ISRAEL 10 2009: Jerusalem with a guide, on foot

1-Outside the Old City's western wall. Behind us and to the right is the Dormition Abbey.

2-Dormition Abbey, Mount Zion. The site, outside the southern City Walls, was given to Kaiser Wilhelm II by the Turkish sultan in 1898. He presented it to the German Catholic Society of the Holy Land. The church was built (1901-10) over the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have fallen asleep for the last time.

3-Dormition belltower, supposedly designed to look like Kaiser Wilhelm—helmet, eyes, mustache.

4-Church of the Dormition, Jesus and the 12 Apostles

5-The Cenacle, room of the Last Supper. Gothic pillars, arches, and windows indicate a room built by Crusaders (early 14th century) on top of a much older structure. The original building was a synagogue, of which three walls still exist. The Crusaders church was destroyed in 1219. The Cenacle was spared, passing to the Friars until 1552. The Ottomans took possession and turned the room into a mosque (note window and mirhab).

6-The mihrab in the Cenacle points in the direction of Mecca.

7-Below the minaret are the windows of the Cenacle. Dormition belltower in background.

8-Church of the Dormition, pilgrims, tourists.

9-Leaving the Basillica, we entered the Old City through Zion Gate and made our way toward the four Sepharadic Synagogues via Mishmerot Hakehuna street. This is the view to the west from Mishmerot Hakehuna.

10-Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue. Four adjoining Sephardic Synagogues are located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. They were built at different times to accommodate the religious needs of the Sephardic community, each congregation practicing a different rite.

11-Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue (early 17th century) stands on the spot of the Beit Midrash of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai, who established the Sanhedrin in Yavneh after destruction of the Second Temple.

12-In the ben Zakai Synagogue

13-A shofar is placed where Elijah the prophet can reach it

14-The middle synagogue, originally a courtyard of the Yohanan Ben Zakai synagogue which could be converted into a sukkah.

15-With community growth in the 18th century, the courtyard was roofed and turned into the Middle Synagogue (it's in the "middle" of the other 3 synagogues).

16-Eliyahu HaNavi Synagogue, oldest of the four. The name was given after an occurrence on Yom Kippur. One more person was needed for the minyan for prayer. An unknown man appeared, the service started, and the man disappeared after the closing prayer. All were sure that he was Elijah the Prophet.

17-Aron Kodesh (Ark), Istanbuli Synagogue

18-The Broad Wall, an ancient wall uncovered in the middle of the old city.

19-The broad wall, location map

20-A street leading down to the Western Wall

21-Same street, further down. Mount of Olives on the horizon.

22-Dome of the Rock—Islamic shrine built over the Foundation Stone (אבן השתייה—holiest spot in Judaism). Completed 691; oldest existing Islamic building in the world.

23-Western Wall and Dome of the Rock. The camera pans right ...

24-The Kotel (Western Wall). Women's section on the right, and the visitor ramp up to the Temple Mount.

25-A Panorama of 3 photos, adding Al Aqsa Mosque on the south (the dome on horizon, right).

26-Al Aqsa

27-Model of the Temple Mount—an artificial platform built by Herod the Great—as it is currently exists.

28-Al Aqsa ("The Farthest Mosque"), the third holiest site in Islam. The prophet Muhammad was transported from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey.

29-Ancient directional sign to the Temple, excavated at Western Wall. "L'bet HaT'kiyah."

30-A 45-minute security queue to Temple Mount

31-Very hot day, very long wait

32-On the Temple Mount, our backs are to Al Aqsa; the Dome of the Rock is straight ahead.

33-Dome of the Rock. Houses the Foundation Stone—the rock upon which the Ark of the Covenant was placed in the First Temple.

34-Hello, God?

35-Dome of the Rock

36-Dome of the Rock

37-Dome of the Rock

38-Dome of the Rock

39-Dome of the Rock

40-Arch detail

41-Mount of Olives from Temple Mount

42-Mount of Olives. Lower left, Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Top right, Church of the Pater Noster, traditional site where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Built by Constantine over a cave (4th century) and partially reconstructed.

43-Seven-domed Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Mount of Olives (1888, Tsar Alexander III).

44-Dome of the Rock, west entry