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April 4, 2024

It's Somehow April

Exploring Jerusalem's historical sites, from Tayelet Haas Promenade to the City of David, with a side of film reviews and MLB updates.

View of Jerusalem from Tayelet Haas Promenade
View of Jerusalem from Tayelet Haas Promenade.

First and foremost, apologies for the delay in sending this out. While coming back to the US and recovering from jetlag, I was dealing with nonstop antisemitic abuse and harassment, including from people that I once thought were friends and allies. Many friendships have broken up during the war and they are unable to be irreconciled at this point. This is what happens when people reveal themselves for the antisemites that they really are.

The location of the Tayelet Haas Promenade is said to be where Abraham first viewed Mount Moriah prior to the binding of Isaac. It's easy to see why: the panoramic viewpoint offers one of the best views of Jerusalem. Had I not arrived in Jerusalem an hour later than planned, I would have made it there on Wednesday before going to the Kotel. Instead, I went bright and early on Thursday morning before going to the City of David. If not for the guided tour later that morning, I could have stayed longer to walk around and take in the views.

The thing I love about the location is that it really offers the best of both the Old City and modern-day Jerusalem. Here's a closer view:

A zoomed in view of Jerusalem's Old City from the Tayelet Haas Promenade.
A zoomed in view of Jerusalem's Old City from the Tayelet Haas Promenade.

The view is from the southwest as one can see the corner where the Temple Mount's Western and Southern Walls meet.

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One can get a closer experience by going to the Davidson Center Archeological Park and walking through the Ophel Mikveh Trail in front of the Western and Eastern Hulda Gates. Both gates have long been closed but visitors are able to trek across the very staircase that people once walked on prior to ascending the Temple Mount. The western part of the staircase is better preserved than the eastern part.

Southern Wall staircase leading to the Western Hulda Gate.
Southern Wall staircase leading to the Western Hulda Gate.

I'm a history buff so I added the Archeological Park to my Friday morning schedule when it became clear that the Ramparts Walk was closed due to the current situation. Unfortunately, the museum part was closed on Friday so I walked through the grounds and taking in the history, starting with Robinson's Arch and what remains of the street in front of the Western Wall, just south of the prayer plaza.

What remains of the southwestern wall at the location of Robinson's Arch.
What remains of the southwestern wall at the location of Robinson's Arch.

My last visit had been in 2007 but it's amazing just to see how much has changed with newer excavations--so many mikvehs! I don't remember how much had been excavated back then. Anyway, the staircase is the northernmost point of the Jerusalem Pilgrim Road that led people from the Pool of Shiloach at bottom of the City of David.

As for the City of David, it offers history and excavations dating back to pre-First Temple, including what remains of King David's Palace. Some scholars have disagreements that the Large Stone Structure is the palace. Anyway, it's one of the first things on the guided tour and after taking in a panoramic view of the Kidron Valley.

Speaking of King David, there's some mixed opinions about where he is buried. Tradition states that he is buried at King David's Tomb on Mount Zion although this is up for debate. Others suggest that he was buried in the City of David. We have the Byzantine pilgrims to thank for this--they thought the hill known today as Mount Zion was part of ancient Jerusalem when in fact it was the smaller, lower hill where the City of David is found today--just south of the Temple Mount. I'm of the belief that the actual location is alongside hill as one walks back to the City of David after walking through Hezekiah's Tunnel.

I'm almost certainly going to be writing another piece about the March trip in the days to come. In the meantime, I've been taking in as many St. Louis Cardinals games as I can since Opening Day on Thursday. You can view links to my MLB Report pieces below.

Some friends have asked to share a post that I wrote on Facebook this morning. I'm making it a Buttondown newsletter that I am scheduling for Friday so stay on the look out for that.

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Film Reviews:

  • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

  • Irish Wish

  • STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces

  • Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

  • In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon

  • Taylor Swift | The ERAS Tour (Taylor's Version)

  • Sheva Brachot

Home Entertainment Releases:

  • To Die For

TV Reviews:

  • X-Men '97

  • Testament: The Story of Moses

  • We Were the Lucky Ones

Interviews:

  • Brett Gelman

News:

  • Paris Olympics Coming To IMAX

  • Eclipse Across America

  • Making Team USA Presented by Xfinity

Op-ed:

  • Antisemites Boycotting Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Streaming--Coming and Leaving:

  • Hulu

  • Netflix

  • Peacock

  • Max

  • Prime Video/Amazon Freevee

  • Paramount+

MLB Report:

  • Cardinals Ready To Start With New Look Roster

  • The Experts Have Strong Opinions About the Cardinals Roster

  • Cardinals Battle with Mother Nature and the Dodgers

  • Victor Scott Makes An Impression

  • Cardinals Look For Salvation Out West

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