The half marathon was really difficult due to the hills, but it was a beautiful day! We got to run all over Jerusalem including a little bit of the old city. The rocks were hard to run on!!
Sunday, March 23, 2014
The Temple Mount
One of the most iconic
skylines in the world is the view of the Dome of the Rock from the Mount of
Olives. It is an amazing view that takes
your breath away. It was really hazy this day so it wasn't as beautiful as usual.
The Dome of the Rock covers
the rock that is to believed to be the one Abraham was going to sacrifice his
son Issac on. Some Muslims believe he was going to sacrifice
Ishmael. It is also supposed to be the rock
that Mohammed ascended from. It is on
the Temple Mount the place where the 1st and 2nd temple
was and building the 3rd temple is really important to the Jewish
religion and they believe the coming of the Messiah is tied to the building of
the 3rd temple. Right now the
closest many Jews get to the temple mount is the Western Wall or Wailing Wall.
Some Jews believe they can go up to
the mount but just avoid the actual temple courtyard part, others don’t believe
they can go up at all. There is actually
a sign on the entrance saying that it is against Torah law to go up there since
they don’t know where the Holy of Holies was in the first temples and they are
forbidden to step on it.
It is difficult to get on the
Temple Mount. It is under Muslim control
and they are free to enter whenever they want from all gates. Non Muslims can only go through one gate and
it is only open for about an hour a day.
You have to get in line an hour before it opens and they just stop
letting people in when they feel like it so people stand in line for hours and
might not get in. Our tour guide talked
about how it is one way the Muslims try to keep people from coming on the
Mount. There is no cover for the line so if it is really hot or raining or
snowing it is really uncomfortable. You
have to go through security to get into the Wailing Wall area then even more
security going to the Temple Mount. You
are not allowed to have any non Muslim religious symbols on you. You have to be covered from neck to
toes. I had sleeves on to my elbows and
they still made me put on a coat. And it
was HOT. They allow Jews up but hassle
them sometimes. The bridge going up to it collapsed and they built a "temporary" wooden bridge. It has been there for years. The Israeli government wants to build a new bridge but the Muslims won't allow it because they feel it is a way for the Jews to start building the 3rd Temple.
Our guide said we might
encounter some shouting etc, but no real violence. We were there ten minutes when many groups
of Muslims started shouting, chanting, and were generally upset. We looked around to see what caused it and
then we saw Israeli soldiers on the Mounts.
Again, they are allowed to be there but are hassled like the Jews. The soldiers were just visiting like any
other tourist, but they stand out. All
soldiers have to carry their firearms everywhere even if they are going to and
from work so they are all over the busses, streets etc with their weapons.
Although the Dome of the Rock is the highlight for non -Muslims, the Al Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims and it is right next to the Dome. The whole Mount area is like a park and is beautiful when sunny :)
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