Western Wall Passes Annual Health Check
September 8, 2012 2 Comments
Ahead of Judaism’s High Holy Days when hundreds of thousands will visit the holy site, engineers inspect Western Wall to ensure stability • Office of the rabbi of the Western Wall confirms that site is safe and ready to receive the faithful.
A team of engineers closely examined Jerusalem’s Western Wall — a remnant of the ancient Temple destroyed in 70 C.E. — on Tuesday. The inspection is carried out annually to the check stability of the site ahead of the High Holy Days.
With less than two weeks to go before the Jewish New Year and the start of the most important days in Judaism ahead of Yom Kippur, when hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the site, engineers examined the ancient stones.
The office of the rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, said there were no abnormal findings in Tuesday’s test. Tests in previous years have uncovered stones damaged by bad weather, but no problems were found this year.
In 2003 an engineering survey of the Western Wall was undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority which mapped the stones in the wall and physical problems, and undertook to monitor the state of the wall’s preservation. A survey by engineers in 2009 spotted detached building material and found that stones in the upper courses of the wall were in danger of falling. Conservation efforts were undertaken to remove hazards and stabilize the original stones. The wall was stabilized and annual maintenance is now carried out to monitor the situation.
Source: Israel Hayom
About Fr Stephen Smuts
Indeed what real Christian cannot but love this great “Western” Jewish Temple Wall! I have been there many times myself! One day “Christ Jesus” will touch down on that area: “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.” (Zech. 14:4, ESV)
‘No amount of “poetical imagery” can rob this plain statement of the yet future literal interpretation of this prophecy.’ Indeed between the northern and southern half of Olivet. ‘The “Possession Of The City” lies parallel with the “Very Great Valley” of Zech. 14. 4,5; which valley probably will form the Southern boundary of the City.’ (See too, Ezekiel chapters 40-48; Genesis 15: 18 yet awaits fulfilment!) Note too, Acts 1:10-12! (Matt. 24: 12-20, etc.)
Yes, I love this stuff!
The fulfilment of the Word of God, itself!
And for those of us that believe in the historical-grammatical approach, fully, we will die…believing God’s Word! Certainly, we don’t have all the answers, but GOD In Christ does! And right now, HE sits on the Throne of God above! (Heb. 1:3) But HE will come again into time & history, if not only to end and fulfill it! ‘Come Lord Jesus’!
*And the Covenant and Salvation History cannot end without God’s National People “Israel”! (Rom. 11: 28-29)