Jewish shrines
Description:
It is interesting that there are not so many Jewish shrines in the Promised Land. We will begin our route in Hebron, the first Jewish holy city in the Land of Israel. Hebron was the first capital of King David. It was from Hebron that he ruled Judea for the first seven years of his reign. However, the history of Hebron is much older.
Approximately eight hundred and fifty years before David, Abraham came here and purchased a plot of land with a cave, in order to later build a family crypt there.
The name of the cave - Makhpela (double) - is most likely related to the two tiers of the cave itself or to the fact that couples are buried in it: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rivka, Jacob and Leia. According to Jewish tradition, Adam and Eve are buried here.
The majestic monumental building dates back more than two thousand years, and scientists argue about who built these walls: Herod, or are they even older?
Jewish tradition holds that Jewish prayer goes to the Creator in heaven from here from the Cave of Mahpel. And since this is so, while we are here, we will certainly ask the Almighty for the hidden.
Having completed the inspection of the ancient complex of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, we will proceed to the border of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where we will visit another great shrine of the Jewish people – the Tomb of the Great Mother of Rachel.
In the Jewish tradition, Rachel has a unique place: the place of the intercessor of the Jewish people, the mother of Jewish sons. The Lord promises to bring the Jewish people back to his country.
Now we will proceed to the Mount of Zion and visit the synagogue, which houses the Tomb of King David. The Tomb of David is a remarkable example of a place of prayer in the Jewish tradition.
Then our way will pass to a unique, one of a kind in the world place. The Institute of the Temple, the Jewish Temple, which once stood on the Temple Mount.
At the end of the day, we will walk up to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, and discuss the history, archaeology and theology of the site and complete our itinerary.