Top+Tourist+Attractions

toc =__Research question__=

What are the most popular places in Jerusalem for tourists?

=__Rationale__=

We chose these sites because we live in Jerusalem, and we didn't know much about these places. We wanted to know more details and history about these sites. We see these places filled with tourists every day. We were curious to know what attracted these people to these interesting and special places, so we went and searched for answers.

=__The Kotel__=

Location: The Kotel Ma'aravi (Western Wall) is situated in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is the most hallowed site in Judaism, a place for constant prayer, meditation, and inspiration. Sometimes called the Western Wall, the Wailing Wall, or the Kotel HaMaariv, it is part of the remains of the second Temple in Jerusalem. Over generations, Jews came to pray there, as it was the closest they could come to the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount. [|] When you see the Wall, you aren't just seeing it with your eyes - there is so much more. There are thousands of years and the weight of millions of Jews there. Your eyes may just see giant bricks and people praying, but your heart sees infinitely more. A good photo will somehow remind the heart.

[|] [[[|http://www.jabberwocky.com/photo/pcd1150/tisha-b-av-from-balcony.jpg|]]]on Jewish holidays, thousands come to pray at the Wall. They come in from all directions, their eyes shining, fixed on the weathered stones. They put notes and prayers into the cracks that time has worn between the stones. Now there's a way to connect to God through this holy place. Some say 'The Shechinah never leaves the Western Wall' and a lot of songs were written about it. One of them, called 'Hakotel' has a very meaningful sentence in it: "There are men with hearts of stone and there are stones with human hearts". This line talks about the wars and blood spilled over battles to capture the wall. The Kotel is the only remainder from the second Beit Mikdash (Temple). The first Beit Ha Mikdash was built by King Solomon and stood for 410 years until it was destroyed by the Babylonians. Seventy years later the second Beit Mikdash was built under the guidance of Ezra and according to tradition it stood for 420 years until it was burnt down by Titus and his Roman soldiers. The Beit Mikdash was a unique and sacred structure where people could feel close to God. The Kotel is part of the western supporting wall of the Temple Mount and this wall became a permanent feature in Jewish tradition about 1520CE. From then on, many sources describe it as a place of assembly and prayer for Jews. The lower area near the Kotel is the prayer area, where people pray 24 hours a day 365 days a year. From December 1947 until the third day of the Six Day War, June 7th 1967, Jews were not able to approach the Kotel. After the Six day War the Arab buildings placed against the Kotel were removed and the entire area in front of it was cleared, and converted into a large paved open space. The area was partitioned off; one third is reserved for women and two thirds for men. The Kotel once more became a place of comfort and prayer for Jews from all over the world. On the first day of Shavuot after the Six Day War, a quarter of a million Jews swarmed to the Wall, for the first time in 20 years.

=__The Kotel Tunnels__=

The western wall is the longest wall of the former Temple platform of Herod and stretches nearly 500 meters. Beginning in 1967, archaeologists worked slowly to uncover the base of the entire wall, by constructing the Western Wall Tunnel, an underground passage that runs the entire length of the Wall. This area under the ground was created when King Herod raised the landscape outside the Temple Mount to make access to the Temple, easier. Only a length of 70 meters is visible today, which includes the prayer area. The rest of the wall can only be seen underground in the Kotel tunnels. Upon entering the Kotel Tunnels there is a long high ceilinged corridor which turns eastwards to the Wall. It was built in the early Arab period and served as a secret underground passage. The roof was used to support the Street of the Chain lying above-ground. The arches on the left supported a 12.5 meter broad bridge with an aqueduct in Herod's time which brought water from Solomon's Pools to the Temple. The last arch of the bridge, "Wilson's Arch", is called after the nineteenth century discoverer. Then, we pass through large rooms and finally enter a very long, straight passage. It is known as "The Tunnel," although originally this was an open area along the entire length of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. Great pains were taken to maintain the buildings above in their original form while revealing the full length of the Western Wall. As we walk through, we notice some fascinating details of the Western Wall stones. These stones were set in place in the Herodian period. They were perfectly preserved by remaining underground for thousands of years. Notice each row of stones. Every stone is slightly set back from the stone below it. This gives the viewer the illusion of a perfectly straight wall. If the stones were exactly one on top of the other, the wall would appear to be leaning forward. At some point, a plaster covering was placed over the Herodian stones. A fish-tail pattern was stamped into the plaster, and one can even see signs of ancient graffitti.

Along the way you can see computer models showing the tunnel area during the different periods and one which shows a possible explanation of how the rocks were quarried and lifted to their positions in the Temple walls. Maybe this all sounds like something from the past and totally unconnected to our time. However, the tunnels hit the headlines 12 years ago and here's the story. Until 1987 the only way to leave the tunnel was by retracing steps back to the entrance. Between 1987 and 1996, the Israeli Ministry for Religious Affairs tried several times to open up an exit from the north end of the Tunnel up to ground level, near the Temple Mount. September 24, 1996 approval was granted by the Natanyahu Government, and within an hour-and-a-half the tunnel was connected to the Via Dolorosa in the Old City. The tunnel opening, took place after a lot of discussions and negotiations with the Arab authorities. Even so riots occurred on the Temple Mount, and Muslims threw rocks down on Jews praying at the Western Wall area below. Jewish soldiers were killed by the mob, which included Palestinian Authority police who had been given guns to defend both populations from such violence. Palestinian Arabs were also killed and injured on the Temple Mount.

=__The Israel Museum__=

The Israel Museum was founded in 1965 and is near the Knesset. It has 950,000 visitors a year, A third of these people are tourists and 100,000 are children .It has many new exhibitions and a lot of activities for adults and children. It has four main sections: 1) There is the Art wing with collections of European art, Prints and Drawings, Israeli Art, Modern Art, Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture, Photography, East Asian Art, and The Arts of Africa. There is also an Art Garden where you can walk through the history of twentieth-century sculpture from all around the world. 2) The Judaica wing has four reconstructed synagogues, Jewish manuscripts and collections from Jewish communities around the world – chanukiyot, Torah scrolls, megillot, ketubot, Shabbat candle sticks, cups, and havdala sets, suddirim , machzorim haggadot and lots more. 3) There is the Archeological wing which is concerned with the history of the Land of Israel. The archeology represented in the museum not only deals with Judaism but also relates to Christianity and Islam who all consider Israel as a holy land. The Shrine of the book is an interesting looking white dome shaped building which is two thirds below the ground. In the building are rare megillot that were found in Israel including the Dead Sea Scrolls. 4) The Youth wing is designed for the whole family. There is a library with many English and Hebrew books (but they are not for loan). There is a recycling room for interesting hand on activities, and regular exhibitions designed for children and art classes.

=__The Shuk__=

Machane Yehuda, Jerusalem's main food market which is in Jaffa Road, was not originally called by that name. It was the name of the neighborhood opposite that was established in 1887 with 162 houses. It was originally called the "Bet Yaakov" market place and founded by 3 Jewish partners. The shopkeepers were originally Arabs. During the Ottoman period the market grew but with no plan or order and it was filthy. It was so bad that in the 1920's the British made the shopkeepers leave. The Jewish Community of Jerusalem collected money to build a proper market place. By 1931 it was completed and it's original sign still appears at 2 Hashaked street.

In the lare 1980's it was improved - a roof was added and more stalls were built. Today there is a large variety of stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, fish ,meat, and prepared foods. In the last few years restaurants, cafes and even clothes shops have opened in the shuk. During election time many politicians visit the shuk to speak to the shopkeepers. It is also known to be full of Betar Yerushalyim supporters.

It attracts a lot of tourists because of it's ethnic atmosphere. Jews and Arabs work side by side. There are stalls selling middle eastern spices, Jewish ritual objects, hand made glass beads, and Italian ice cream.

In the last couple of years the local mantas (community centre) has been working together with an Arab social worker to help the Arab children that work in the shuk. The program is headed by a religious Jew who organizes outings and activities, in the matnas, to try to give the Arabs working in the shuk a positive experience.

=__Conclusion__=

When we went to the kotel, the Israel museum, the shuk and the kotel tunnels, we found a lot of interesting information about these places, which we didn’t know before. It's surprising that we have such amazing and interesting places right by our houses and we never knew much about them.

We understood why these places attract so many tourists. The kotel shows us how our Jewish history goes back so far. It is the reason why people live in Jerusalem and why Israel is our homeland. The kotel is the only surviving part of the temple going back thousands of years and is an important part of our religion and history. The kotel tunnels make the whole kotel experience relevant and exciting.

The shuk which is a more recent area – about 80 years old – is a good example of how Jerusalem is a melting pot of cultures. All sorts of different people sell and buy products in the shuk. Ashkenazim and Sephardim; Persians and Tunisians; religious and secular. It gives you a great idea of how Israel is full of different people who live side by side.

The Israel museum is a great example of how much culture we have in Jerusalem. They have a very big selection of paintings, sculpture, furniture, costumes, and Judaica. Tourists come from all over Israel to visit the museum which has the name of being the best museum in Israel.

We learned a lot about the city we live in when we were doing this project. There are still plenty of other things to see in Jerusalem which makes this city so interesting.

=__Bibliography__=

__The Israel Museum Jerusalem__, **<**http://www.imj.org.il/> __I/__ __Museum__, < http://ilmuseums.com/>

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Israel Online Catalog, http://gallery.tourism.gov.il/Pages/Main.aspx?Page.

You tube, [|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld2t88d2td4&mode].

Jabberwocky, http://www.jabberwocky.com/photo/israel/kotel.html.

"Kotel Hama'aravi." __Camp S'dei Chemed International__. 25 Apr 2007 

Thirdtemple, http://www.thirdtemple.com/KotelTunnels/gallery.htm.

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Jewish magazine, http://www.jewishmag.com/36MAG/tunnels/tunnels.htm.