spending some time at the model of Second Temple Jerusalem, which has been moved to the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book complex, where it was also developed and “fine-tuned.” Based on old excavation material, the Talmud, the writings of the historian Josephus and the New Testament, the model was constructed for the main part, of materials used at the time of the Temple - Jerusalem limestone, copper, wood and iron. It was built to a scale of 1:50, i.e., two cm. equals one meter, with an average man, in scale, measuring 3.5 cm. Across the road, Jerusalem’s Bible Land Museum offers a guided tour of part of its exhibition halls, prepared especially for Christian groups. Entitled “From the Chosen Father to the Chosen Son,” it has been designed to bring to light the most significant and influential civilizations of the ancient world, connect history to the Holy Scriptures and help visitors understand the historical backdrop to the emergence of Judaism and Christianity. For a different type of introduction to Jerusalem, one that is fun-filled as well as entertaining, pay a visit to the city’s “The Time Elevator,” an audio-visual history of Jerusalem presented in a hall outfitted with chairs and a floor featuring motion effects to complement the film and narration. Located within walking distance of the Time Elevator, the Friends of Zion Museum is Jerusalem’s latest attraction with a Christian pedigree. It highlights the contributions of Christian Zionists to the development of the State of Israel and support for the Jewish people over the last 200 years. The museum offers a series of films, three-dimensional maps and exhibits, original musical scores, advanced lighting and video mapping, and more, all produced specifically for the location, to allow its story to be shared. The Western Wall tunnels, left of the Western Wall prayer area, where a model of the Temple Mount can be seen, is also well worth a visit, as is the permanent exhibition of the Tower of David Museum of the City of Jerusalem, at the entrance to Jaffa Gate. Once there, climb to the top of Phasael Tower for a view of the Christian Quarter - and the cross atop the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the 19th-century German Church of the Redeemer, Mary Magdalene Church on the Mount of Olives, Mt. Zion and Dormition Abbey (traditional site of the Last Supper). Then tour the museum, where the history of the city can be traced, from the City of David to modern times. Christians will want to pay particular attention to the Second Temple Room (with displays on Jesus of Nazareth, the Last Supper, the trial and the crucifixion), the Late Roman and Byzantine Period Room and the Crusader Room, where the focus in on the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Just outside Dung Gate, right near the Western Wall and the Davidson Center, is the magnificent and fascinating City of David. Along with other sites in this immediate area, there is almost no doubt whatsoever that Jesus would have walked in this area, visited the Siloam Pool and would have climbed the steps discovered here on
was included within an expansion of the city walls. Although it had been incorporated into the city, it was not built upon, suggesting the acknowledgement and acceptance of its role as a place of devotion and worship. Emperor Constantine was responsible for building the first real church on this site, and since then there have been many layers of building and development, especially in the Crusader period. Today’s church is vast, encompassing the sites that are believed by many to be the locations of both Golgotha and Jesus’ tomb, which is housed in the Rotunda, a building within a building, under a great dome. A small entrance takes visitors into a central chamber, known as the Chapel of the Angel, from which there is another even smaller entrance into the place of Jesus’ burial - revered by many Christians as the holiest spot in the world. It is a tiny, marbled area, only large enough to hold two people at once, and sometimes the wait on line can take several long minutes. As a city holy to the Christian faith, Jerusalem can also be proud of its many other historically significant churches. In addition, monasteries are scattered about the city, mostly in sites of particular significance - such as the Old City, the Valley of the Cross (where, it is said, the olive trees grow from which the wood for the “true cross” was taken), and others. Christian visitors to Jerusalem - and that includes just about every one of the more than over two million Christians that have been visiting Israel annually these past few years - will certainly want to experience the sites sanctified by their being a part of the early history of their faith. However, even before wandering about the ancient parts of the city, it’s a good idea to become acclimated to Jerusalem as it was 2000 years ago, by
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