JERUSALEM(3)   

Enduring faith marks this holy city

We passed onto a blindingly white stone plaza facing the towering Western Wall where Jews have worshipped on and off more than 2000 years.

The wall is just that:a span of light-colored stone blocks that rises nearly as high as a 10-story building. The worship area is cordoned off and divided into men's and women's sides. People of all faiths can approach the wall, but visitors are asked to cover their heads with a hat or scarf. On both sides of the gender divide, people stood with their faces pressed to the massive blocks of stone, quietly saying their prayers. Others carefully folded written prayers and wedged them into the cracks between the massive blocks of stone.

The TempleMount

The mount is not a mountain: it's a structure of massive stones built around a small hill. In the Jewish tradition, that hill is MountMoriah, where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac, Daleski said. On top of that hill of stones was the site of the original Temple, the most revered landmark of the Jewish faith.

The Temple was demolished by invaders more than once; The Second Temple, built by King Herod, was destroyed by the Roman Emperor Titus. Now the top of the TempleMount is occupied by the Dome of the Rock and a mosque.

The HolyCity

I ended each day on the fourth-floor roof terrace of my hotel. My visit was during a full-moon week, and each night as the sun set, the moon rose from behind the Mount of Olives. From the vantage point of the rooftop, it was easy to see Jerusalem as the sacred city. But I knew that on the ancient streets below, Jerusalem, like other cities, is filled with average people getting on with their lives while living out their faith.

Vocabulary Focus
cordon off (phr v)--- to position a line of police, soldiers, vehicles, etc., around an area to guard it or to close it off
demolish (v)--- to completely destroy a building, especially in order to use the land for something else
vantage point (n phr)--- a place, especially a high place, which provides a clear view of an erea.

Specialized Terms
Dome of the Rock (n phr)--- 岩顶清真寺；圆顶清真寺 a notable Islamic shrine in Jerusalem built between 687 and 691 on the site of the Jewish Temple

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