THE JEWISH QUARTER

This district has been inhabited by Jews since the time of the first Temple. Since the th century, he has been frequented by rabbis and students from talmudic schools. It was then almost completely destroyed during the 1948 War of Independence. During the occupation of the district by the Jordanian army, most synagogues fell into ruins or razed. It was only after the Six Day War and the reunification of the city in 1967 that the streets and houses were reconstructed and restored. Jewish families settled there or resettled, religious schools (yeshivot) were opened, but also small, more secular cafés. There is even a shaded square (Hurva Square) which gives instead of a village aspect.

It has also been the subject of extensive archaeological excavations and it can be seen, left open, the remains of the walls of the first Temple (it is also possible to visit excavations in some houses in the Jewish neighbourhood: find out about the Tourist Office). Stroll through the Cardo, a colonnades street which was, in Roman then Byzantine then, the main axis crossing the city from north to south, from the current gate of Damascus to the Porte de Sion. The southern portion of the Cardo is open, with its large columns, while the rest is under modern buildings. Shops and galleries, mainly for tourists, have been set up under the arcades.

Of course, you will not miss the Western Wailing or Wall (Wall Wall, or wall, the «Western Wall» in Hebrew), the most sacred place for Jews around the world. At any time of the day and, often, of the night, the faithful come to gather and lay in the interstices of the small papers on which they have expressed their wishes. It is said that the rosée that cover the Wall at dawn are the tears of suffering Hebrew people.

The ordinary term «Wailing Wall» refers to pilgrims who came to mourn the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish people. But, since the creation of the State of Israel, the name «Western Wall» is more correct. This 80 m long pan is actually only part of the western wall of the Temple built by Herod, whose total length hovers 500 m. It was 60 m high, but the upper 20 m were destroyed and the lower 20 m were buried underground. The Kotel extends under the arcades, under the Muslim quarter, and you can go along a tunnel open to the public ten years ago.

Soldiers at the entrances check the bags and, if necessary, remind you of the instructions to follow.

The presence of tourists is tolerated, even in the space reserved for prayer, provided that they have proper attire: Yarmulke is given to men at the entrance.

You will certainly be struck by the religious fervour of the faithful, especially the evening of the shabbat. Beware, it is strictly forbidden to take photos. You can also attend mitzvahs, twice a week, Monday and Thursday morning. Then notice women, who do not have the right to enter the men, who throw candy into the young boy. The ceremonies follow at an incredible pace. We are quickly struck by the social differences marked by the number of people gathered, the presence or not of musicians to open the procession…

Finally, the Jewish quarter also houses several ancient synagogues. The Ben Zakkaï synagogue is in fact a set of four restored sépharades synagogues, today combined into one building. The Ben Zakkaï synagogue itself is the largest of the four. They were built by Sépharades Jews from Spain - from the th century to the oldest, Eliyahu Hanavi, appointed because of the appearance of the prophet Elie. The other two, Emtzaï, the smallest, and Stambouli, which owes their names to Jews of Turkish origin who attended it, date back to the th century. The synagogues at the time not above the neighbouring Arab buildings were built quite deeply in the soil; that has enabled some of them to escape the destruction of 1948. Inside, nothing exceptional, but the visit is interesting from a historical point of view or simply for those who have never entered a synagogue. You will also see some pictures of the Jewish quarter and synagogues before their reconstruction. They are open from Sunday to Thursday, from a. m. to p. m. and Friday until 13 p. m. The visit costs 7 shekels, and kippas are available at the entrance.

The Ramban Synagogue, founded in the th century, was the first place of Jewish worship inside the walls after the crusades.