Visit to the Jewish/Hebrew Historical Sites Essay

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The three most significant sites in Hebrew/Jewish tradition I would choose for visiting are the Western Wall, the Mount of Olives, and the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Western Wall

The Western Wall, situated in the Old City of Jerusalem, is a remnant of the wall that once marked the boundaries of the Jewish Temple’s courtyard, and is regarded as one of the holiest places among the Jews. The Western Wall holds much information pertaining to the history of the Jews as it dates back to the end of the Second Temple period, its first phase having being built around 19 BCE by Herod the Great. The rest of the wall was built from the 7th century onwards.

The wall is also important in understanding the conflict between Jews and Muslims since the latter claimed that it was being used to support the Jewish claim of ownership of the Temple Mount of Jerusalem. Indeed, there have been numerous violent confrontations between the two groups at the foot of the wall time and again. The Western Wall is definitely a place to visit in the study of the Jewish/Hebrew history.

The Old City of Jerusalem

The Old City of Jerusalem, known simply as the Old City, is a 0.35 sq. mile area surrounded by a wall, situated within the modern Jerusalem. Up to the 1860s, this area made up the whole city of Jerusalem.

What makes the Old City an interesting place to visit is its being home to a number of several sites of significant religious importance to the Jewish history,these include the Temple Mount (used by Jews), the Western Wall (used by Christians), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (used by Christians) and the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosques (used by Muslims),the Old City therefore brings together both Christians, Muslims and the Jews.

This diversity of religion at the city makes it both a memorable and educational place to visit.The city was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 1981 and receives a large number of visitors annually.

Its further significance to the history of the Jews is seen in its mentioning in the Bible, which describes it as heavily strengthened with a strong city wall. The wall has exchanged hands since the 7th Century between Muslims, Christians, and Jews, but is currently under control of the Jews, and is a must-visit for anyone intending to study the history of the Jews.

The Mount of Olives

Also known as the Mount Olivet, the Mount of Olives is a mountain crop in East Jerusalem comprising of three crests, the highest of which is the at-Tur, rising 2,683 feet. The name is derived from the olive trees that previously covered it. The site is very important to the history of the Jews as it has been used as a Jewish cemetery for more than three millennia and currently holds nearly 150,000 graves.

Some of the most important persons in the Jewish history have been buried at the Mount of Olives, including Biblical kings and Prophets.Consequently, it contains tombs associated with the Prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Prominent rabbis such as Chaim ibn Attar and others from the 15th century onwards were also buried at the site (Har-el, pp. 122).

Apart from being a historical burial place, the site also served as a place for marking the start of a new month, among other religious gatherings and activities. Although the site was massively destroyed when it was occupied by Jordan from 1948 to 1967, it was later restored when Israel regained its control, and still holds a lot information regarding the Jewish history.

Work Cited

Har-el, Menashe.This is Jerusalem. Jerusalem: Canaan, 1977.

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IvyPanda. 2018. "Visit to the Jewish/Hebrew Historical Sites." June 14, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/visit-to-the-jewish-hebrew-historical-sites/.

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