Rabbi Reuven Hammer makes excellent points in his
Jerusalem Post opinion piece
today reminding us that the Western Wall – site of premeditated ultra-Orthodox
rioting Friday against Women of the Wall group –
is (a) not part of the
original second temple structure and
(b) is the remnant of an edifice built by
Herod.
It has symbolic and mythic value, of course, and its antiquity is an expression
of the connection between Jewish civilization and the Land of Israel.
My sentiments -- needless to say -- are with the progressive and liberal forces within
Judaism.
I myself tend to avoid the Jewish Quarter of the Old City unless we have guests from abroad or out of town. The area strikes me as a Diaspora-oriented Disney-like theme park.
I'll stick with the Herod exhibit at the
Israel Museum.
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I am open to running your criticism if it is not ad hominem. I prefer praise, though.