May 17, 2017 -- Second Day on the Temple Mount

I visited the Temple Mount for the second day and spent time near the Dome of the Rock.  The Dome gets its name from the dome that is supported by a drum like structure, which itself is supported by pillars.  The Dome sits above a large rock that is sometimes called the foundation stone or cosmic rock.  It is believed to be the location where Abraham offered up his son Isaac, the threshing floor/rock that David bought from Araunah the Jebusite in order to offer up burnt offerings and peace offerings,  and the location on which the First Jewish Temple and the Second Jewish Temple were built. 

In Islamic tradition, it is thought to be the location where Abraham offered up Ishmael.  In later Islamic tradition it is alleged that from this location Muhammad ascended to heaven.  

In 130's CE, the Roman Emperor Hadrian turned Jerusalem into a pagan city renaming it Aelia Capitolina.  He also built a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter on the Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock was built by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik between 688-691.  The Crusaders captured the Dome of the Rock in 1099.  However, Saladin recaptured the Dome in 1187.  The Dome has been damaged several times by earthquakes and also renovated numerous times.  Presently, the Dome is under the Islamic authority of the Waqf. 

Man coming out of the Dome of the Rock's west entry.

Dome of the Rock

Islamic Waqf Security guarding the west entrance to the Dome of the Rock.

Looking toward the south west corner

  

Same man as above

I met a woman from Canada who was staying in Tel Aviv, but came for the day.  Her name is Nadia.  She was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Faith, but not practicing.  I shared with her my experience as a Catholic in order to share and encourage her.  We also talked about the Temple Mount, politics, faith, and sciences.  

Before leaving the Temple Mount, I sat to reflect, think, ponder, and pray for peace, joy, love, purity, praise, thanksgiving, and grace.  I later was at the southwest corner near the steps.  I was approached by a young Arab boy who was playing soccer near that corner with his friends.  He was either mocking me or enjoying himself.  He was imitating something or someone singing.  Something welled up within me and I spoke with him and shared my gift.  He retorted something to me in Arabic.  All I could make out was that he was an Arab.  I sat, reflected, and prayed the Divine Mercy.