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Story

Wall

First Temple period

After this, the city was in ruins for a long time. To this day, along the western and southern walls you can see huge stones left there after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans. Archaeologists also discovered stone railings from the balcony from which trumpets were blown, announcing the onset of Saturdays and holidays. On the railing, part of the inscription “to the place of blowing ...” has been preserved.

Roman rule

His attitude towards Judaism and his intention to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple is explained by the fact that he tried to deprive the church of its Jewish foundation. The resumption of sacrifices in the Temple could publicly demonstrate the falsity of Jesus' prophecy that “not one stone will be left upon another” from the Temple and the incorrectness of the statement that Judaism had lost its status as God's chosen one, which was now transferred to Christianity.

The emperor immediately began to implement his plan. The required funds were allocated from the state treasury, and Alypius of Antioch, one of Julian's most devoted assistants and a former governor of Britain, was appointed head of the project. The preparation of materials and tools, their delivery to Jerusalem and installation on site, as well as the recruitment of craftsmen and workers continued for a long time. Planning the work required considerable effort on the part of the architects. The first stage of work was the removal of the ruins located at the construction site. Only after this, apparently on May 19, did the builders directly begin the construction of the Temple.

The meaning of the Temple Mount in Judaism

Names of the Temple Mount

• Mount of the Temple (הר הבית, har ha-Bayt, literally “mountain of the house”) - this name is mentioned in the book of the prophet: “At the end of days the mountain of the house of God will be established above the mountains, and will rise above the hills, and all nations will rush to it.”
• Mount Moriah (הר המוריה, har ha-Moria) - mentioned, in particular, in the book: “And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah.”

• Mount Zion (הר ציון, har Tziyon). Currently, Zion is the name given to another hill, also located in Jerusalem.

Events that according to Jewish tradition took place on the Temple Mount

• The creation of the first man Adam.
• Adam made a sacrifice to God.
• Cain and Abel built an altar and offered sacrifices here.
• Noah made a sacrifice after leaving the ark.
• Abraham prepares his son Isaac to be sacrificed to God.
• Forefather Jacob sees a dream here.
• King Solomon built the First Temple, which stood for 410 years.
• 70 years after the destruction of the First Temple, the Second Temple was erected here, which stood for 420 years.

The Jerusalem Temple served as the only permitted place of sacrifice to the One God, and was also the center of the religious life of the Jewish people and an object of pilgrimage for all Jews three times a year (on Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot).

The Temple Mount is the holiest place for Jews: religious Jews around the world face Israel during prayer, Jews in Israel face Jerusalem, and Jews in Jerusalem face the Temple Mount.

According to the promises of the Jewish prophets, after the coming of the Messiah, the last, Third Temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, which will become the spiritual center for the Jewish people and all humanity. Also associated with the Temple Mount is the expectation of the Last Judgment.

During the Temple period, there were differences in holiness between different parts of the Temple Mount. Entry into the Holy of Holies of the Temple was permitted only to the High Priest, and only on Yom Kippur. Non-Jews, as well as those who were ritually unclean due to a crime associated with a dead body, were prohibited from entering the fenced area surrounding the Temple building and its adjacent courtyards. Those who were not cleansed of the ritual impurity associated with discharge from the genitals were forbidden to enter the Temple Mount. It was also forbidden to climb the Temple Mount for purposes other than religious or in an indecent manner.

According to most halachic authorities, notably Maimonides, the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount remains in effect after the destruction of the Temple. Since it is believed that all Jews are ritually unclean due to the uncleanness associated with a dead body, and, at present, it is impossible to carry out the appropriate purification procedure, therefore, no one can enter the territory surrounding the Temple. Entrance to the rest of the Temple Mount can only be allowed to non-Jews and Jews who have cleansed themselves of ritual impurity associated with discharge from the genitals.

The problem is that the biblical sources do not allow us to accurately identify the boundaries of the zones. However, it is known that the territory surrounding the Temple was not located on the territory that runs along the perimeter of the Temple Mount. Bypassing the Temple Mount along the perimeter, in accordance with the halacha, is organized by a number of public organizations, in particular, and the Meeting Place organization.

Temple Location

Others believe that on this stone in the Temple court was the Altar of burnt offering. In this case, the Temple was located to the west of this stone. This opinion is more probable, since it corresponds to the spatial relations on Temple Square and allows for a fairly large flat area. .

There are other options for localizing the Temple. Nearly two decades ago, Israeli physicist Asher Kaufman suggested that both the First and Second Temples were located 110 meters north of the Rock Mosque. According to his calculations, the Holy of Holies and the Foundation Stone are located under the current "Dome of the Spirits" - a small Muslim medieval building.

The opposite, "southern" (in relation to the Dome of the Rock) localization of the Temple has been developed by the famous Israeli architect Tuvia Sagiv over the past five years. He places it on the site of the modern Al-Qas fountain.

The meaning of the Temple Mount in Christianity

The Temple Mount is mentioned many times in the Pentateuch, which is the basis of the Old Testament, so this place is sacred to both Jews and Christians.

In addition, according to Christian tradition, the Mother of God was led into the Holy of Holies along the steps from the southern part of the Temple (which have survived to this day). The event of the Entry into the Temple is not mentioned in the canonical Gospels and is known from later texts (Protoevangelium of James (chap. 7.2-3), second half of the 2nd century), which reflect oral tradition, but are supplemented with details from biblical books that have educational significance (1 Par. 15 and Ps. 44), as well as from the gospel story of the Presentation (Luke 2. 22-38).

The parents of the Virgin Mary, righteous Joachim and Anna, when their Daughter reached the age of 3, decided to fulfill the vow they had previously made and dedicate Her to God. Near the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem, young virgins called by Joachim stood with lit lamps. The Blessed Virgin ascended the steps of the Temple, where she was met by the High Priest Zechariah. Having received the revelation, Zechariah led the Mother of God into the Holy of Holies, where the high priest himself could enter only once a year (see: Exodus 30:10; Heb. 9:7). Maria lived and was raised at the Temple until she was 12 years old.

The meaning of the Temple Mount in Islam

Muslims view the Temple Mount as one of the earliest and most notable places of worship for God. In the early stages of Islam, Muhammad taught his followers to face the mountain while praying [ ] .

In the 13th century, Ibn Taymiyyi stated: "Al-Masjid al-Aqsa is the name for the entire place of worship built by Solomon..." which, according to Western tradition, represents "... the place of worship" and is known as Solomon's Temple traditions called the Temple of Suleiman, considered a prophet in Islam). Ibn Taymiyyah also opposed giving any unjustified religious honors to any mosques (even the one in Jerusalem), preventing them from approaching or competing in any way with Islamic shrines - the two holiest mosques - Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca) and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (in Medina).

Muslim interpreters of the Koran agree that the mountain is the site of the Temple, which was subsequently destroyed.

Qubbat al-Sakhra is built in the very center of the Temple Mount, and inside it there is a stone protruding from the ground - this is the top of the mountain, the only part of it that rises above the flat plateau. According to the Koran, this stone is the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into the sky on a winged horse.

Political significance of the Temple Mount

During the periods of Mamluk, Ottoman and British rule of Palestine, Jews were not allowed on the Temple Mount. The British Mandate administration introduced a special body for guardianship of the holy places of Islam on the Temple Mount - WAQF, the so-called Islamic Council, which received de facto authority over the entire territory of the Temple Mount.

Israeli police prohibit Jews from bringing religious objects, such as prayer books, tefillin, tallit and religious literature, onto the Temple Mount. In addition, on the Temple Mount, Jews are prohibited from praying and bowing towards the Holy of Holies. The police justify this ban by fear of disturbances from Muslims.

The unresolved situation around the Temple Mount between Jews and Palestinians leads to constant conflicts.

In September, after many years of excavations and reconstruction, the so-called “Hasmonean tunnel” was opened to the public - a section of an ancient water conduit and street of the Hasmonean-Herodian period, running from the Western Wall square to Via Dolorosa, 300 m west of the Temple Mount and parallel to its western retaining wall. The head of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority (PA), Yasser Arafat, then said that the Israelis were allegedly planning to undermine the foundation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and thus destroy it, making way for their Temple. Serious unrest and armed clashes occurred in Jerusalem and in some areas of the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority, during which the PA police used weapons against Israeli security forces for the first time. Arabs repeatedly threw stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall. During the riots, 15 Israelis and 52 Arabs died.

In the city, WAKF opened a new, third mosque on the Temple Mount, in the so-called Solomon's stables. Large-scale construction work in the dungeons of the Temple Mount led to disruption of the ancient drainage system and other deformations, as a result of which the southern wall of the Temple Mount was in danger of collapse. In 1999-2002 Jordanian engineering services carried out restoration work here, since the Waqf does not want to cooperate with the relevant Israeli services and prohibits any supervision of their work on their part.

From the beginning of the so-called "Second Intifada" ("Intifada al-Aqsa") in September, at the direction of the Israeli government, entry to the Temple Mount for non-Muslims was stopped until the middle of the year, when the situation somewhat normalized. During these years, the Israeli police periodically restricted the access of Muslims to the Temple Mount, both for residents of the autonomy and for other citizens, according to the age limit.

In the winter of 2004, heavy snowfalls and a small earthquake caused the destruction of part of the old Mughrabi bridge, which at the same time served as a wall-enclosure of the southern part of the female half at the Wailing Wall. A Hamas spokesman made a statement that the bridge collapsed because of the desire of the Israeli side to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and promised revenge. In turn, the Israeli side suggested that the cause of the accident was the underground work carried out by the Waqf on the Temple Mount. The 2004 collapse raised concerns that it was only the beginning of the collapses on the Temple Mount. One of the latest conflicts was caused by the decision of the Israeli authorities to build a new pedestrian bridge in the Maghreb Gate area leading to the Temple Mount complex. The construction of the bridge, which began in February 2007, was suspended due to mass protests by Muslims who feared that damage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque could be caused during the construction of the bridge.

Thus, at present, only the religious shrines of Islam are located on the Temple Mount, which is a constant subject of contention between Muslims and Jews, and one of the reasons

The Temple Mount is located in Jerusalem, in the east of the Old City. Its high-walled territory adjoins two quarters at once - Muslim and Jewish, and is controlled exclusively by the Muslim side. The sacred land is the subject of centuries of disputes, military and civil conflicts between Muslims and Jews, who for a long time were not even allowed to set foot on it. Today, the way to the Temple Mount is open, but for non-Muslims - only at the set hours and days of the week, and also subject to certain rules.

Dimensions of the Temple Mount:

• length (east and west) - 470-485 m;
• width (south and north) - 280-313 m;
• absolute height - 774 m;
• relative height - about 20 m;
• the maximum height of the surrounding wall is 45 m.

Temple Mount: meaning

The rectangular area of ​​the hill is a sacred place for Jews, Islamists and Christians.

In Judaism, the Temple Mount is considered God's chosen place and is therefore considered the holiest place on Earth. Here stood the First Temple (Solomon), then the Second Temple (Jerusalem) was built, and after the descent of the Messiah, according to legend, the eternal Third Temple appeared. It is assumed that on the Cornerstone of the mountain the Almighty began the Creation of the world. An altar was erected here, Jacob had a dream here, which made it clear about the “presence of the Lord in this place,” and in the First Temple there was the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies. The concept of the holiness of a place is confirmed by the fact that the Jews turn their gaze to Israel - Jerusalem - the Temple Mount in prayer.

In the prophetic writings there are mentions of other names for the shrine - Mount Moriah, Mount Temple (or House), Mount Zion (until the 1st century, now another hill).

In Islam, the Temple Mount is recognized as the third most important, losing the first two positions to Mecca and Medina located in Saudi Arabia. According to legend, this is one of the first places of worship of Allah. It was from here that the Prophet Muhammad made Miraj - he ascended to heaven along with the angel Gabriel.

For Christians, the Temple Mount is associated with the introduction of 3-year-old Mary, the future Mother of God, into the Holy of Holies, which the high priest could enter only once a year, and with her upbringing in piety at the Jerusalem Temple until she was 12 years old.

Today, only Islamic shrines are present in the fenced area and not a single project of “combining” them with shrines of other religious denominations is even being considered.

Foundation stone

From the point of view of religious ideas, the Foundation Stone is considered the place where God began the process of Creation of the world and where sacrificial rites were subsequently carried out. According to researchers, the Cornerstone originally lay in the Holy of Holies of Solomon's Temple, and later the Muslims covered it with the Dome of the Rock.

Today, the Holy Stone, measuring 17.7 x 13.5 m, rising to a height of up to two meters, is fenced with a gilded lattice to prevent touching and is controlled by Muslims. However, the authenticity of this section of rock is questioned by some researchers, since the first written text of religious instructions of Orthodox Judaism, the Mishnah, mentions a stone rising only three fingers above the surface.

Temple Mount in Jerusalem: Visit

Not all tourists manage to visit the Temple Mount, since access to it is strictly regulated by time, days and religious canons. Today there is strict control at the entrance. Muslims may be asked to recite the most important passages from the Koran by heart, and those who refuse for any reason will be turned away. Immodestly dressed visitors will suffer the same fate. You must have a passport with you, as the requirement to present documents sounds quite often.

Jews are not allowed to take religious paraphernalia, prayer books or holy books with them, and groups of Orthodox Jews walking along the perimeter of the mountain are accompanied by heavy security. They are strictly forbidden to say prayers even by silently moving their lips and to bow while facing the Holy of Holies. For the slightest violation, the entire group is expelled from the territory.

Only Muslims are allowed to enter the Temple Mount mosques.

“Infidels” are allowed to visit the religious-historical complex from Monday to Thursday at certain times:

• in summer - from 08:30 to 11:30 and an hour after 13:30;
• in winter - from 07:30 to 10:30 and an hour after 12:30.

There is no access on Friday and Saturday. There are cases when the gates remain closed during the agreed visiting hours, and without prior notice.

There is no time limit on entry for Muslims.

In each of the walls there are several gates, some of which are walled up. Today there are 11 operating portals, 10 of which are exclusively for Muslims. The Mughrabi Gate, located in the southern third of the Western Wall on the Jewish Quarter side, was opened to non-Muslims in 1967. Since 2016, they have been renamed the Gigel Gate.

Attractions

On the borders of the fenced hill there are more than 100 objects belonging to different historical periods and styles. Buildings from the Herodian and Greco-Roman eras have been preserved here, but the bulk of the structures were erected in Mamluk and Ottoman times. On the Temple Mount there are mosques, monuments of Muslim architecture, including prayer arbors, several fountains, arches, monumental domes, etc.

Temple Mount Mosques

The main objects of the Haram al-Sharif complex of religious buildings are two Islamic sanctuaries - the Qubbat al-Sahra (Dome of the Rock) and Al-Aqsa mosques, which are considered one of the most important Muslim shrines. In the underground premises of Solomon's stables there is also the El Marwan Mosque.

Islamic Museum

The collection is housed in a historic building built by the Crusaders in the 12th century next to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which was converted at that time into the headquarters of the Knights Templar. The museum opened in 1927.

The collection includes exhibits related to the Islamic history of several Muslim regions, unique manuscripts of the Koran, ceramics, bronze items with characteristic coinage, weapons, ceramic tiles, etc.

Story

The first mention of the Temple Mount goes back to the 10th century BC. e. It talks about King David's purchase of a plot of land from a local resident, the construction of an altar to the God of Israel, and Solomon's construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. It stood for 410 years and was destroyed in the 6th century. BC e. Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II as a result of the suppression of the rebellion of the Jewish king Zedekiah against Babylon.

The second temple, which became the center of social and spiritual life of the Jewish people, was built almost 70 years later. It stood for more than 400 years, was reconstructed and expanded by Herod the Great and destroyed by the Romans during the Jewish War in 70. The colonialists erected the Temple of Jupiter on the mountain, and an equestrian statue of Emperor Hadrian was installed above the Holy of Holies.

During the era of Byzantine rule of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount remained unclaimed and littered. With the arrival of the Muslims in the 7th century, the Dome of the Rock was built over the Foundation Stone and the Al-Aqsa Mosque was erected nearby. In 1099, the era of the Crusaders began, liberating Jerusalem from the Islamic presence and using the Dome of the Rock as the basis for the construction of the Temple of the Lord. However, the power of the Templars did not last long, only until 1187. From this time on, a centuries-long period of Muslim rule began.

After World War I, the modern capital of Israel was placed under the patronage of the British Mandate. Thanks to the efforts of the Mufti of Jerusalem, the shrine received the status of a national treasure of the Palestinian Arabs, and in 1948 it came under Jordanian control.

Until 1967, Jews were prohibited from visiting the Temple Mount. Relaxations began after the events of the Six-Day War, when Israeli paratroopers managed to break through to the shrine. Despite the fact that the administration of the territory was transferred to the Islamic Waqf, Jews received partial access to the Temple Mount.

There are several versions regarding the localization of the First and Second Temples. In addition to the traditional assumption about its location under the Dome of the Rock, researchers are developing versions to the west, north and south of the Qubbat al-Sakhra mosque.

Excavations

If we do not take into account the intensified search by the crusaders for the treasures of King Solomon at the beginning of the 12th century, then large-scale excavations on the mountain have never been carried out. Minor archaeological finds are associated with construction work or with random events. In particular, sections of stone retaining walls dating back to the Herodian period were found, as well as several outbuildings, including Solomon's stables. It is assumed that some of the artifacts found are hidden by the VACF or deliberately destroyed, but there is no evidence for this, as well as rebuttals.

In the 19th century, British researchers, with the prior permission of the Ottoman side, excavated along the Western Wall outside the Temple Mount, during which they managed to make several finds, including an ancient stone arch of an ancient bridge. After Israel gained access to the Western Wall in 1967, excavations from the Jewish quarter became systematic. Today, the Western Wall Tunnel is open to the public. The cave found in it, once used as a synagogue in agreement with Muslims, is considered the closest prayer place to the Cornerstone.

How to get to the Temple Mount

Non-Muslims can visit the Temple Mount through the Gigel Gate, formerly the Mughrabi Gate, or the Moroccan Gate. After the partial collapse of the wall supporting the 800-year-old ramp, a temporary pedestrian bridge was added to them from the Jewish Quarter. The closest route here is through the Garbage Gate within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. You can get to them by buses No. 1, 3, 51. The stop is called “Western Wall”. Schemes, stops and transport movements can be viewed online on the official website of the carrier company Egged.

The remaining gates are in the Muslim Quarter. You can get to it by the same buses No. 1, 3, 51. Stops:

• “Rockefeller Muesum/Sultan Suleiman” - at the Flower Gate (or Herod’s Gate);
• "Jericho Road/HaOfel Road" - at the Lion Gate.

When choosing a trip in a Jerusalem taxi, you should keep in mind that white cars go to the Jewish Quarter, and yellow cars go to the Muslim Quarter.

Popular mobile taxi apps operate in the capital of Israel - Uber, Gett, Yango, etc.

Temple Mount: video

Address: Israel, Jerusalem
First mention: 10th century BC e.
Main attractions: Dome of the Rock Mosque, Dome of the Chain, Al-Aqsa Mosque, El Qas Fountain, Dome of the Ascension, Western Wall
Coordinates: 31°46"40.6"N 35°14"06.5"E

In the southeastern part of the Old City of Jerusalem, overlooking the Western Wall Temple Mount - sacred site of three Abrahamic religions.

Bird's eye view of the Temple Mount

It is a rectangular square surrounded by walls, with the golden Dome of the Rock in the center and the Al-Aqsa Mosque at the edge. Biblical traditions identify the Temple Mount with Mount Moriah, on which God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. But as soon as Abraham raised the dagger over the victim, an angel sent by God stopped him.

“You did not withhold your only son for Me, and I bless you and will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore,” the Lord said to Abraham. On the top of the same mountain, during a pestilence, King David saw an angel with a sword stretched out towards Jerusalem, and here he was instructed to build an altar to the Lord. When the sacrifice was made, the plague in the kingdom of Israel ceased.

Wall of Tears

First Temple of Jerusalem

David's son - King Solomon in 967 BC. began to build the House of the Lord on the Temple Mount. 30 thousand Israelis and 150 thousand Phoenicians worked on its construction for 7 years. Their work was supervised by 3.3 thousand supervisors. The consecration of the temple was celebrated for 14 days, and after the priests left, the House of the Lord was filled with shekinah - a cloud personifying the presence of the Most High. In the most sacred part of the Temple, where only the high priest could enter and only once a year, the Ark of the Covenant was kept - a casket with the tablets of Moses. The Jerusalem Temple became the place of worship for all Jews and a symbol of the unification of the Kingdom of Israel. In 586 BC. The Babylonians burned the sanctuary, and King Nebuchadnezzar took all the treasures from the House of the Lord to Babylon.

Dome of the Rock Mosque

Second Temple and Western Wall

Returning from Babylonian captivity (536 BC), the Jews erected the Second Temple of Jerusalem. In the 18th year of his reign (c. 20 BC), King Herod expanded the area of ​​the Temple Mount by erecting powerful retaining walls around it, rising to a height of about 30 meters above street level. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, but a small fragment of the fortifications - the Western Wall, or Western Wall - has survived to this day.

Today, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world gather near the wall and, placing notes in the cracks between the stones, ask God to fulfill their hopes and aspirations. For the Jewish people The Wailing Wall is a symbol of grief over the fate of the First and Second Temples and a dream of the Third Temple. For many centuries, the Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Arabs and Turks expelled Jews from their lands. Once a year, on the Ninth of Av - a day of national mourning for the destroyed temples - Jews were allowed to visit Jerusalem, and at the Western Wall the Israeli people prayed for return from eternal exile.

Dome of the Chain against the backdrop of the Dome of the Rock Mosque

Dome of the Rock Mosque

On the site of the First and Second Temples in 687-691. Muslims erected the Qubbat al-Sakhra mosque ("Dome of the Rock") to emphasize their power and holiness over the Jews. According to legend, the Dome marks the spot on the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Riding a winged horse, accompanied by angels, he made a night migration from Mecca to Jerusalem, and so quickly that the water did not have time to pour out of the overturned bowl. Also, according to Jewish tradition, it was from this rock that the Lord began the Creation of the world. The Foundation Stone, in the middle of which rises a small rock, is considered sacred and is surrounded by a gilded lattice so that no one touches it. In addition to the sacred meaning, The Dome of the Rock is one of the greatest examples of early Islamic architecture. Qubbat al-Sakhru is crowned by a huge golden dome with a crescent moon on top. The walls, vaults and arches of the temple are decorated with magnificent mosaics with floral, geometric patterns and inscriptions made in Arabic script. The mosque houses sacred relics - a foot print and three hairs from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad.

Al Aqsa Mosque

Al-Aqsa - the first qibla of Muslims

Next to the Dome of the Rock is the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also called the Mara Mosque in honor of its founder, Caliph Umar (634 - 644). The gray lead dome of Al-Aqsa is more modest than the golden dome of Qubbat al-Sakhra, but this particular mosque is the third most important shrine in Islam after Mecca and Medina. At the site of the Omar Mosque, Muhammad, during his night ascension to Mecca, met all the prophets sent before him and prayed with them as an imam. At the early stage of Muhammad's prophecy (610 - 623), Al-Aqsa was the first qibla - a landmark to which Muslims around the world turned their faces during prayer. Later, this status passed to the Sacred Mosque in Mecca.

El Cas Fountain

Third Temple

According to the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, the Antichrist will build the Third Temple on the Temple Mount and resume services there. And then Jesus Christ will appear on Earth to carry out the Last Judgment of the dead and the living. However, Judaism does not recognize the idea of ​​the Second Coming and believes that the Messiah - a descendant of King David - will be sent to Earth by God when people begin to live according to the laws of the Torah, in peace and harmony. The new king will erect the Third Temple, which will become the spiritual center of the Jews and all humanity.

Today the Temple Mount is located within the boundaries of the Old City of Jerusalem. In Judaism, this place is considered the holiest on earth, because. The Temple is the “gateway of Heaven” where G‑d establishes communication with people. According to the sages, the name "Moriah" comes from the word "oraa"- teaching, instruction, or from "ir"a"- awe of Heaven; another explanation: from the word "pestilence"- myrrh, one of the incense ( see Rashi on Bereshit 22:2; Brachot, l.35B). The point of greatest concentration of holiness of the Temple Mount is Foundation stone Universe - Even HaShtiya , with which it began. After the construction of the Temple, it was placed on the cornerstone, which was located in a special room - Holy of Holies, where only the High Priest could enter and only once a year - on. The cornerstone today is located inside the golden "Dome of the Rock" built by the Muslims.

Mount Moriah before the construction of the Temple

After he committed the sin of violating G-d’s prohibition to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and was expelled from Gan Eden, he again found himself on Mount Moriah, “since the gates of the Garden of Eden are located near it” ( Pirkei Derabi Eliezer 20; Shoher tov 92). The Midrash relates that on the first evening of his life, when Adam saw that darkness was coming, he was afraid and said: “Woe is me! This is because I have sinned!” All night Adam and his wife fasted and cried, and in the morning, when it dawned again, Adam thanked the Creator and, having built an altar on Mount Moriah, sacrificed a bull to Him ( Avodah zara 8a). From that day on, Adam fasted for seven weeks, beseeching the Almighty to accept his repentance, and was forgiven ( Pirkei Derabi Eliezer 20).

At the same place, Cain and Ebel offered their thanksgiving sacrifices, as well as after he and his family left Noah’s Ark.

Before his death, Noah divided the land between his three sons. The country in which Mount Moriah is located was given to the son ( Rashi, Bereshit 12:6, Siftei Hachamim).

Subsequently, the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina was built on the ruins of Jerusalem, and a pagan temple was erected on the site of the Temple on the Temple Mount.

After the fall of Rome, during the Byzantine Empire, in order to erase the memory of the Temple, a huge garbage dump was built here, and a Christian church was erected in the southern part of the mountain. The Jews were expelled from Jerusalem for more than 500 years.

IN 4398 (638) Muslims, led by Caliph Omar, conquered Jerusalem and cleared the Temple Mount. They declared this place their shrine (“the cornerstone” - the one from which, in their opinion, the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven) and in 4451 (691) built around the stone “The Dome over the Rock” - Kipat HaSela- the now well-known building with a golden dome. One of the main Muslim mosques, the Al-Aqsa Mosque (in 4473 / 713).

IN 4859 (1099) Jerusalem was conquered by the Crusaders. They killed the Jews, but did not touch the Temple Mount. They made the Al-Aqsa Mosque their residence, and the “Dome of the Rock” was chosen by the knightly order of the Templars.

In the 12th century, Sultan Salah ad-Din (Saladin) recaptured Jerusalem and expelled the Christians.

As a result of the Sixth Crusade, the Temple Mount was again in Christian hands for forty-five years ( 5059-5104 / 1299-1344/).

The Mamluks came after them and ruled until 5277 (1517) year. Then the Turks took possession of the Land of Israel for four hundred years. At the end of the First World War, they transferred all their powers in Eretz Israel to the British, and starting from 5708 (1948) The Temple Mount was in the hands of Jordan until the liberation of the Old City by the Israeli army in 5727 (1967) during . Currently, the Temple Mount is under the authority of the Palestinian Authority.

Construction of the Third Temple

Jewish prophets and sages say that in the future, with the arrival of a king from the house of David, the Third Temple will be rebuilt, which will never be destroyed. Not only Jews, but also the peoples of the world recognize the authority of the One G-d over themselves, and no one would think of considering the Temple Mount as a place intended for something else. The thoughts of all mankind will rush to the Temple with prayers of gratitude.

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The Temple Mount (in Hebrew, har ha-Bayit - literally "mountain of the House") is a rectangular square overlooking the rest of the Old City of Jerusalem. Its name is mentioned in the book of the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 2:2: “At the end of days the mountain of the house of God will be established above the mountains, and will rise above the hills, and all nations will rush to it.”

If Jerusalem as a whole is considered a holy city for three religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam (listed in order of occurrence), then the Temple Mount in particular represents the epicenter of the conflict between these faiths.

In recent decades, however, we have heard less and less about the participation of Christians in this conflict. Their demographic share in the population of Jerusalem and the entire Country of Israel is steadily falling, but Jews and Muslims, although they occasionally try to come to an agreement with each other, are no longer engaged in cooperation, but in competition, with no end in sight.

The latest (to date, but certainly not absolutely last) round of conflict involves the installation and dismantling of metal detector frames at the entrance to the Temple Mount after three Muslim Arabs from Umm al-Fahm with Israeli citizenship committed suicide on July 14. there was a terrorist attack that cost the lives of two Israeli Druze policemen.

To even simply list all the previous rounds of interreligious and interethnic confrontation on the Temple Mount would require a book format. Here we will only try to indicate the most important milestones in the history of this area.

Jews

Jews consider the Temple Mount the holiest place on Earth. On its territory there was the First and then the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Here, according to Jewish tradition, the Third Temple will stand. Religious Jews around the world face Israel when they pray, Jews in Israel face Jerusalem, and Jews in Jerusalem face the Temple Mount.

Even before the construction of temples on this site, according to Jewish tradition, the following events occurred:

1. God created the first man - Adam.

2. Adam made a sacrifice to God.

3. Cain and Abel built an altar and offered sacrifices here.

4. Noah (Noah) made a sacrifice after leaving the ark.

5. Abraham prepared his son Isaac (Isaac) as a sacrifice to God.

Christians

According to Christian tradition, the Virgin Mary was led into the Holy of Holies by steps from the southern part of the Temple (which remain to this day). The parents of the Virgin Mary, the righteous Joachim and Anna, when their daughter reached the age of 3, decided to fulfill the vow they had previously made - to dedicate her to God.

Near the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem, young virgins called by Joachim stood with lit lamps. The Blessed Virgin ascended the steps of the Temple, where she was met by the High Priest Zechariah. Maria lived and was raised at the Temple until she was 12 years old.

Muslims

Currently, on the territory of the Temple Mount there are Muslim places of worship: the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock Mosque (Kubbat al-Sahra). Islam considers this place the third holiest after Mecca and Medina, located in Saudi Arabia.

The Dome of the Rock Mosque is built in the very center of the Temple Mount. Inside it is a stone protruding from the ground - the only part of the mountain that rises above a flat plateau. According to the Koran, this stone is the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into the sky on a winged horse.

The role of the Temple Mount in Islam will be covered in more detail below, as we move in chronological order.

How the Temple Mount was built

According to the Tanakh, King David bought a piece of land where the Jerusalem Temple was later built from the Jebusite Orna (Aravna). Money for

The purchase of this plot was collected from each of the tribes of Israel. At this place, David erected an altar to God, and the son of David and his heir to the throne, Solomon, built the First Temple. From 825 to 422 BC The temple was a place of exaltation of the one God. The supreme court and legislative center were also located here. A daily service with sacrifices was held in the Temple, and three times a year during the holidays, all male Jews were required to come here.

The first Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar during the suppression of the uprising of the last Jewish king - Tzidkiyahu (Zedekiah) against Babylon.

In 368 BC, after the return of the Jews to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, the construction of the Second Temple began on this site. Construction lasted about four years. Then the Temple was consecrated and became the spiritual, social, legislative and judicial center of the Jewish people. This structure existed until the First Jewish War - 70 AD. e., when it was destroyed and burned by the Romans under the leadership of Titus.

To this day, along the western and southern walls you can see huge stones left there after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans. Archaeologists also discovered stone railings from the balcony, from which trumpets were blown, announcing the onset of Saturdays and holidays. Part of the inscription “to the place of blowing” has been preserved on the railing.

In 130, Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina on the ruins of Jerusalem. In the new city, on the site of the Temple, a sanctuary dedicated to Jupiter was erected, and on the very spot where the Holy of Holies had once been located, an equestrian statue of Hadrian was erected.

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A new Jewish revolt broke out under the leadership of Bar Kochba, lasting from 132 to 136. The rebel Jews managed to recapture Jerusalem for three years and even build a “temporary Temple”, but in the summer of 135 the uprising was suppressed and the Romans recaptured the city. Hadrian issued a decree prohibiting all circumcised persons from entering the city.

In 361, Julian ascended the throne of the Roman Empire. He announced freedom of worship in the territory under his control and even announced a plan for the restoration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. From May 19 to May 26, his project was already being implemented, but work was stopped due to a fire, the causes of which are not fully understood. A month later, Julian fell in battle, and his place was taken by the commander Jovian, who put an end to all the plans of his predecessor.

During the Byzantine period, the Temple Mount was abandoned. A city dump was built under its walls.

How the Al-Aqsa Mosque came to be

In 638, Palestine was captured by the Arabs. Their leader, Caliph Omar, visited Jerusalem and prayed on the Temple Mount. In 687-691, by order of his successor Abdul al-Malik, the Dome of the Rock with a gilded roof was erected over the foundation stone, where the Holy of Holies had been located before the destruction of the Temple. Al-Aqsa Mosque was built by Muslims in the southern part of the Temple Mount. It was originally a wooden building, the construction of which dates back to no later than 679. The mosque was rebuilt at least 5 times. The stone building, which has survived to this day, was built in 1035.

Muslims view the Temple Mount as one of the earliest and most notable places of worship for God. In the 13th century, Islamic theologian Ibn Taymiyyah stated: “Al-Aqsa is the name for the entire place of worship built by Suleiman (Solomon).”

Ibn Taymiyyah opposed giving any unjustified religious honors to any mosques (even the one in Jerusalem), without giving them the opportunity to approach or compete in any way with the two holiest mosques - Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca) and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (in Medina).

Temple Mount during the Crusader era

Next, the Christians return to the stage. In 1099, the First Crusade reached its goal - Jerusalem. As a result of a bloody battle with Muslims, the city came under the rule of the Crusaders. The Crusaders turned the Dome of the Rock into the Temple of God and the Al-Aqsa Mosque into Solomon's Temple. The Dome of the Rock, with a cross mounted on its golden roof, became the symbol of the Kingdom of Jerusalem founded by the Crusaders.

On July 4, 1187, Muslims led by Salah ad-Din (aka Saladin) defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin. All the churches in the city, except the Church of the Resurrection, were converted into mosques.

Temple Mount under Turkish rule

In the 13th century, power passed into the hands of the Mamluks, Muslims of non-Arab origin. They built arched structures on the Temple Mount surrounding the Dome of the Rock. The Mamluks made gates in the walls through which believers could climb the Temple Mount.

In the 16th-20th centuries, the Land of Israel was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Under the leadership of Suleiman I the Magnificent, grandiose construction began in Jerusalem. The walls of the city were rebuilt, including the walls of the Temple Mount.

During the periods of Mamluk and Ottoman rule of Palestine, Jews were not allowed on the Temple Mount.

British Mandate years

During the First World War, Jerusalem came under British rule. The British Mandate administration introduced a special body for guardianship of the holy places of Islam on the Temple Mount - the Waqf, also known as the Islamic Council, which received actual authority over the entire territory of the Temple Mount.

At the instigation of the then Mufti of Jerusalem Amin al-Husseini, who actively participated in the organization of Jewish pogroms in 1929 and collaborated with the Third Reich, the Temple Mount was declared a national symbol of the Palestinian Arabs.

Temple Mount after the establishment of the State of Israel

In 1948, the Temple Mount came under the rule of Transjordan (Jordan). In 1951, the first king of Jordan, Abdullah ibn Hussein, was assassinated on the threshold of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Arab extremists. During renovations between 1958 and 1964, Al-Aqsa's gray lead dome was replaced with a gilded aluminum dome, giving the Temple Mount its modern appearance.

At the end of the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, the Temple Mount, along with all of East Jerusalem, came under the control of Transjordan. Until 1967, Jews were barred not only from the Temple Mount, but also from the Wailing Wall, in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement reached at the end of the War of Independence.

As a result of the Six Day War, the Temple Mount was captured by an Israeli landing brigade under the command of Mordechai Gur, who radioed: "The Temple Mount is in our hands!" However, soon, by order of Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, the blue and white flag was lowered and control of the Temple Mount was returned to the WAKF.

Since 1967, access to the Temple Mount has been open to everyone on the allotted days and hours. The Israeli police prohibit Jews from bringing religious objects to the mountain, in particular prayer books, tefillin, tallit and religious literature. Jews on the Temple Mount are prohibited from praying or even bowing towards the Holy of Holies.

The current state of the Arab-Israeli conflict on the Temple Mount

In September 1996, after many years of excavations and reconstruction, the so-called “Hasmonean tunnel” was opened to the public - a section of an ancient water conduit and street of the Hasmonean-Herodian period, running from the Western Wall square to Via Dolorosa, 300 meters west of the Temple. mountain and parallel to its western retaining wall. PA leader Yasser Arafat then said that the Israelis were allegedly planning to undermine the foundation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and thus destroy it, making way for their Temple. Serious unrest and armed clashes occurred in Jerusalem and in some areas of the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority, during which the PA police used weapons against Israeli security forces for the first time. Arabs repeatedly threw stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall. During the riots, 15 Israelis and 52 Arabs died.

In 1998, the Waqf opened its third mosque on the Temple Mount, in the so-called Solomon's stables. Large-scale construction work in the dungeons of the Temple Mount led to disruption of the ancient drainage system and other deformations, as a result of which the southern wall of the Temple Mount was in danger of collapse. In 1999-2002 Jordanian engineering services carried out restoration work here, since the Waqf does not want to cooperate with the relevant Israeli services and prohibits any supervision of their work on their part.

Since the beginning of the Second Intifada (Al-Aqsa Intifada), which broke out after Ariel Sharon's ascent to the Temple Mount in September 2000, entry to the mount for non-Muslims was stopped at the direction of the Israeli government until mid-2003, when the situation somewhat returned to normal.

In the winter of 2004, heavy snowfalls and a small earthquake caused the destruction of part of the old Mugrabi Bridge, which simultaneously served as a fencing wall for the southern part of the women's half of the Western Wall. A Hamas spokesman made a statement that the bridge collapsed because of the Israeli desire to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and promised revenge. In turn, the Israeli side suggested that the cause of the accident was the underground work carried out by the Waqf on the Temple Mount.

One of the latest conflicts was caused by the decision of the Israeli authorities to build a new pedestrian bridge in the Maghreb Gate area leading to the Temple Mount complex. Construction of the bridge, which began in February 2007, was suspended due to widespread protests by Muslims who feared that the Al-Aqsa Mosque could be damaged during the construction of the bridge.

Experts on the conflict in the summer of 2017

Says orientalist, doctoral student at the University of Paris, and activist of the Regional Forum for Achieving a Settlement in Jerusalem, Eran Tsidkiyahu: “The Temple Mount concentrates the ancient Muslim myth of Salah ad-Din and the modern national narrative of the Palestinian people. In the eyes of Muslims, the Zionists look like the crusaders of our days, from which - on a purely instinctive level - it is necessary to protect Al-Aqsa and other Islamic shrines. Even for those Muslims who do not practice religious cults and treat Mohammedanism rather nominally, these shrines and the Temple Mount that houses them represent an ethnic symbol. This trend has existed for about 120 years since the beginning of political Zionism, and after the Six Day War and subsequent clashes in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, it continues to intensify."

Says Dr. Daniela Talmon-Geller of the Department of Middle East Studies at Beersheba University: "The roots of the conflict lie deep in Muslim history. There is evidence that at the dawn of Islam, its adherents prayed facing Jerusalem (El-Quds), and only then did they change direction in favor of Mecca. And yet the main shrine of this religion remained Mecca. This is proved by the fact that the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca is considered obligatory, and to Jerusalem only desirable. As for metal detectors, they themselves are not for Muslims interfere and do not desecrate any sanctity of the mosques. They are irritated by Israeli sovereignty as such."