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The Western Wall: A Magnificent Temple

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The Western Wall: A Magnificent Temple
JP Suozzi
Modern World History
12-13-17
839 Words
The Western Wall
Many years ago, a magnificent temple was built. Built on the foundation of the Temple of Solomon, it would become a symbol to the Jewish people. It was a symbol of how great their faith was and it inspired the people of Jerusalem for many years. It stood on the holiest site in the Jewish faith. Some said that this amazing temple would never be destroyed, it was protected by God himself. They were only partly right. Less than 100 years later, in response to an uprising of the Jews, the Romans swept through destroying everything. Everything, that is, but the Western Wall. God had upheld his promise. The Wall still stands today and is the holiest place in the Jewish faith. It is
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Firstly, it is part of Temple Mount. Temple Mount was a Jewish place of worship. It was a temple built to God and it was here that the Jews offered up their prayers to heaven. Now, the temple is gone and all that is left is the wall. The wall is the new temple. It is here that the Jews offer up their prayers. It is this relation to Temple Mount that makes it sacred. Secondly, it is viewed as a synagogue (Jewish place of worship). In the Jewish faith, a synagogue is to be treated with great reverence. It is treated like it is the home of God and also it is their home. There the Jewish people are together with their brothers and sisters in God. The Wall is treated as even more than a synagogue. It is the fact that the Wall is treated as a synagogue that makes it sacred. Thirdly, the presence of God resides in it. When the Romans descended on Temple Mount, it is said that God’s presence left the temple and now lives in the Wall. The Jews go to the Wall to be closer to God and to have their prayers heard more quickly. It is this “presence” of God that makes it sacred. Lastly, they believe that the Wall is protected by God. The Romans passed by the Western Wall because they did not think it was significant. The Jews believe that this is not the only reason. They believe that when the Romans destroyed the temple, God’s presence left there. His presence then moved to the Wall and his presence protects the wall. It is God’s presence and his protection of the Wall that makes it sacred. All of these things, a synagogue, Temple Mount, and God’s presence make the Western Wall

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