Saturday, August 9, 2008

Tisha B'Av today

Tonight and tomorrow is Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, the saddest of days in the Hebrew calendar, a day of fasting and mourning. Both the First Temple (833-423 B.C.E.) and the Second Temple (349 B.C.E.-69 C.E.) were destroyed on this date.
You can see how big and magnificent the Temple Mount was in the model below. Please click to enlarge the photo.
This famous model on a scale of 1:50 shows the Second Temple and the city of Jerusalem in the year 66 C.E. The Jewish Revolt against the Romans had not yet begun.
The model was recently moved from the former Holyland Hotel to the Israel Museum. The white dome at the top of the photo is the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on view. The building on the far left is the Knesset.


More about the model here and here. A short and interesting summary of Tisha B'Av is here at the Chabad website. The Reform Jewish perspective can be found on the fine Velveteen Rabbi blog. Many other ideas about Tisha B'Av here, presented by the Orthodox Union.

I will post more tomorrow, God willing, here at Jerusalem Hills about tonight's reading of Lamentations. I myself do not fast on this day and am not in favor of building an actual Third Temple. I do observe the day in my own way.

14 comments:

  1. The models are so interesting-and truly amazing when you really think about it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. so fascinating, I love reading your posts about the HOLY land! I have always wanted to visit, guess I've said that before. It makes so real what I read in the bible.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love your posts like these. Thank you so much for sharing so many things about your country and its history!

    ReplyDelete
  4. the remains do have an air of magnificence about them

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW, those models looks really detailed!

    ReplyDelete
  6. These are really incredible models. It's amazing to see just how huge and magnificent the temples were. Have a peaceful, reflective day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your visit and kind comment Dina.

    Wonderful model of the Mount Temple! It's very big. I had already known about the history of the first and second temple. You may know Cyrus (known as Messiah in the Bible) who granted Jews to come back to Jerusalem after the first destruction of the temple and reconstruct it. He is really a pride for Persians.

    Dina, I have heard that Israel is going to destruct the Aqsa mosque to build a new temple (the third one) on it, is it right?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dina, I forgot to say that yes, I'll move to Portland on September 19. Then I will run a new photo blog of Portland, Oregon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good report. Thanks for share.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just love looking at the photos from your country!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks friends. Yes, a lot of research went into the model in the 1960s. Ancient sources and also recent archaeology.

    Meead--no no no!! Don't believe it. Israel would NEVER tear down El Aksa Mosque. Only a few zealots have the idea of rebuilding a Temple, starting animal sacrifices again, having high priests in Biblical clothes running it. I would say they are the fringe. Please don't worry, it won't happen.
    Yes, much good it written about your Cyrus the Great in the Bible, e.g. in the first chapter of Ezra. In Hebrew we call him Koresh.
    Sorry we will be losing you as our blogger in Iran, but if Portland calls I guess you gotta go. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How amazing it must have been. Thank you again for the education. I love your posts.
    *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  13. That model is amazing!

    And I find it curious that both the first and second temples were destroyed on the same date.

    ReplyDelete
  14. An amazing city, thank you for sharing this. I'm speechless.

    ReplyDelete


Thanks for your comment!
Comment moderation is on so I will see any new comments even on older posts!