Holiest of Holies: The Temple Mount

I've been asked a number of times to name my favorite spot on the Israel tour, and I honestly couldn't answer. There have been a multitude of highlights, and there wasn't anything that I didn't enjoy. But after editing photos most of today, it's pretty clear that the place that most resonated with my soul was the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. This is a place revered and held holy by the world's three major religions:  Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

The Temple Mount dates from well before the time of Christ and is believed to be the site of the First Temple of Solomon. That temple was destroyed (and no evidence of this temple has ever been discovered). It was rebuilt, and archeological excavations have proved the existence of the Second Temple. 

It is also revered as the site where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac. 

In Islam, the Dome of the Rock is said to mark the spot where Mohammed ascended to heaven.

The area of the Temple Mount, although in Israeli jurisdiction, is controlled by the Islamic Waqf. In order to maintain peaceful relations and use of the area by all three religions, Israel has imposed certain entry restrictions and decreed that no one other than Muslims can pray there and that no symbols of other religions can be carried or worn while on the Mount. 

We didn't know until the morning of our visit whether we would be able to enter. Non-Muslims can only enter through one gate and only on certain days and certain hours. If the crowd was too great when we arrived, we would have to bypass it in the interest of time. Because Gila was so good at getting us where we needed to be in a timely manner, we arrived at about the time the Temple Mount opened. We had to show identification and be subject to a security search. Gila had prepped us ahead and told us what to have at the ready. She'd instructed us on how to dress since what might be considered inappropriate could get us barred.

For the most part, I will let the photos speak for themselves.

A view of the city wall as we approached the Temple Mount entry

 

Al-Aqsa Dome on the Temple Mount

Remnants of column capitals on Temple Mount

Close-up of "basket" capital

The Temple Mount plaza, showing remnants of column capitals and one of the four minarets

Ornate capital from Bysantine Period

A barely-visible almost-full moon over a dome on Temple Mount

Plaza, facing Al-Aqsa Mosque

 

Looking toward the Dome of the Rock

 

Approaching the Dome of the Rock through an Archway

A photo-opp at the arch

Members of our group looking over the Temple Mount

Approaching the Dome of the Rock

Close-up of Arch and Calligraphy that adorns the Dome of the Rock. No photo can do this justice.

Further artistic detail

The Dome of the Rock is the single most distinguishing feature of the Jerusalem skyline, and to see its magnificent architecture and artwork up close was truly awe-inspiring.

This dome most captured my imagination, and I have not
been able to learn its name. Hopefully someone will have
made a note of it.

As we walked the Temple Mount, Islamic individuals attempted to give us informational pamphlets. Gila warned us that we would be going through security again as we exited and that the Israeli police might take the booklets away.

Sure enough, Israeli security demanded that we hand over the literature, considered propaganda. Gila got into quite an argument, attempting to persuade them that letting us take these pamphlets would cause no harm. Ultimately she lost, and everyone who had them handed over the little booklets.

Never at any time in either Israel or Jordan was I in fear for my safety, but I heard a couple of my tour mates later state that they had been nervous at the exit from the Temple Mount.

Our next stop would be the Western (Wailing) Wall, the most sacred spot where modern Jews can pray. That will be the subject of the next post.