The Quarter Square is the heart of the Jewish Quarter. The Menorah - a seven-branched lamp - can be seen in the center of the square. This lamp was first placed on the staircase leading down to the Western Wall. A few years later, its location was moved to the Quarter Square near the "Ruin" synagogue. There are several versions and traditions about how the Menorah looked like. The Menorah is depicted on the triumphal arch of Emperor Titus in Rome. Titus suppressed the Jewish revolt and destroyed the Temple. These events are known in the history of the ancient world as the Jewish War. The spoils brought to Rome and displayed in the Roman Forum included the temple lamp - the Menorah. Menorah is the oldest symbol of the Jewish people. Every day another candle was lit in it from Sunday to Saturday. On Friday evening, all seven candles were lit. Thus the light of the Menorah symbolized the periodicity of life - the weekly cycle. Another image, different from the Roman image, was discovered in the excavations of the Herodian Quarter. It can be seen today at the Israel Museum. A copy is on display at the Quarter Excavation Museum not far from here on Karaim Street. The replica of Menorah in front of us is the work of an artist and jeweler, Haim Oded, who was born in Berdychiv and grew up in Tbilisi.
The trip takes us from the Jaffa Gate through the Christian Quarter to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After that, we will visit Golgotha, the stone of anointing, burial, and resurrection, St. Helena Chapel - the site where the Holy cross was found. Further, the route passes through Muristan to the Jewish Quarter, Kardo Street, excavations of the walls of Jerusalem from the time of Jesus, the mosaic of Madaba, the Hurva Synagogue, the Menorah, the panorama of the Olive and Temple Mountains, the Wailing Wall. Finally, we return to the Jaffa Gate through the Muslim Quarter, the monuments of the Mamluk architecture, and the street of David.
Don't be afraid to get lost in new places!
