New excavation site near the "City of King David"

B"H

I am going to publish photos from the "City of King David - Ir David" within the next few days. What surprised me was seeing a new excavation site right across the "City of King David" while I was in Jerusalem yesterday. 

The excavations are still going on and there were no signs or descriptions. It may be that the site used to be part of the ancient Old City before the First Temple was built. In the times of King David, the city of Jerusalem was located where we find today's "City of King David" and not where today's Jewish Quarter is located. The very ancient city of Jerusalem was located in the middle of today's Arab village of Silwan. Right outside the Dung Gate near the Western Wall (Kotel) and below the Temple Mount. 

The Temple Mount on the right, in the background you can see the Mount of Olives (Har HaZe'itim) and to the very right is the Dung Gate.

Outside the Dung Gate

Right across the Dung Gate you can see the Arab village SILWAN. The village is part of Jerusalem and has been exisiting for only 50 years or so. A bit more than 100 years ago, there actually was a small village at the same spot but it was populated by Yemenite Jews who had come from Yemen to Jerusalem. The Yemenites couldn't find any housing, as local Jews didn't really want them. Christian missionaries tried prostelyzing them but didn't succeed. The Yemenites lived in caves and until today, you can see signs of Mezuzot on the oldest doorposts of Arab Silwan. 

The excavation site across the "City of King David" in Silwan. Very close to the Dung Gate and Temple Mount.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

The CARDO in Jerusalem, Part 2

Ancient Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B”H 

A small series about archeology in the Old City of Jerusalem. 
Please see Part 1 HERE !

The CARDO in the Old City of Jerusalem used to be an ancient shopping mall built by the Romans. After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Roman emperor Hadrian changed the name "Jerusalem" into "Aelia Capitolina". The former shopping mall led from today's Damascus Gate (East Jerusalem) into today's Jewish Quarter.

From the ancient part of the Cardo into the modern shopping mall part of the Cardo. Especially tourists like to shop but there is no doubt that prices are exaggerated. Going down the Cardo shopping mall, you will get into the Muslim Quarter.

In the course of time, Jerusalem was destroyed several times and always rebuilt on top of its ruins. Thus, parts of the city have several layers and the Jerusalem of 2000 years ago, we find 10 or 20 meters below today's Jerusalem.

Here are the ruins exibited in the Cardo:

Pieces of the city wall from the First Temple period

 Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

The CARDO in Jerusalem, Part 1

B”H 

The CARDO in the Old City of Jerusalem used to be an ancient shopping mall built by the Romans. After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Roman emperor Hadrian changed the name "Jerusalem" into "Aelia Capitolina". The former shopping mall led from today's Damascus Gate (East Jerusalem) into today's Jewish Quarter. 

Here are a few photos from the part of the CARDO located in the Jewish Quarter. If you are planning a visit, you cannot miss it. The CARDO is one of the centers of the Jewish Quarters. Just below the Chabad Synagogue "Zemach Zedek".

The CARDO: Today there is a roof on top but originally, it used to be a regular street without a roof.

The original Roman stones at the CARDO

On the right: A group of Israeli soldiers with their tour guide

A picture showing the CARDO of the ancient days

The CARDO 2000 years ago

And this is what we see today.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Rioting Palestinians

Rioting Palestinians

Photo: Reuter / Jerusalem Post

B"H

Once again, Palestinians started rioting and it all reminds me of the riots about the Mugrabi Bridge a few years ago.  This time the reason for the riots is a dead Palestinian at one of the checkpoints.

The "Jerusalem Post" and YNET have all details !

Over the course of the weekend, more than 1200 violent Palestinian protesters took part in riots across Judea & Samaria. This video shows the violent riots in Al-Ram, a village northeast of Jerusalem, where protesters set fires, blocked streets and hurled rocks at IDF forces. 

Also see the blog of the Israeli army

http://www.idfblog.com/2012/02/25/violent-palestinian-protesters-riot-judea-samaria/

Further background information: For many many years, Palestinians have been denying Jewish history. The two Jewish Tempels would be just an imagination and Israeli propaganda. In order to support the Arab history lie, Palestinians need to get rid of Jewish historical facts. The Waqf keeps on digging on the Temple Mount and destroying parts of the former Jewish Temple. The Palestinians don't even hide their illegal diggings but the Israeli government doesn't take any action. 

What will be next ? Are the Palestinians going to tare down the Kotel (Western Wall) in order to support their lie ? Let alone the permanent denial of the Holocaust !

http://www.jewishmag.com/42mag/templemount/templemount.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excavations_at_the_Temple_Mount

The Mugrabi - Bridge at the Kotel in January 2012. The bridge leads from the Kotel Plaza up onto the Temple Mount.

 Total view over the the Kotel Plaza with the bridge on the right

Photos: Miriam Woelke 

Ancient Caves

Near Arad / Israel

Photo: Facebook

The DEAD SEA SCROLLS Online

B”H 

The famous Dead Sea Scrolls are now online. 

http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/

Further Tunnels from the Second Temple period discovered

B”H

How Jewish fighters against the Romans fought the enemy and escaped: Archeologists discovered further tunnels underneath the Old City of Jerusalem. 

All Pictures HERE !

Did the bell belong to the Cohen HaGadol ?

B"H

Archeologists found a rare bell in the City of King David near the Temple Mount. May the bell have been part of the High Priest's (Cohen HaGadol) official Temple clothing ?

But even if, in the Messianic Era, the Third Temple will be built and Levi'im as well as Cohanim are going to continue their Temple tasks. Just like in the past two Temples.

The HERODIUM

Herodium Video Feature

Tunnel Tour below the Kotel (Western Wall)

B"H

Today's Western Wall (Kotel) is not the original place where the Jews at Temple times used to pray. The Kotel is one of the outer walls of the Second Temple but the Holy of Holies (Kodesh HaKedoshim) stood where now the Dome of the Rock is located.

The plaza in front of the Kotel is brandnew and when you want to walk on ancient stones, you either need to enter the OPHEL nearby or participate in the tunnel tours approx. 30m below the Kotel. 

The video shows the original shopping street outside the Second Temple which now is located underneath the Kotel Plaza.

Where were the Forefathers buried ?

B"H

You may call me a heretic but, nevertheless, I don't think that every Kever (grave) of one of our forefathers is really his / her grave. I have strong doubts whether today's grave of Aharon (Moshe's brother) in Jordan, the grave of Yosef in Shechem (Nablus) or the grave of Rachel (Immenu - our foremother) are the authentic graves. How do we know the exact locations after

thousands of years ?

What if Kever Rachel (Rachel's grave) is a few kilometres further away or even many miles ? How are we supposed to know where Aharon is buried ?

I heard that a Jordanian Arab is in charge of Aharon's grave. Once you get there you have to rent a donkey and climb up a mountain. If the Arab on top is in the mood or you are willing to bribe him, he may show you Aharon's grave.

The truth we will only find out when the resurrection of the death is going to take place. 

What a surprise when some woman is jumping out of Rachel's grave and Rachel is getting up at a completely location.:-)

Jerusalem by Night

B"H

I found great pictures from Jerusalem on a haredi website. 
Enjoy !

From the Jaffa Gate into the Armenian Quarter (Old City)

The OPHEL next to the Western Wall (Kotel)

Link to the Ophel: http://www.archpark.org.il/

Tower of King David. View from the Jaffa Gate.

Link to the Tower: http://www.towerofdavid.org.il/English/General/Tower_of_David-Museum_of_the_History_of_Jerusalem

More Photos can be viewed here:

http://www.bhol.co.il/forum/topic.asp?cat_id=4&topic_id=2710092&forum_id=771

Here Herod lived and died

B"H

Here Herod (Hordos) the Great, 73 BCE until 4 CE, lived and died.

The Herodium nine miles south of Jerusalem.

See Video:

http://wejew.com/media/5248/Herodion/

Photo: WEJEW.COM

Ancient Quarry found in Jerusalem

Fragment from the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) - Herodian (Hordos) time

B"H

This upcoming Thursday, Jews are commemorating the 17th Tammuz introducing a three week mourning period ending with the famous Tisha Be'Av (9th Av). It is said that on Tisha Be'Av, both Temples were destroyed. In 586 B.C.E., the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and in 70 C.E., the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans.

Those of you standing in front of the gigantic stones of the Kotel (Western Wall, start asking themselves how the people in Herod's times were able to carry them to the Temple Mount. And where these stones come from ?

ARUTZ 7 reported that an ancient quarry was discovered in Shmuel HaNavi Street in Jerusalem. The quarry seems to be at least 2030 years old and there are still stones being three meters long and two meters wide. Archaeologists assume that this is the place where Herod took the stones from when building parts of the Temple.

Archaeology Links:

Israel Antiquities

Archaeology at the Hebrew University

Archaeology Park Jerusalem

Western Wall (Kotel)

Hebron & Archeology

Hebron: The colour green shows the Israeli part of Hebron. Anything Yellow belongs to the Palestinians ! Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus agreed to this division during his first time in office in 1996. Also see: Photos from Hebron.


Two interesting Links:

Hebron

Israeli Archeology

Oldest Hebrew Inscription found

Archive Photo from the Israel Museum / Jerusalem

B"H

South of Jerusalem, near the town of Beit Shemesh, archeologists found the oldest Hebrew inscription so far. 3000 years old and the Hebrew University archeologist Yossi Garfinkel claims that these written five lines are prove enough that the kingdom of King David was indeed a powerful mighty kingdom and not just a village of an meaningless tribe.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3615309,00.html

Whoever has had doubts so far and thought that the Tanach couldn't serve as a precise history book, should start reconsidering his opinion. Not only this latest found proves it but already all the others before. And just look at the remains of the Second Temple. Israel was and is a Jewish country and no Palestinian nor other foreigner has the right to make any claim.

Excavations in front of the "Mughrabi Gate"

B"H


Does anyone still remember the riots almost two years ago ? First, the Palestinians caused the whole word to feel sorry for them and look at the Temple Mount (Har HaBeit). The Jews would dig right in front of the "Mughrabi Gate" located next to the Kotel (Western Wall) and those digs are nothing else but a camouflage. The real truth is that the Jews try to storm the Temple Mount in order to throw the Muslims out. Already at that time, not too many people believed these idiotic accusations !


Originally, the dispute started after an earthquake causing the bridge, leading from the Kotel Plaza up to the Temple Mount, to collapse. Thus, the Jerusalem Municipality planned a new bridge but soon archeologists had to be called in because construction workers found antique ruins; obviously from the Byzantine Period. The archeologists started their digs and the Muslims were upset. For many years, the Muslims have been trying very hard to get rid of any proof that there once was a Jewish presents in Jerusalem and that there were any Temples at all. Instead the Palestinians claim until today that the Jews were never in Jerusalem and later stole the land from them. Most Jewish history would be nothing more but a legend. The Muslims keep on announcing that Jerusalem had always been Islamic, despite the fact that history proofs the opposite and despite the fact that the Koran doesn't even mention Jerusalem once, and that Mohammad had never been in Jerusalem.


What happened to the excavations, the new bridge and the conflict ? Two years ago, almost all foreign TV stations (e.g. BBC) broadcasted live from the Kotel and the Arab riots on the Temple Mount.


The digs are still taking place and a whole Byzantine settlement has been discovered. The Palestinians are still upset about the archeological digs and keep on making ridiculous claims. The new wooden bridge is only temporarily set up and a new firm bridge is going to be build after the excavations are ending.


So far, about the subject "ridiculous claims, Arab riots and the Palestinian history lie".

Profound Archaeological Finds

B"H

Archeologists found a broken fragment of a stone serving as a cover for a coffin which was made during the Second Temple period. The covering is made out of stone and was found north of Jerusalem.

The inscription on the fragment says:

"Ben HaCohen HaGadol - בן הכהן הגדול - The son of the High Priest"

The length of the stone is 60 cm and the width is 48 cm.

Some people see it as a miracle that the stone was found exactly a short while before Yom Kippur.

New Digs on Har HaBait

B"H

Who does not remember the wild riots a few months ago ? Israel was accused of digging underneath the Har HaBait (Temple Mount) and thus destroying "holy" Muslim sights.

After an earthquake about three years ago, the bridge leading from the Western Wall (Kotel) up to the Temple Mount fell apart.
Then a few months ago, Israel started building a new bridge and Muslim riots started right away. The Muslims were claiming that Israel is trying to conquer the Temple Mount and throw the Muslims out. As ususal, the worldwide press and many people were against us.
One Friday afternoon, the Muslims started riots while they were praying. They threw stones and anything they could get hold of at Israeli soldiers. Later they claimed that the Israeli army had provoked them and had locked them up in the Al - Aksa - Mosque.
Well, I was on top of the steps leading down to the Kotel and I could see Palestinians throwing stones and running around freely. No one was locked up.

Some days ago, the Palestinians started a dig leading from the northern site of the Temple Mount to the Dome of the Rock. They got the permission from the Israeli police. However, no one ever asked archeologists or other authorities, as there might be a danger that now the Palestinians try to destroy remains of the Beit HaMikdash. It would not be the first time, by the way.

Now, no one outside Israel is protesting, no BBC and CNN are showing up. In other words, no one gives a .... when the Palestinians do something against the Temple Mount. I am sure that no one of you even knows about the new digs.

In the meantime, Israel finished building the bridge.