Page 26 - HaMizrachi #10 Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot 5779

PLACES IN ISRAEL
HEROD’S Legacy
Was Herod a good guy or a
bad guy? To paraphrase
Monty Python: What
did Herod ever do for us? These are
amongst the top 10 questions we
Israeli tour guides, historians and
archeologists are asked on a daily
basis.
Despite the fact that the Sages of the
Mishna exalt the beauty of “Herod’s
edifice” and credit him for building
the Temple – which includes the Kotel
– someone removed Herod’s name just
before the production of new Western
Wall signs and plaques. Now, millions
of visitors do not know that Herod
built the wall in front of them.
When visiting, don’t miss the
Southern Wall with its original
staircase and gates; and walk by the
Eastern Wall’s edge from the road
circling the Old City. You can even
walk its entire length on a path, going lives, naming the structure after
past the Golden Gate and turning
left into the Lion’s Gate. Look for the hill to build up another. The Talmud
seam, where the Herodian stones end
and earlier architecture begins. Also,
try to find the outlines of a gate near to entrusting Herod to see the Temple
the southern edge. At some point on
this path, you are passing the Temple’s and he literally did uproot mountains!
Eastern Gate, where the Mishna says
you may not be light-headed, and the
Rambam says this is still in effect
today.
(New evidence suggests that the grand
concourse leading up from the City of
David National Park and continuing
along the Western Wall may be post-
Herod; some elements may even be
Pontius Pilate’s work – sorry to spoil
many guidebooks; archeological
evidence currently suggests
otherwise.)
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Rabbi Barnea Levi Selavan
You cannot travel around Israel
without encountering Herod’s many
contributions: the Western Wall,
the Mount of Olives overlook of the
Temple Mount, Masada, Caesarea
Maritima, three Jericho palaces,
Hyrcania, Machaerus and Callirrhoe
in Jordan, Caesarea Philippi-Panias
by the Banias Springs near Dan,
ancient Shomron-Sebastia (see Omri
and Achav’s palace underneath the
Herodian level – don’t miss it!) Visit
the Israel Museum’s Second Temple
period model. Herod built 15 palaces,
and so much more.
Perhaps the greatest personal insight
into this man lies 15 minutes from
Jerusalem – Herodium, or Herodion.
A fantastic site for families, for
children of all ages, for serious history exiting is easy. Once outside, visit
buffs and for those looking for a new
adventure as residents or frequent
visitors. Herod commemorated a
battle that saved his and his family’s
himself and taking material from one
states that if a king says uproot the
mountain it will be done, in reference
refurbishing through to completion –
Architecturally, Herodian is a unique
palace-fortress-mausoleum with
spring water channeled into the
desert. After a magnificent view of
the surroundings from the top and of
Lower Herodion, where you can now
dig as a family (reservations required),
descend into the bathhouse. In the
main plaza, see how an earthquake
damaged the grand architecture where
the straight courses of stones suddenly
bend. Recently discovered wine
production and storage facilities and
beautiful frescoes are being prepared
and will soon be open to the public.
The surprise here is that the Second
Temple period and Bar Kochba period
rebels built a synagogue, mikveh,
and a weapons foundry, all visible
in the main plaza. Remember that
a destroyed synagogue retains its
sanctity with restrictions on behavior,
and one should bless Baruch Dayan
HaEmet upon entry.
A thrill for all ages is following the
secret underground tunnel system
connecting huge cisterns on opposite
sides of the hill. While steep, the
staircases are fairly short, and
what is possibly Herod’s tomb, and
his personal frescoed theater room
above the 300-seat theater – you
just know he sat in this very room!
The late architect-archeologist Ehud
Netzer explained that Herod poured
shining white, crushed stone to cover
the theater, homes, and an exterior
staircase leading through grand
arches into the main palace courtyard.
Thus he made a magnificent tomb,
surrounded by a garden, strikingly
visible from Jerusalem.
This national park is a great place to
visit, to savor our freedom, yet it also
gives us an opportunity to carefully
consider whether a religious, political,
and national survival situation means
there is no choice but to fight and go
to war, as in the time of Chanukah.
Rabbi Barnea Levi Selavan is Co-Director
of Foundation Stone, running educational
programs in Israel and overseas, and a
licensed archaeologist and tour guide