Model of Ancient Jerusalem, Shrine of the Book, Western Wall & Bethlehem

It's Thursday January 25th and we're off to the Israel Museum (click) to see the Shrine of the Book (click) and the Holy Land Model of Jerusalem (click).  We started with the model of Jerusalem which covers an area of 2,000 square meters.  It's quite impressive and gives you a very good idea of Jerusalem and the Temple looked like in the days of Jesus.

Here is a panoramic view of the Temple that Herod the Great had built.
The Temple is just to the left of center, the four towers in the foreground is the Antonia Fortress.

Herod the Great rebuilt and vastly expanded the Second Temple (click). The reconstructed Temple became known as Herod's Temple (click).  Herod also built the Antonia Fortress (click) on the northeaster corner of the Temple Mount at the second wall of the city.

Overview of Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period.

Map of Ancient Jerusalem as depicted in photo above

The Shrine of the Book is the musem which houses and displays the Dead Sea Scrolls (click).
















For the significance of the white dome and the black wall beside it click here.

Excavated street level area at the South West corner of the Temple Mount.
In the back you can see how much higher the existing street lever is today.

We then traveled up to the Temple area and walked in at the Dung Gate at which there was a security check point just like you would experience at an airport.  We first explored the Davidson Centre (click) and the southern Temple wall excavations.

Looking down toward the Wailing Wall

We then continued up to the Western Wall.  The men and women went to separate areas at the wall for a time of prayer!  We then continued into the Western Wall Tunnels (click).

Illustration showing where and the portion of the Wailing Wall
 being used by the Jews today.

We then traveled to Bethlehem. Our guide Doron stayed behind in Jerusalem and an Arab Christian by the name of George took over at the restaurant in Bethlehem. After a nice meal we walked next door to a souvenir shop specializing in olive wood carvings.

The carvings are created by local artisans.  This nativity set costs $25,000 USD and includes shipping to Canada!
I was very careful in touching it!

The Church of the Nativity (click) was followed by a trip to the Shepherd's Fields.

In front of the Church of the Nativity

Church of the Nativity under renovations.

Entering the Shepherd's Fields

After Bethlehem we traveled back to our hotel.  I'm sure I've made many mistakes in this post ....it's 10:30 pm and I feel like it's 3 in the morning!  Shalom.