King David's Tomb is a site considered by some to be the burial place of
David, King of Israel, according to a tradition beginning in the 12th century.
The majority of historians and archaeologists do not consider the site to be
the actual resting place of King David.
It is located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, near the early 20th century Abbey of
the Dormition. The tomb is thought to be situated in a ground floor corner of
the remains of the former Hagia Zion, considered a Byzantine church or
late Roman era Synagogue.
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Zion Gate.
Zion Gate, also known in Arabic as Bab Harat al-Yahud ("Jewish Quarter
Gate") or Bab an-Nabi Dawud ("Prophet David Gate"), is one of the seven
historic Gates of the Old City of Jerusalem.
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Zion Gate was built in July 1540, west of the location of the medieval
gate, which was a direct continuation of the Street of the Jews (also
known as the Cardo).
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See more at
Zion Gate - Wikipedia.
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Entering King David's Tomb.
The current building was originally built as a church and later
repurposed as a mosque, becoming one of the most important Islamic
shrines in Jerusalem.
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It was split into two immediately following the end of the 1948
Israeli Independence war; the ground floor with the cenotaph was
converted into a synagogue, and the Muslim cover on the cenotaph was
replaced with an Israeli flag and then a parochet.
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Door to King David's Tomb.
Pay attention to the Mezuzah on the right side of the door.
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Mezuzah.
A mezuzah (Hebrew: "doorpost"; plural: mezuzot) is a piece
of parchment called a klaf contained in a decorative case and
inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4–9
and 11:13–21).
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These verses consist of the Jewish prayer Shema Yisrael, beginning
with the phrase: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord (is) our God, the Lord is
One".
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See more at
Mezuzah - Wikipedia.
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King David's cenotaph.
The cenotaph is located in a corner of a room situated on the ground
floor remains of the former Hagia Zion, considered as an early church or
late era synagogue.
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The Gothic cenotaph preserved to this day is the work of the
Crusaders.
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Torah ark.
A Torah ark (also known as the hekhal or aron qodesh)
refers to an ornamental chamber in the synagogue that houses the Torah
scrolls.
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The ark is often closed with a curtain (parochet) placed either
outside the doors of the Holy Ark (Ashkenazi and Mizrachi custom) or
inside the doors of the ark (Spanish and Portuguese and Moroccan or
Sephardic custom).
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The parochet is an ornate cloth that resembles the same cloth
that was once on the golden Ark.
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Both the aron kodesh and parochet are usually inscribed
with verses from Judaic holy scripture. These inscriptions generally
display the purity of the synagogue or the celebrated uniqueness of
the scrolls placed within.
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See more at
Torah ark - Wikipedia.
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Torah reading table.
When the Torah ark is opened, the Torah is moved to the reading table
(or podium).
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In Ashkenazi synagogues, the Torah was read on a reader's table
located in the center of the room, while the leader of the prayer
service, the hazzan, stood at his own lectern or table, facing the
Ark.
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In Sephardic synagogues, the table for reading the Torah (reading
dais) was commonly placed at the opposite side of the room from the
Torah Ark, leaving the center of the floor empty for the use of a
ceremonial procession carrying the Torah between the Ark and the
reading table.
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See more at
Synagogue, Table or lectern - Wikipedia.
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See also
Source
Location
