Sanhedrin Tombs: in a park near corner Rehov Shmuel Hanavi and
Rehov Hativat Harel, Sanhedria. Rock-hewn tombs and caves believed to be burial
places of Second Temple judges. Open daily until sunset. You might need a
torch. Entrance free.
(Bus Nos. 2, 38)
*Sephardi Synagogue Complex: see Synagogues in the Jewish Quarter.
*Siebenberg House: 6 Hagitit St., Jewish Quarter. Display of
archaeological remains dating back 3,000 years, which were found under the
recently-built home of Theo Siebenberg. Mikves (ritual baths), royal burial
vaults, a huge cistern, jars, mosaics, coins and so on were excavated here.
Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-l p.m. Guided tours in English at
noon. Entrance fee.
(Walk No. 1 or Bus No. 1)
Shrine of the Book: see Israel Museum.
Silwan Village: southeast of the City of David. An Arab village across
Hashiloah Rd. from the Pool of Siloam. Also known as the Mount of Offence, this
is where Solomon built temples to the pagan gods venerated by his many wives.
First Temple period rock-hewn tombs are strewn around the village.
(Bus No. 1 )
Skirball Museum of Biblical Archaeology of Hebrew Union College, houses
discoveries from the excavations of the biblical sites of Dan, Gezer and Aroer
including the famous ``House of David'' inscription. 13 King David St. Open:
Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.
(Bus Nos. 18, 21, 30)
Solomon's Quarries: see Zedekiah's Cave.
State Archives: Prime Minister's Office building, Hakirya. Original
scroll of Declaration of Independence and other historic documents. Open:
weekdays 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Admission free.
(Bus Nos. 9, 24)
St. George's Cathedral: American Colony. Nablus Road. Anglican Church
consecrated in 1898.
(Bus No. 27)
St. Stephen's Basilica: (St. Etienne not to be confused with St. Stephen's
Church, below): situated on Nablus Rd. between St. George's Cathedral and
the Garden Tomb. A 19th-century building over ruins of the first church built
by the Empress Eudoxia (5th century), pulled down by the Persians (7th
century), rebuilt by the Crusaders (11th century), only to be pulled down again
by Saladin (12th century). The Dominican Institute of Bible and Archaeology is
situated here. In the courtyard are two large burial caves from the First
Temple period. Closed to the public.
(Bus Nos. 42, 43, 64)
St. Stephen's Church: Jericho Rd., diagonally across from the Basilica
of the Agony. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, was killed close by, on the
steps cut in the rock leading from the Temple Mount to the Kidron Roman bridge.
(Walk No. 4. Bus Nos. 1 , and 42 or 43 from Damascus Gate)
*Stations of the Cross: 14 significant points along the Via Dolorosa.
See Via Dolorosa.
(Walk No. 3)
Supreme Court Building: near the Knesset. A superb example of modern
architecture, the building was opened in 1993 and has already become a major
attraction. Open Sun.-Thurs. 8.30 a.m.-2.30 p.m.
(Bus Nos. 9, 24)
*Synagogues in the Jewish Quarter: There are many synagogues in this
Quarter. The oldest and most interesting synagogues are to be found off Jewish
Quarter Road and Bet-El Road. First, the oldest, the Ramban Synagogue, was
established in 1267 by Spanish rabbi Moshe ben Nahman (known as the Ramban) who
remodelled an existing (marble-pillared) Crusader structure. When the Ramban
arrived in Jerusalem he found only two Jews (cloth dyers) in the city: the
ill-wind of the Inquisition blew more and more Jews to Jerusalem and the Ramban
synagogue was at one time used by both Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Late in the
16th century, the synagogue was turned into a mosque. The present structure was
built later by the Ashkenazi community and adjoins the old site. Renovated
after 1967 it is now used for daily prayers. At the northern wall of the
synagogue are the remains of the Hurva Synagogue, an impressive and important
Ashkenazi devotional centre until 1948 when it was reduced to little more than
a wall and rubble by the Arab Legion. Building of the Hurva Synagogue started
as long ago as l700 with money from Sassoon and Rothschild for the Polish
followers of Rabbi Yehuda the Hassid Moslem threats and the death of the rabbi
delayed its completion until 1864. A stone arch has been reconstructed above the
ruins as a memorial. Open: Sun.-Thurs., Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-l p.m.
Free. Four Sephardi Synagogues (Walk No. 1 ): down Beit-El Road built in the
l6th century by exiles from Spain, the synagogues were restored to simple
elegance and reopened in 1972. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.-1
p.m. The Synagogue of Elijah the Prophet (Eliahu Hanavi), around a cave
supposedly frequented by Elijah, was used as a shelter for goats and other
livestock by the Jordanians. Carved hands bless you at the door of the
Istanbuli Synagogue the Synagogue of Rabbi Ben Zakkai, larger than the other
three, was at one point made to look like a mosque to fool intolerant Turks who
might have passed by finally the Middle (Emtzai) Synagogue - grew out of the
courtyard and ritual bath used by the other three. Money for the improvements
came from the patron saints of building and restoration in the Holy Land, the
Rothschilds. The Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue, on the street of the same name, was
one of the largest and most attractive synagogues in Jerusalem before 1948.
Today all that remains is an arched facade. The Habad and Bet-El Synagogues are
two other well-known places of worship in this area.