Solomon's Temple Research Paper
The Four Holy Cities in Jewish tradition are the cities of Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias, and Safed:
1) Jerusalem, Solomon's Temple,
Solomon’s Temple was built in Jerusalem in the 10th century B.C.E by King Solomon. It was built using 3,000 tons of gold and 30,000 tons of silver. Solomon’s Temple is the centre of Israel’s religious and cultural life. The architecture and furniture are described in detail in the Hebrew Bible. According to the Bible, Solomon's Temple was the only place of sacrificial offering to God in both Judah and Israel. The most important room in the temple had no furniture at all, it was called the Holy of Holies and inside it held the Ark of Covenant and the Ten Commandments tablet, which are it’s most famous artefacts. …show more content…
Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians during the Jewish Revolt around 586 B.C. The temple was then rebuilt and named the Second Temple. In 20 BC, King Herod renovated and expanded the Second Temple, which became known as Herod’s temple. It was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, during the siege of Jerusalem. Only a small portion of the retaining wall remains which is known as “The Wailing Wall.”
2) Hebron – Tomb of the Patriarchs
The Tomb of the Patriarchs can be found in Hebron, Israel.
It is the site of several prophet’s tombs. Inside the Tomb of the Patriarchs is the Abraham Mosque, this is the tomb of Abraham. Inside the mosque is a cave which contains the remains of the Prophets and their wives such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebekah and Leah. The tomb contains artefacts almost 4,000 years old, such as pieces of a lamp and a wine jug. Jews believe that the corner of the Tomb of the Patriarchs is the entrance to the Garden of Eden. In Judaism, the Tomb of the Patriarchs is the second most sacred site in the …show more content…
world.
3) Tiberias – Tomb of Maimonides
The Tomb of Maimonides is one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel, and one of Tiberias's most visited tourist attractions. The structure holds the tomb of Maimonides who was the first person to write a code of all Jewish Law which was called the Mishneh Torah, he wrote a special healer’s prayer which people visit the tomb to recite. He also wrote books on medicine and was a leader of a Jewish community. Maimonides died in 1204 and his remains were moved to Tiberias to his tomb. The large metal structure at his tomb symbolizes a crown which shows Jews great respect for him. Maimonides actually believed that the graves of holy men should be unmarked and unvisited.
4) Safed – Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue
The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue was built in the sixteenth century, it was used to pray on the eve of the Sabbath.
The building was destroyed in an earthquake in 1840 but we rebuilt in the same location. The synagogue was run but Rabbi Isaac Luria, better knows as ‘Ari’, who lead prayer etc. and when he died the synagogue was renamed after him. The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue is best known for its colourful Holy ark which contains the Torah scrolls. It may be the oldest synagogue in use in Israel. In the War of Independence in 1948 the synagogue was full of people seeking shelter from the battles, as they were praying the synagogue was hit by lots of shrapnel, there is still holes in the base of the Bimah (podium for Torah
readings).
5) Jerusalem – The Wailing Wall
The Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall, is the only remaining part of the Second Temple built by King Herod. It is part of Temple Mount which is the holiest Jewish site in the world, it is a Jewish belief that the Holy Presence is in the Western Wall, which is why it is very significant. Jews go to mourn the ruin of the Temple and often pray, cry and wedge prayers on paper into the cracks in the stone wall, this is how it got the name - the "Wailing Wall". The Wall is divided into two sections, one for women who have to dress modestly and one for men who have to wear a head cover. The Wailing Wall is also a location that celebrates Jewish celebrations such as the Sabbath, Bar Mitzvah, weddings and Jewish holidays.
1) Jerusalem, Solomon's Temple,
Solomon’s Temple was built in Jerusalem in the 10th century B.C.E by King Solomon. It was built using 3,000 tons of gold and 30,000 tons of silver. Solomon’s Temple is the centre of Israel’s religious and cultural life. The architecture and furniture are described in detail in the Hebrew Bible. According to the Bible, Solomon's Temple was the only place of sacrificial offering to God in both Judah and Israel. The most important room in the temple had no furniture at all, it was called the Holy of Holies and inside it held the Ark of Covenant and the Ten Commandments tablet, which are it’s most famous artefacts. …show more content…
Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians during the Jewish Revolt around 586 B.C. The temple was then rebuilt and named the Second Temple. In 20 BC, King Herod renovated and expanded the Second Temple, which became known as Herod’s temple. It was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, during the siege of Jerusalem. Only a small portion of the retaining wall remains which is known as “The Wailing Wall.”
2) Hebron – Tomb of the Patriarchs
The Tomb of the Patriarchs can be found in Hebron, Israel.
It is the site of several prophet’s tombs. Inside the Tomb of the Patriarchs is the Abraham Mosque, this is the tomb of Abraham. Inside the mosque is a cave which contains the remains of the Prophets and their wives such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebekah and Leah. The tomb contains artefacts almost 4,000 years old, such as pieces of a lamp and a wine jug. Jews believe that the corner of the Tomb of the Patriarchs is the entrance to the Garden of Eden. In Judaism, the Tomb of the Patriarchs is the second most sacred site in the …show more content…
world.
3) Tiberias – Tomb of Maimonides
The Tomb of Maimonides is one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel, and one of Tiberias's most visited tourist attractions. The structure holds the tomb of Maimonides who was the first person to write a code of all Jewish Law which was called the Mishneh Torah, he wrote a special healer’s prayer which people visit the tomb to recite. He also wrote books on medicine and was a leader of a Jewish community. Maimonides died in 1204 and his remains were moved to Tiberias to his tomb. The large metal structure at his tomb symbolizes a crown which shows Jews great respect for him. Maimonides actually believed that the graves of holy men should be unmarked and unvisited.
4) Safed – Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue
The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue was built in the sixteenth century, it was used to pray on the eve of the Sabbath.
The building was destroyed in an earthquake in 1840 but we rebuilt in the same location. The synagogue was run but Rabbi Isaac Luria, better knows as ‘Ari’, who lead prayer etc. and when he died the synagogue was renamed after him. The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue is best known for its colourful Holy ark which contains the Torah scrolls. It may be the oldest synagogue in use in Israel. In the War of Independence in 1948 the synagogue was full of people seeking shelter from the battles, as they were praying the synagogue was hit by lots of shrapnel, there is still holes in the base of the Bimah (podium for Torah
readings).
5) Jerusalem – The Wailing Wall
The Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall, is the only remaining part of the Second Temple built by King Herod. It is part of Temple Mount which is the holiest Jewish site in the world, it is a Jewish belief that the Holy Presence is in the Western Wall, which is why it is very significant. Jews go to mourn the ruin of the Temple and often pray, cry and wedge prayers on paper into the cracks in the stone wall, this is how it got the name - the "Wailing Wall". The Wall is divided into two sections, one for women who have to dress modestly and one for men who have to wear a head cover. The Wailing Wall is also a location that celebrates Jewish celebrations such as the Sabbath, Bar Mitzvah, weddings and Jewish holidays.