Page 12 - Holyland Magazine - 2018 Edition
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Pieces of pottery

                                                                          The Herodian Quarter

                       preparing the incense for the Temple. Now we       is incredible just how much of the atmosphere
                       are invited to enter and relax in the living room  that characterized this neighborhood you
                       of this wealthy family, which had the most         can actually experience, feeling the life in the
                       secret professional knowledge in Jerusalem.        ancient homes, listening to the story of the
                       We can look at the tools of their craft, the       people who lived in the rooms and feeling like
                       weights, vessels made of stone according to        you are actually part of that period. This way
                       Jewish law, which stipulates that stone vessels    you can identify with their moments of joy and
                       always remain pure.                                happiness as well as moments of pain and
                                                                          sorrow. Only here will we be able to disconnect
    The Burnt House    Now, before we embrace the scent of the            from the hustle bustle of the present, to “take a
                       incense, which perfumed the ancient air            dip” into the experience and, for a few minutes,
                        thousands of years ago, let us recall the         step into the Second Temple period.
                         intense criticism the sages of Israel leveled
                                                                          A fascinating exhibit is projected onto the
                         at the residents of this home. “Woe to me        ancient walls in a variety of languages. Visitors
                          on account of the house of Katros, woe to       are introduced to various characters who lived
                          me on account of their quills. Woe to me        in the house. Here you will meet Evyatar, the
                           on account of the house of Piakhi, woe to      young priest from a noble Sadducee family
                                                                          who crossed the lines to become a Zealot
                            me on account of their fists. For they are    fighter. He shares his life story, from the glory
                            High Priests, their sons are treasurers,      days of abundance to the difficult times of
                             their sons-in-law are trustees, and their    destruction. The technology enables visitors to
                              slaves beat the people with sticks.”        feel that they are part of the storyline.

                              [Babylonian Talmud, Psachim 57].            Just a few steps away is the Broad Wall. Here
                               Evidently, alongside their service in the  you can watch an earlier historical drama,
                               Temple, they abused their power to         from the days of Hezekiah, King of Judah, and
                                accumulate personal wealth, to obtain

                                 jobs for family members and to use
                                 their Jewish brethren as servants. It

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