Israel Day 4... December 19, 2013 Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Israel Day 4
Jerusalem and Bethlehem
We were able to join a tour group with Steve Rona as our guide for a day. It was a fabulous day to join this group. We saw so much and learned so many amazing things. Sophie stayed with Penny, Joe, Gary and Alexis, which made things a little easier on Aaron and I. We felt like the other kids were old enough to understand what they were seeing and remember it. We started on the Temple Mount. If you are Jewish, you are not allowed inside this area, only the Muslims and tourists. We saw many groups of Muslim men and women studying together in little clusters. We walked over to the Dome of the Rock, which we weren't allowed to enter, but was so great to see the gorgeous mosaics up close. According to some Islamic scholars, the rock is the spot from which Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Further, Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. After Muhammad's return, he called all who would believe him to join with him and be Muslim. Other Islamic scholars believe that the Prophet ascended to Heaven from the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Foundation Stone and its surroundings is the holiest site in Judaism. Though Muslims now pray towards the Kaaba at Mecca, they once faced the Temple Mount as the Jews do. Muhammad changed the direction of prayer for Muslims after a revelation from Allah. Jews traditionally regarded the location of the stone as the holiest spot on Earth, the site of the Holy of Holies during the Temple Period.
The most propitious site for Jewish prayer is the spot that is nearest the Foundation Stone. Because Muslim authorities refused to permit Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, the custom developed of praying near the Western Wall, since it was the site nearest to the Foundation Stone, or on the Mount of Olives facing the site of the Temple. Between 1948 and 1967, when Jordanian authorities refused permission to Jews to enter the Old City of Jerusalem, Jews made pilgrimages to rooftops on Mount Zion and prayed towards the site of the ancient Holy of Holies.
According to Jewish tradition, the stone is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac; most Muslims believe it was Ishmael, not Isaac, who was to be sacrificed.
Below is the view of the Western Wall where the Jews gather and pray toward the Temple Mount. When we came down later this area was prepared for Jewish boys who were receiving their Bar Mitzvahs that day.
Muslim men studying the Quran together.
Dome of the Rock
The lines are painted here so the prayer rugs can be lined up facing due east towards Mecca.
Each arch represents a tenet of Islam.
Woman have to stay on the other side of the divider during the Bar Mitzvahs. They stand on chairs and look over, and then the boys lift the Torah and their moms or grandmas kiss it, then throw candy over. Ryan LOVED this and scurried around collecting candy from all over the ground!
Ryan's stash of candy!
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