Musing on a Temple Mount Stone

July 22^nd was the fast of Tisha B’Av on which Jews remember the destruction of their first and second temple.  A day later on the 23^rd a huge section of a stone block that weighs between 200-400 pounds fell from the Western Wall nearly hitting a woman that was worshiping on a new prayer plaza near the south west corner of the mount.  Although the exact cause has not been determined, several suggestions have been presented.  Either rain water that collects on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, which seeps out through the wall, or vegetation that grows between the stones of the wall might have weakened the stone.  Some Palestinian authorities accuse the Jews of excavating near and below the foundations of the al-Aqsa Mosque in an attempt to bring down the mosque in order to build the third temple.   Another suggestion is that the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement and the Waqf illegally used heavy machinery below the al-Aqsa Mosque in order to create an underground mosque, thus in directly and eventually causing the failure.  Others have a more spiritual musing and mooring tied to the fall of the huge stone. 

You can see a video of the stone fall from the wall here.      

[Later reflections].  Perhaps it is helpful to remember the wisdom of Solomon who proclaimed that even the highest heavens cannot contain God (1 Kgs 8:27) and follow the words of the prophet that heaven is merely the throne of YHWH and earth a footstool (Isa 66:1).  Everything that can be shaken will be shaken including buildings made with human hands.  Perhaps it is better to remember the promise of the new heavens and a new earth and the temple not made with human hands.