Kotel+Tunnels

= Pre-Trip Research... Daniel Doron =

Location of your site:
The Kotel tunnels are located in the middle of Jerusalem, under the Western Wall.

== Geographical Features (Include a Picture or Map): == The tunnel exposes a total length of 485 m of the wall,revealing the methods of construction and the various activities in the vicinity of the Temple Mount.

"Warren Gates" lies about 150 feet (46 m) into the tunnel. This sealed-off entrance has been turned into a small synagogue called "The Cave", by Rabbi Yehuda Getz, since it is the closest point a Jew can get to the Holy of Holies, assuming it was located at the traditional site under the Dome of Rock. At the northern portion of the Western Wall, remains of a water channel, which originally supplied water to the Temple Mount, were found. The exact source of the channel is unknown, though it passes through an underground pool known as the "Struthion Pool".

The biggest stone in the Western Wall often called the Western Stone is also revealed within the tunnel and ranks as one of the heaviest objects ever lifted by human beings without powered machinery.

The Meaning of the Name of your Site:

 * The Western Wall Tunnel ** (Hebrew: מנהרת הכותל‎, translit: // Minheret Hakotel // ) The meaning are the hidden tunnels under the Kotel and that is the way to be closest to G-d.

Historical Background/Significance:
In 19 BCE, King Herod undertook a project to double the area of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem by incorporating part of the hill on the Northwest. In order to do so, four retaining walls were constructed, and the Temple Mount was expanded on top of them. These retaining walls remained standing, along with the platform itself, after the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. However, since then much of the area next to the walls became covered and built upon. Part of the Western Wall remained exposed after the destruction of the Temple. Since it was the closest area to the Temple’s Holy of Holies that remained accessible, it became a place of Jewish prayer for millennia.

== Do other Cultures or Religions have connections to your site?: ==

Yes the Muslims, Christians, and Arabs all have connections to my site. They all had ancestors there and it has connections to them. There is a part for all of them to pray there. Today, the Wall is surrounding the Muslim Mosques on Temple Mount. The name Wailing Walled is named 'El-Burak' by the Muslims, after the winged horse that brought Muhammad the prophet in the Night Journey from Mekka to Jerusalem. Tradition says that Muhammad tied the horse to the Western Wall, and entered a cave located on Temple Mount (today inside the dome of the rock). From there, an angel took him to meet Moses, Jesus, Elijah the Prophet and other prophets. This is when he saw the Heaven and Hell and the destiny awaiting man after death. All history relates to all religions here.

Connect a Talmudic/Biblical saying to your site:
There are many sayings about the Kotel Tunnels, all of the sayings mainly focus on how that is the closest we are to Hashem.

Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kaindenover cites the Zohar which writes that the word kotel, meaning wall, is made up of two parts: “Ko”, which has the numerical value of God’s name, and “Tel”, meaning mount, which refers to the Temple which is the Western Wall.

== Share any Midrash, Fables, or other “stories” about the site: ==

[|Story of the Kotel Tunnels]

= Now You're ready to create a multimedia presentation in Hebrew for class here in America. =
 * [Link your Presentation here if applicable]

= You're also responsible for a brief "Tour Guide" presentation in __ENGLISH__ to be given at your site in Israel. = The Kotel Tunnels is a very special place. Many people believe that when you pray at the Kotel Tunnels, G-d listens to you the ost because you are as close as can be to what was the Beit Hamikdash. It is such a nice place with a model of the Beit Hamikdash in it. It is located right under the beautiful wall, the Kotel. Its an extraordinary place that everyone in this world would find fascinating, even if they are not Jewish.

= After the Trip... =

Picture From your Site.
[Add a photo from your trip to the site here]

Reflections:
[Write a brief reflection on your visit to your site. Was your experience what you expected? Did you learn something new? What was it like experiencing this place in person...]