The Western Wall Tunnels

Western Wall TunnelsOn this day, Monday, May 16, we had a quick lunch just off the Western Wall Plaza. Mine was an omelet sandwich and let me just say the next time I'm on a tour and the guide begins to tell me a fairy tale that ends with a question concerning tuna, cheese or egg - I will pay closer attention to my answer!! (Thanks, Pat, for the picture. I'm glad someone had a working camera! And I think we need to send this pic to Jon and Theresa! Ha!)

The Western Wall Tunnels connect the western wall prayer area to the north-west side of the temple mount, passing along the side of the temple mount and under the present day houses in the Old City. I have to say this was one of my favorite experiences!!"OUR FEET STOOD POISED AT YOUR GATES, O JERUSALEM" PSALM 122:2
"HERE AT THE FOOT OF THE WESTERN WALL, MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH, THE MEMORIES OF THE JEWISH PAST MINGLE WITH THE HOPES OF THE JEWISH FUTURE."

This model, which is situated at the entrance of the Western Wall tunnels, shows the topographical development of Mount Moriah which is the temple mount. Three thousand years ago Mount Moriah looked very different. In order to build the Temple, the mountain was carved out, four huge walls were built around it and thousands of tons of earth were poured in. This created a wide and flat surface upon which the temple was built. (If the pictures seem at odd angles, I as taking them over the heads of others.)

The model illustrates the history of the Temple Mount until today. The neighborhood outside the walls of the temple mount represent the Jewish quarter.

Again, I apologize for the blurred picture! Not only was I having problems with my camera but I was like a kid in a candy store. There were areas that were actively being worked upon and I would be looking at what was being done and then running to catch up!!

This would be considered part of the "Secret Passage". Its name comes from a medieval legend of an underground walkway used by King David. The king could use it to travel unseen from his palace at the Citadel (west of here) to the Temple Mount. The legend was wrong.

We now know that the citadel was actually a Crusader castle and that these vaults originated with the Arabs in the late 12th century C.E. This vault system was built to raise the level of the city and to allow Moslem residents direct access to the Temple Mount. The space under the vaults was locked off in sections and turned into water cisterns.

This area around the "secret passage" is still undergoing excavations. The archaeologists revealed second temple period stairs and other ancient findings. The two pictures above were taken looking down into large shafts.

This is the largest hall in the tunnels hence its name the Large Hall! ;) Four corridors extend from this hall - the eastern most one among them leading to the Western Wall. Here it is possible to see the timeline of the Western Wall in layer after layer of stone. There are stones from different eras and beneath them courses of stones from the Second Temple period. When the Hall was discovered no openings or floors were found. Apparently the hall had served only as a foundation for the structures above it.

A fascinating model, describing the various changes that occurred on the Temple Mount since the Second Temple, was installed here in the western corridor of the Large Hall.

The animated model depicts the destruction that occurred here, the construction in Jerusalem after the destruction, and the Western Wall tunnel's excavation found under today's Old City of Jerusalem.

In our research, my sister and I have obviously been hitting the same sites!! http://www.generationword.com/jerusalem101/38-western-wall-tunnels.html

The descent down towards the Western Wall begins under the arch of the eastern corridor of the Large Hall. From here the wall descends fro a distance of 655 feet until the southwestern corner. Then it begins its ascent to the northern corner a distance of 983 feet.

The largest stone is found here and weighs close to 570 tons. This is one of the stones of the master course of stones of the Western Wall, probably intended to stabilize the courses underneath.

When the Romans destroyed the Temple they furiously dismantled the stones of the other four walls but this large stone was obviously more than they could handle. The rectangular recesses in the stone were created for stone wedges that helped connect another wall to the Western Wall during the Byzantine period.

This impressive stone has been standing here for 2000 years. It has withstood the damage caused by time and by man. It is evidence of the feat of constructing the Temple and the hope of rebuilding Jerusalem for the Jews.

This is an extreme close-up of Warren's Gate. :) (I think I'm using my iphone now?!) Moving on...

This gate is one of the Temple Mount gates that ran along the Western Wall. During the time of the Temple this gate led to a long underground passage and then to a set of steps that led up to the Temple Mount.

Just north of Warren's Gate is an alcove of the tunnels. This part of the Western Wall that was closest to the heart of the Temple is known as "opposite the Holy of Holies". On the other side of the wall about 300 feet in towards the Temple Mount is the foundation stone. The Talmud explains it was from this stone that the world was created. This particular spot faces what is referred to as "the place which God will chose." Jews from throughout the generations turn toward this place for prayer and reflection.

You can see small pieces of papers (prayers) left in the crevices of the wall.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122:6