Temple Mount is the most sacred location in Judaism. It is the site of the Jewish Temple built by King Solomon, and that God promised to King David. It’s location is in Jerusalem in what we now call the old city. It is above the Western wall or the Kotel HaMaaravi. The Western wall is an outer retaining wall for the Temple Mount built by King Herod.

The five books of Moses do not explicitly mention it. Rather, when God commands Abraham to bind Isaac in what Jews refer to as the Akeida, our tradition teaches that the binding happened there. The Temple Mount is Har HaMoriah. Geographically, it sits on a mountain with mountains around it. It sits atop the back of the mountain range connecting Hebron with Shechem. This pathway is the path of the patriarchs.

The Jewish Temple built by the Davidic dynasty was a place of congregation, animal sacrifice, and communal pilgrimage. Three times a year, God commands the Jewish people to ascend to the place that God will choose. Each person should bring the present of his hand in accordance with the blessing that God has given him.

Judaism during the first temple period focused on worship on the Temple Mount in the holiest of holies in the Jewish Temple. The antithesis of the Temple Mount can be found in Canaanite practice. The Temple Mount is in the center of the Jewish entity. Canaanite practice placed worship spots on the edges, such as Dan (in the North-East) and Beer Sheva (in the Negev – South).

Temple Mount

Temple Mount in 1948

In 1948, israel declared its independence as a Jewish state. This was 1813 years since the defeat of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans in 132 CE. Neighboring Arab states such as Jordan invaded Israel. The Jordanians conquered the eastern half of the city of Jerusalem, including what we call the Old City.

Temple Mount in 1967

In 1967, Israel was under threat from Egypt and Syria. Egypt had closed the straits of Tiran. That blocked Israel’s egress from the southern port of Eilat to the horn of Africa and the far East, such as India.

Israel responded to the threat, by preemptively attacking Egypt. Jordan decided to join the war. On June 7, 1967, Israel liberated the old city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

Singing Torah

Singing Torah is innovative software that helps Jewish children connect with a local synagogue cantor through an enjoyable and supportive experience of learning to chant the ancient Hebrew Bible texts. By learning Torah reading, with the help of Singing Torah, a child gains access to the ancient sounds, rhythms and sacred melodies of the stories of the Temple Mount, and its context in Jewish history.

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