Holy Sights

2nd Holy Sight - Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Hebron)

To visit Hebron is to steep yourself in Jewish history as you walk in the footsteps of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joshua, King David and the Maccabees. The gigantic Tomb of Patriarchs and Matriarchs contributes to Jewish history and tradititon - it's walls date back at least 2,000 years. This tomb, and Jewish presence in the city throughout many centuries, gave Hebron the status of one of the “four holy cities” of the Land of Israel.

1st Holy sight - Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)

A gloriously beautiful shrine, built in A.D. 691, covers the rock believed to have been the altar or foundation stone of the First and Second Temples. According to Jewish tradition, the rock was the altar upon which Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. The rock is also believed to have been the point from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended to glimpse heaven during the miraculous night journey described in the 17th Sura of the Koran.

3rd Holy Sight- Western Wall (Jerusalem)

The Western Wall in Jerusalem is the holiest of Jewish sites, sacred because it is a remnant of the wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple. It has also been called the "Wailing Wall" by observers because for centuries Jews have gathered here to mourn the loss of their temple. The Western Wall Plaza, the large open area that faces the Western Wall, is used as an open-air sunagogue that can accommodate tens of thousands of worshipers. Prayers take place here day and night, and special services are held here as well.

According to the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, construction of the walls took 11 years, during which time it rained in Jerusalem only at night so as not to interfere with the workers' progress. At the beginnging of the 16th century, the wall became the Jewish place of pilgrimage, where they came to mourn the destruction of the Temple. At the prayer section of the Western Wall, grass grows out of the upper cracks. The lower cracks of blocks have been stuffed with bits of paper containing written prayers. Orthodox Jews can be seen standing at the wall, chanting and swaying. Some Jews visit the wall daily to recite the entire Book of Psalms. The Western Wall is a sacred place for not only Jewish peope, but all peopl. Visitors of all religions are welcome to approach the wall, pray silently and in the history surrounding the holy site.