Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Synagogue opened in Western Wall tunnels complex

TEMPLE MOUNT WATCH (SUBTERRANEAN EDITION): NEW WESTERN WALL TUNNELS SYNAGOGUE OPENED. The synagogue is deep inside the complex and is adjacent to the area above which the ancient Jewish temples on the Temple Mount stood, and the inner sanctum of the Holy of Holies in particular (Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem Post).

This news is not playing well in some circles: Israel unveils new synagogue in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa (Middle East Monitor).

The MEMO article appears to deny any Jewish connection to the Western Wall (the "Al-Buraq Wall"). In actuality, the Western Wall was part of the retaining wall for the Herodian Temple. In Islamic tradition, it is also where the Prophet Muhammad tied his celestial steed Al-Buraq during his visionary visit to Jerusalem and heavenly ascent (Al-Miraj). Some more background on that is here and links.

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