one who gathers Israel's dispersed;
the King who loves righteousness and justice;
the one who smashes enemies and humbles the arrogant;
the support and stay of the righteous;
the one who rebuilds Jerusalem;
the one who causes salvation to flourish;
the one who hears prayer;
the one who restores the divine presence to Zion;
the one whose Name is the Beneficent One and to whom it is fitting to give thanks; and
the one who blesses Israel with peace.
THE AMIDAH
1. THE GOD OF HISTORY:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God and God of our
fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the
great, mighty and revered God, the Most High God who bestows
lovingkindnesses, the creator of all things, who remembers the good deeds
of the patriarchs and in love will bring a redeemer to their children's
children for his name's sake. O king, helper, savior and shield.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the shield of Abraham.
2. THE GOD OF NATURE:
You, O Lord, are mighty forever, you revive the
dead, you have the power to save. [From the end of Sukkot until the eve
of Passover, insert: You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall.]
You sustain the living with lovingkindness, you revive the dead with great
mercy, you support the falling, heal the sick, set free the bound and keep
faith with those who sleep in the dust. Who is like you, O doer of mighty
acts? Who resembles you, a king who puts to death and restores to life,
and causes salvation to flourish? And you are certain to revive the dead.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who revives the dead.
3. SANCTIFICATION OF GOD:
[Reader] We will sanctify your name in this world just as it is sanctified in the highest heavens, as it is written by your prophet: "And they call out to one another and say:
[Cong.] 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'" [ ]
[Reader] Those facing them praise God saying:
[Cong.] "Blessed be the Presence of the LORD in his place." [ ]
[Reader] And in your Holy Words it is written, saying,
[Cong.] "The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah." [ ]
[Reader] Throughout all generations we will declare your greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim your holiness. Your praise, O our God, shall never depart from our mouth, for you are a great and holy God and King. Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God. You are holy, and your name is holy, and holy beings praise you daily. (Selah.) Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God.
4. PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING:
You favor men with knowledge, and teach mortals understanding.
O favor us with the knowledge,
the understanding and the insight that come from you.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the gracious giver of knowledge.
5. FOR REPENTANCE:
Bring us back, O our father, to your Instruction;
draw us near, O our King, to your service;
and cause us to return to you in perfect repentance.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who delights in repentance.
6. FOR FORGIVENESS:
Forgive us, O our Father, for we have sinned;
pardon us, O our King, for we have transgressed; for you pardon and forgive.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who is merciful and always ready to forgive.
7. FOR DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTION:
Look upon our affliction and plead our cause,
and redeem us speedily for your name's sake,
for you are a mighty redeemer.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the redeemer of Israel.
8. FOR HEALING:
Heal us, O Lord, and we will be healed;
save us and we will be saved, for you are our praise.
O grant a perfect healing to all our ailments,
for you, almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the healer of the sick of his people Israel.
9. FOR DELIVERANCE FROM WANT:
Bless this year for us, O Lord our God,
together with all the varieties of its produce, for our welfare.
Bestow ([from the 15th of Nissan insert:] dew and rain for) a blessing upon the
face of the earth. O satisfy us with your goodness, and bless our year
like the best of years.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses the years.
10. FOR GATHERING OF EXILES:
Sound the great shofar for our freedom,
raise the ensign to gather our exiles,
and gather us from the four corners of the earth.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of his people Israel.
11. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS REIGN OF GOD:
Restore our judges as in former times,
and our counselors as at the beginning; and remove from us sorrow and
sighing. Reign over us, you alone, O Lord, with lovingkindness and
compassion, and clear us in judgment. Blessed are you, O Lord, the King
who loves righteousness and justice.
12. FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF APOSTATES AND
THE ENEMIES OF GOD:
Let there be no hope for slanderers,
and let all wickedness perish in an instant.
May all your enemies quickly be cut down,
and may you soon in our day uproot, crush, cast down
and humble the dominion of arrogance.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who smashes enemies and humbles the arrogant.
13. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND PROSELYTES:
May your compassion be stirred, O Lord our God,
towards the righteous, the pious, the elders of your people
the house of Israel, the remnant of their scholars, towards proselytes,
and towards us also. Grant a good reward to all who truly trust in your
name. Set our lot with them forever so that we may never be put to shame,
for we have put our trust in you.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the support and stay of the righteous.
14. FOR THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM:
Return in mercy to Jerusalem your city, and dwell in it as you have promised.
Rebuild it soon in our day as an eternal structure,
and quickly set up in it the throne of David.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.
15. FOR THE MESSIANIC KING:
Speedily cause the offspring of your servant David to flourish,
and let him be exalted by your saving power,
for we wait all day long for your salvation.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who causes salvation to flourish.
16. FOR THE ANSWERING OF PRAYER:
Hear our voice, O Lord our God; spare us and have pity on us.
Accept our prayer in mercy and with favor,
for you are a God who hears prayers and supplications.
O our King, do not turn us away from your presence empty-handed,
for you hear the prayers of your people Israel with compassion.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who hears prayer.
17. FOR RESTORATION OF TEMPLE SERVICE:
Be pleased, O Lord our God, with your people Israel and with their prayers.
Restore the service to the inner sanctuary of your Temple,
and receive in love and with favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayers.
May the worship of your people Israel always be acceptable to you.
And let our eyes behold your return in mercy to Zion.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.
18. THANKSGIVING FOR GOD'S UNFAILING MERCIES:
We give thanks to you that you are the Lord our God
and the God of our fathers forever and ever.
Through every generation you have been the rock of our lives, the shield
of our salvation. We will give you thanks and declare your praise for our
lives that are committed into your hands, for our souls that are entrusted
to you, for your miracles that are daily with us, and for your wonders and
your benefits that are with us at all times, evening, morning and noon.
O beneficent one, your mercies never fail; O merciful one,
your lovingkindnesses never cease. We have always put our hope in you.
For all these acts may your name be blessed and exalted continually,
O our King, forever and ever. Let every living thing give thanks to you and
praise your name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. (Selah.)
Blessed are you, O Lord, whose Name is the Beneficent One,
and to whom it is fitting to give thanks.
19. FOR PEACE:
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness and mercy to us
and to all Israel your people. Bless us, O our Father, one and
all, with the light of your countenance; for by the light of your
countenance you have given us, O Lord our God, a Torah of life,
lovingkindness and salvation, blessing, mercy, life and peace.
May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times
and in every hour with your peace.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.
THE HOLY LAND
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