After photographing it from afar from every conceivable spot I could, I ventured behind the Western Wall today to the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque. In case you missed how many times the golden Dome makes its way into my photos, I am quite in love with this building. It is magnificently beautiful and dominates the landscape.
The interior of both buildings are open only to Muslims and non-Muslims are only allowed on the grounds during certain times a day (usually early morning).
This is the original Dome of the Rock shrine, completed in AD 691. Inside the "great rock" (the summit of Mt Moriah, from which the prophet Muhammed is said to have risen to heaven, met God face-to-face and received the teachings of Islam.
Al-Aqsa Mosque (the black topped dome) is the third holiest Mosque for Muslims, after Mecca and Medina.
The site is also identified in Christina tradition as the site where Jesus was tried.
The foot bath and some of the grounds.
Across from the two women sitting under the tree (above) is also a girls elementary school.
"Modest dress" is closely monitored in the plaza. What I thought was modest, very nearly wasn't (a skirt to just below my knees, a t-shirt with a light long-sleeve sweater). As I walk, my skirt would slide above my knees...this was not OK. I was asked (very politely) twice to just hike my skirt down a little. I took great pains to be sure it stayed down after that!
I am continually shocked when I see tourists take pictures of Muslim women begging. I don't stick around to find out whether they offer a few shekles after snapping their photo, over fear I'll tell someone off! That said, while there are the random people begging (women, sometimes with children and the disabled), homelessness does not seem to be an issue. Family ensures people have a place to live and orphanages around the city house children given up.
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