The gates through the wall provide opportunity to enter and exit, to visit people and places, and to observe and participate unique locations. There is no place on earth which has attracted as much interest as the city of Jerusalem. Today there are seven open gates. Each entryway is unique, and offers the visitor unique attractions, foods, shopping, people and sights of interest. I want to invite you to join me to see the Gates of Jerusalem in May 2018, For more details visit this link.
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| Jaffa Gate is the widest entry into Jerusalem |
Jaffa Gate is the way most tourists, and many residents enter the old city of Jerusalem. This gate, near the palace of Herod the Great opens into diverse commercial districts of Jerusalem. Antiquities and tourist markets can be found within the gates. Outside the gate guests can enjoy a modern shopping area called the Mamilla.
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| Places of worship near the New Gate of Jerusalem |
The New Gate, to the north of the Jaffa Gate enters into a religious section of the city. The modern opening was originally created so pilgrims could enter the city near the church of the Holy Sepulchre. The opening also leads to other churches built close to the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection as well as Mosques which are located in north-west Jerusalem.
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| The weekend market at the Damascus Gate |
The Damascus Gate allows travelers to enter Jerusalem from the north. A market is located outside the entrances, and the main commercial district, called the Cardio in antiquity is located inside this entrance. Shops containing many types of merchandise can be found on two streets branching from this portal and leading south. A much older gate can be seen adjacent to today’s entry.
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| View of the Herod Gate (center) from Mount Scopus |
The Herod Gate is located at one of the highest places of the Jerusalem. It is thought that Herod Agrippa built a palace along this ridge so he could look over the walls and into the Temple. Today this portal opens into a quiet neighborhood.
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| The Stephen or Lion's Gate of Jerusalem |
The Stephen Gate leads in from the Mount of Olives east of the city. This gate is a favorite entryway for pilgrims desiring to walk the Via Dolorosa.
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| The Golden Gate onto Temple Mount |
The Golden Gate was at one time the eastern entrance into the Temple itself, but years ago it was bricked to prevent the Messiah’s entry. Later a cemetery planted in front of the portal in order to create an uncleanness upon pilgrims who would attempt to enter.
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| A Bar Mitzvah near the Dung Gate |
The Dung Gate is the low spot of the city, the place through which trash is removed. Today it is the place tourists enter to visit Temple Mount or the Dome of the Rock. The gate is busy as busses drop people off at this spot. There are major archeological excavations both inside and outside this gate.
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| The Bullet riddled Zion Gate into Jerusalem |
The bullet ridden Zion Gate leads into the city from the south. This portal leads to the Jewish quarter of the city, and modern, rebuilt areas of the old city. Oskar Schindler
The current gates were built about 500 years ago, and there is a unique history which will be shared in a book I will complete in January. I will share in later posts more about gates which existed in New Testament and Old Testament time periods. There is nothing like visiting the Holy Land. Please consider joining me on a 14 day trip to the Holy Land in May 2018. We will be walking in the footsteps and seeing the land where people of the Bible lived. We will spend several days in Jerusalem just south of the Zion Gate.
