Jerusalem's Old City

Places in Israel Rabbi Barnea Selavan Jerusalem’s Old City f you remember the fear of May- Hinnom Valley, lit at night, with built just after the Old City’s fall; June 1967 as Nasser roused the benches. As you walk, look left and Schindler’s grave across the street, Cairo masses; if you were ever identify the Herodian water aque- and the Hinom Valley overlook path. Icareful of Jordanian snipers walking duct visible on the hillside, with one in Jerusalem; if you ever craned your collapsed section - the channel is set Lesser-known, is the walking path neck on David’s Tomb rooftop to see amidst the ancient concrete structure hugging the walls… the Kotel’s top course; if you were one surrounding it. The walkway ends Passing the parking lot, on the right- of the 100,000 people there on that below the first Mount Zion parking hand slope is the “Dig Mount Zion” first Shavuot, then you never, ever lot, near Chamber of the Holocaust excavation, revealing First and need a reminder how special Yom and King David’s Tomb; and just Second Temple period structures at Yerushalayim is. To engage the rest of before the cemetery where Oskar the ancient city’s heart (ignore the us, here are lesser-known sites around Schindler’s grave is the only one with Ottoman walls altogether!). Many the Old City’s walls. stones on top of it. periods are represented here, with At the traffic light below the Jaffa Back at the plaza, a different option finds illuminating historical events; Gate ascent, turn right, to the walk- is turning left, past a little rest area and secrets not yet publicized. ing path along the walls. The city provided by Canadian donors, and up Moving onto the sidewalk, look installed upper and lower routes with a staircase towards Zion Gate follow- left into the grassy area. A pipe set ing the walls. The stone marker on explanatory signs and recorded expla- into a low stone wall is an aqueduct the left marks where Shlomi Cohen, nations of the walls and the views. bringing water from past Bethlehem; a young man coming to pray at the Look for the First Temple Wall adja- enabling Herod’s expanded Jerusa- Kotel before his wedding, was mur- cent to the Hasmonean Wall; ancient lem. Continuing down towards Dung dered. Remembering him heightens tombs in the bedrock; and the ‘secret’ Gate, turn left onto the path to see our appreciation of being here now. entrance into Herod’s palace. Allow Second Temple cisterns and ritual 20-40 minutes to the wall’s end Where the city wall bulges out in a baths; one with divided stairs – pre- depending on your interests; more if tower, look carefully at its base. The venting the impure entering from with children, as they have plenty of 250-kilogram bomb, the “conus” touching the purified people exiting room to run around. meant to blast through the wall to let (Sheqalim 8:2). A small open plaza offers several Jewish soldiers in, was clearly ineffec- tive against the thick Ottoman walls. Take the path left overlooking the options. Descending to the roads ancient road with columns on the below leads to the secret tunnel exit It is claimed that the entire July 1948 “Operation Kedem” was a staged ground. Enter the small gate behind that helped soldiers cross safely from the tower to find yourself over that the Mount Zion Hotel position to the decoy to prevent the Irgun and Stern group from capturing the Old City. ancient road. Zion Gate base. The cable car stretch- ing across the valley served the same At Zion Gate, notice the many, many Welcome to sanctified Jerusalem, purpose, between 1949 and 1967; holes; particularly around the shoot- thanks to Israel’s prayers and the access its free museum by speaking to ing slits on the upper level. Entering fighters of 1967. Thank you, G-d, for hotel security. through this gate can only evoke an letting us walk and breathe in Your appreciation of those who fought Holy City, and may we see the Temple At the intersection, one road ascends here; whose dreams were fulfilled 19 rebuilt in peace, in our days. to Jaffa Gate; one crosses the valley years later, which enables us to walk towards Yemin Moshe - Sultan’s in. Let us do that for a minute, orient Pool, right, Cinematheque The- ourselves, and then exit again. ater and open park, left - and left up towards Zion Gate. Cross the street; With the gate to our backs, forward go left and down just below the road. leads towards the Diaspora Yeshiva, Barnea Levi Selavan, an archaeologist A small metal staircase leads onto a King David’s Tomb, Chamber of the and tour guide, is Co-Director of Founda- new unmarked walkway overlooking Holocaust, and the synagogue bravely tion Stone 52 | .

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