Dome of the Rock

Sunday (24th) was the beginning of not only the week, but also the beginning of a forecasted heat wave. So we decided that it would probably be better to meet earlier rather then later. Walking to Jaffa Gate I could tell it was going to be a very warm day!

 

Different times I've had people ask me what its like going around and seeing these different sights where so much history happened. "Do you get goose bumps? A cool sensation or feeling? Maybe your just so overwhelmed you just need to sit down and take it all in quietly by yourself? Maybe it even moves you to tears?!"

To which I respond "Nope! No way, not at all! Zilch!"

Western Wall was a definitely a cultural experience, but didn't do anything for me. Glad I went and saw it, but if I made a pilgrimage to Israel simply to pray at the Western Wall, I think I would have wasted a whole lot of money!

*Warning!* Skeptical side coming out in the following paragraphs!

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher...again glad I went just so I can say I was there. But I left there weirded out! It was full of Catholics kneeling down, laying things on the stone that "Jesus was laid on as his body was prepared for burial", and kissing it. The Church was dark, incense was burning, and the walls were covered with gaudy pictures of Jesus, Mary, and other saints! I just wanted to leave, and get out of their as fast as I could! I can buy someone saying, "This is most likely where such and such happened." But to say so many hundred years after the fact someone thought this was the place, and then built a church over it, and today people come and worship objects in this church. Please! Sell it somewhere else! The guys think I need to get in touch with my Catholic side. At this rate, I don't think that's happening anytime soon.

So all that to say, I think my Dome of the Rock experience was the most meaningful to date. Just because for once there wasn't a doubt in my mind. This was were the Temple used to be, although destroyed twice and now replaced by the Dome...this is still the place! This is the place were so much history has happened and will happen.



 

After going through security and walking past literally dozens of police waiting and ready to close the place down if anything got out of hand, we arrived on the Temple Mount. We were immediately pointed at and told to "go down there" so we could get a scarf since we weren't properly clothed. So we walked down to a guy that threw a plastic scarf at us and said it would cost us 25 NIS. "TWENTY FIVE SHEKELS!!!!" DeLora and I could hardly keep our jaws from hitting the ground. But I forced a smile, and unwrapped a scarf....that really didn't do too much, but whatever. The guys seemed to think it was hilarious!

(Photo credits go to Manu)

 

So here comes a bit of a history lesson. The first Temple was burned (2 Kings 25:8-9) after Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem in 587 BC (2 Kings 24:8-20).  The Israelites later returned to rebuild  the Temple. The second Temple lasted from 515 BC to 70 AD when the Romans conquered Jerusalem. The Muslim siege of Jerusalem took place in April 637 AD and the Dome was finished in 692 AD.

 



 

The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque but a ciborium erected over a sacred site. Although there is a mosque on the complex. According to Islamic tradition, Mohammed ascended to heaven after a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem on a winged steed named al-Buraq. They say the rock inside the building is what Mohammed stood on before rising to heaven.

Jewish tradition teaches the rock was were Abraham offered Isaac on Mount Moriah. As well as the location for the first and second Temple. And they are eagerly anticipating when they will build the third Temple. There is a group that is actively preparing for that day. Following the law they have garments for the High Priest, priests, and different pieces of furniture ready and waiting.

The significance of the site for Christians would obviously be the History of the Temple. Luke 2:41-49 says Jesus stayed at the Temple listening and asking questions after His parents had left Jerusalem after Passover. The Temple Mount is also the place that Jesus will return to someday.

 

 

Muslims can be very vocal. You always knew there was a Jew in the area by the cries of the Muslims yelling, "God is great!" in Arabic, and throwing their fists. It was actually kind of sad to hear and see the hate coming out. Small groups of 3-4 Jewish men walked around occasionally, always escorted by 3-4 police officers for safety.

 

 (Photo credits got to Manu)

 

 It was a good and eye opening experience, seeing a part of a culture that I have not been around much here.

One more thing crossed off my bucket list!