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The Jewish Quarter
Located just above the Western Wall and westward of the Temple Mount, the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is a fascinating landmark, rich in history and architecture. It is a prime destination whether on a Jewish Heritage tour, a Bar Mitzvah tour, a Bat Mitzvah tour, or even the more kids orientated family tour to Israel.
Destroyed and rebuilt many times over its long history, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem now rests on the ruins of a residential area from the Herodian Era. It is on these ruins that the legendary freedom fighters, the Maccabees, famously resided thousands of centuries ago.
The Jewish Quarter- The Place to Start Your Jewish Heritage Tour
Accessible via two main gates, Zion Gate and Dung Gate (the latter was the gate through which convicted felons, sick and ostracized members of the community were escorted out of the Old City), the Jewish quarter serves as a milestone in any Jewish Heritage tour. A stroll though the Jewish quarter of the Old City is also a perfect way to start off Israel 60th tours.
To avoid the many tourist traps that line the path between the Western Wall and the Jewish quarter, it is advisable to enter the Old City through Zion Gate. However, if vendors selling Arab trinkets and hot bagels are right up your alley, make your way though the Dung Gate into the Jewish quarter.
As you enter the main plaza of the Jewish quarter you will notice a massive arch overhead. This is the last remnant of the Great Synagogue, also known as the Hurva, built in the 16th century and destroyed by the Ottomans soon after. Following and long and troubled history, the Hurva Synagogue is currently being rebuilt.
Two more sights of the Old City of Jerusalem not to be missed on your Jewish Heritage tour are the Synagogue of Elijah the Prophet and the Synagogue of Yohanan Ben-Zakkai. Both synagogues were built underground so as not to stand out in the city landscape at a time in which Jewish monuments were forbidden from being seen. Tucked deep under the surface of the city, these synagogues are over 400 years old and well worth observing up close.
The Jewish Quarter- A Key Destination for A Family Tour to Israel
We all know the importance of combining different activities when on going on a family outing. Luckily the Jewish quarter of the Old City has something for everyone in your family.
Adjacent to the Jewish quarter's main plaza is the Cardo; a broad road resembling a modern-day highway built by the Byzantines in the 4th century AD. Lined with Roman columns and still preserving its grandeur, the Cardo gives those interested in city planning much to think about.
For the little ones, as well as for those less interested in architectural artifacts, the Cardo mall may be the perfect getaway. Constructed under the newly built buildings of the Jewish quarter, the Cardo mall has a selection of Judaica stores, art galleries and restaurants.
The Jewish Quarter- A Must on Your Bar Mitzvah Tour
With scores of synagogues, Yeshivas and Torah Houses the Jewish quarter is the ideal place to begin a Bar Mitzvah tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. The bustling street life alongside the seriousness of Torah studies which go on for long hours inside the Yeshivas is a fascinating and unique facet of the Old City's Jewish quarter. The sound of Yiddish spoken by young children, who encounter Hebrew (the Holy Language) only in their Torah studies, will surely resonate with your thirteen-year old and will serve as a memorable experience.
Even though the Jewish quarter these days is largely renovated, making your way though the quarter's narrow streets all the way to the Southern tip of the Cardo will give your children a strong sense of city life as it was hundreds of years ago.
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