The Western Wall

Introduction

Begin by reviewing the history of the Temple. Solomon built it. It was destroyed by the Babylonians. Zerubbabel and others helped to rebuild it. Herod then redesigned it.

Main Activity

Despite its enormous dimensions, Herod's Temple did not survive long. In 70 CE, the people of Jerusalem rebelled against Roman rule. The Romans avenged this rebellion in a very destructive and cruel manner. They killed thousands of people and reduced the Temple to rubble.

Share with pupils this famous Roman frieze showing the Roman soldiers making off with the Temple goods: go to faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/art105/f03/art105-3.html and select the first link in the text - Solomon's (and Herod's) Temple, for the image rome_inttitus.jpg.

This is how the French artist, Poussin depicted the scene: www.wga.hu/html/p/poussin/2a/20temple.html

Today, all that is left of Herod's Temple is one wall which was part of the foundations of the Temple Mount. It is known as the Western Wall or the Kotel.

Go to www.aish.com/wallcam/default.asp to see live pictures of the Kotel.

The following site has a lot of excellent resources, including a webcam on the Wall. However, users must register before viewing the live images
english.thekotel.org

You will also find pictures of the Kotel at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall

People from all over the world come to visit the Western wall and to say prayers in front of it. Some people write their prayers on pieces of paper and put them into the gaps between the stones in the wall.

Many people pray that the Temple will be rebuilt again. Many other people strongly oppose any prayers or plans to rebuild the Temple, as where it used to stand is now the site for one of the world's most important mosques. This mosque includes a building in its grounds known as the Dome of the Rock that was built over the exact spot where the holiest place in the Temple was situated. Show images:

Aerial view
www.landesmuseum.de/sonder/2005/Flug%20Vergangenheit/tempelberg_i.jpg
[From: www.landesmuseum.de/sonder/2005/Flug%20Vergangenheit/flug_vergangenheit.htm]

Exterior view
www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/israel/images/dome-rock-500.jpg
[From: sacredsites.com/middle_east/israel/jerusalem.html]

For an interior view, with ‘rock’ in foreground, choose Interior, Dome of the Rock from www.myeport.com/published/u/hs/uhse002/slideshow/29/index5.shtml

For hundreds of years, the presence of this mosque has been the cause of much argument and violence between Jewish and Muslim people.

Following discussion, children could:

• explain the reasons for the conflict between Jews and Muslims over the Temple site.
• write a prayer that might be placed in the wall by a Jewish person.
• talk / write about a historical site that has special significance for them.
• explain why the Western Wall is a popular site for Bar Mitzvahs.

Extension

Find out about Muslim claims on the Temple Mount

Plenary

Complete the Temple timeline.