Hebrew U. Report on Dig at Temple Mount
Reveals Prof. Mazar's Massive Findings
COLPA Welcomes Tax Credit Plan
NEW YORK (JTA) — The Na-
tional Commission on Law and
Public Affairs (COLPA) welcomed
the consideration by the • Presi-
dent's Panel on Non-Public Educa-
tion of a tax-credit plan to reim-
burse the parents of private-
school pupils for their educational
expenses.
"Tax credits would alleviate the
onerous financial burden of those
parents whose children receive
their secular education in paro-
chial schools," said COLPA Presi-
dent Julius Berman. He added that
the concept of tax credits was "in
complete accord" with the Su-
preme Court's recent decisions re-
asserting the prohibition of "ex-
cessive government entanglement
with religion."
In the light of recent ex- tion, embedded high in the Tem-
JERUSALEM — Hebrew Uni-
versity archeologist Prof. Benja- ploration, however, it seems as ple wall, it would have afforded
THE DETROIT JEWISH PEWS
though the "royal bridge" theory an insurpassable view of ancient
min Mazar has issued the second
Friday, September 3, 1971-15
report on the archeological exca- long held by many scholars will Jerusalem.
now have to be discarded. To
vations taking place under his di-
Josephus describes how in the
date, no evidence has been time of the Second Temple, one of
rection at the Southern Wall of the
found to support the theory of the priests would ascend this spot
Passport-Photos
Temple Mount.
a bridge link between Robinson's at sundown on Friday and again
The 40-page report (in Hebrew)
Arch and the Upper City (the a day later at nightfall and, with
for $ 3.95
comes two years after publication
present day Jewish Quarter). a trumpet blast, signal the ap-
of the first report on the 1968 Instead, a series of vaults was
Back Door
proach and close of the Sabbath.
season of excavations which got found, of graduated heights, all
Galleries
Another more recent find is a
under way soon after the Six-Day of which seems to indicate that
War. Excavations at the site have a staircase led up to Robinson's monumental staircase leading up
28631 Southfield
continued since then, spreading to Arch from the Tyropoean Val- to the "Double Gate. - The "Dou-
S of 12 Mile
352-4- 116
Mastery
is
often
taken
for
ego-
ble"
and
"Triple"
Gates
(the
the area west of the Western Wall ley below.
tism.—Goethe.
"Hulda Gates") served pilgrims
adjacent to Robinson's Arch.
In the course of the excavations,
The current report, which con- the remains of a pier were found going up to the Temple. They are
tains a wealth of illustrations, —the western support of Robin- 80 meters apart and are both
some of them in color, provides son's Arch. Its lower courses, sealed. So far the staircase has
SEE OR CALL
a detailed account of the findings which have been -well preserved, been bared to a distance of 30
obtained from the excavations up leave no doubt as to its Herodian meters, and if it is part of an
u n b r o k en stretch -which once
to June 1970. A translation of the character, and on the side facing served
both gates, Prof. Mazar be-
report in English is to appear later the street, to the east, the stones lieves that it will eventually be
this year.
are of a particularly fine finish. found to be over 100 meters wide.
The dig is being sponsored by
Of special interest are four
WILSON-CRISSMAN CADILLAC
Beneath the Double Gate part
the Israel Exploration Society and chambers -within the pier, opening
CALL BUS. MI 4-1930
RES. 642-6836
of
a
tunnel
was
found
hewn
into
the Institute of Archeology of the onto the street on the east. On
1350 N. WOODWARD, BIRMINGHAM
the
bedrock.
The
archeologists
be-
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the basis of finds from within,
in conjunction with the Israel which include various stoneware, lieve that it allowed priestly access
Academy of Sciences and Humani- pottery, weights and coins, it is to the inner Temple area as dis-
ties.
Visit The Four Seasons Sq. Lake Road
assumed that the chambers were tinct from the gates used by pil-
Assisting Prof. Mazar are Meir shops serving those coming to the grims. The Mishna speaks of a
special
lamplit
underground
route
Ben-Dov, whose article dealing Temple.
which the priests would take and
with the Ommayad structures dis-
At various intervals during the
covered in the same area also dig, architectural fragments, pre- which it calls the "Mesiba." The
appears in the report, and Joseph sumed to have fallen from the rock-cut tunnel is sufficiently high
Aviram, in charge of administra- royal stoa, have been found among for a man to stand in and bears
per iodic soot-blackened niches
tion and public affairs.
the debris. If this assumption is
Here is a protected, secluded
In addition to the 10-member correct, then to a certain extent along both walls.
professional staff and 50 perma- they serve to complement Josephus'
environment where you can
nent workmen, 500 volunteers, description of this building. Here, Down Payments on Homes
be yourself, where you can
mainly from overseas, are now two details are noteworthy; Jo-
Assisted
in
Cleveland
express
your individual taste
Lone Pine Road
working at the Temple Mount site. sephus observes that the capitals
in living. Choose from four
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS (JTA)
This number also includes Hebrew in the stoa were in the Corin-
dramatic architectural styles .
French, Tudor, Alpine
University students and high school thian style, although this has been —Jewish families will be assisted
pupils.
or Spanish. Satisfy your living needs with one of six
confirmed by only few fragments. in buying homes in this community
In the initial stages of the ex- However, four of the fragments under a new program established
designer floor plan options.
cavations, Prof. Mazar and his were found with traces of gold- through the cooperation of the
One, two and three bedroom apartments. Only twenty-
Cleveland
Heights
Assembly,
the
team were still relying greatly leaf overlay and this brings to
seven
left at $340/month to $575/month, now leasina.
Hebrew
Free
Loan
Society
and
the
on observations made by the 19th mind Josephus' mention of the
C e n t u r y British archeologist gold plating which covered the Jewish Community Federation, the
Charles Warren on behalf of the exterior of the Temple and which Cleveland Jewish News reported.
The Federation's executive com-
Palestine Exploration Fund 100 "at the first rising of the sun,
years ago. As work progressed, reflected back a very fiery splen- mittee approved the allocation of
-however, more and more be- dor." (War V, 222). This is also $20,000 from the Federation's En-
came``-known of the nature and alluded to in the Mishna (Midot, dowment Fund to the Hebrew
2945 Woodward Ave. north of Hickory Grove Road
Loan Association. The money
extent of the monumental Tem- 4:1) which thus describes the Free
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48013 - Phone (313)338-1800
will
be
used
to
provide
interest-
ple edifice extended by Herod Temple: " . . for all the House free loans to Jewish families for
OFFICE HOURS: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. SAT. & SUN.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. vvcu., i rtURS. &
the GrOt (37-4 BCE),—a period was overlaid with gold . . . "
OR BY APPOINTMENT — CLOSED MONDAY & TUESDAY ,
down
payments
on
homes.
Regarding the finds so far
in JewiSh history which was well
examined, mention is made of
documented in the Mishnaic and
the abundance of coins from the
Talmudic' literature, the New
time of the Hasmoneans down to
Testament . and the works of
the time of the First Revolt (66-
Josephus Fluvius.
The vast_,-time span from the 70 CE). As for the pottery, of
dekruction' of the Second Temple particular interest is the variety
clown to the Arab conquest is well of the so-called "Herodian"
represented -at. the site by numer-
lamps and painted "pseudo-Nab-
ous structural , remains and many atean" plates.
finds dating from all the great
One stone fragment is specially
historical epochS. To date, how- , meaningful. for it bears the in-
UNDER NEW ADMINISTRATION
ever, the dig has focused on areas scription Qorban ("sacrifice")
ANNOUNCES
of special interest as regards the alongside the carved depiction of
ancient topography of the city. two bird-figures. This is redolent
Where bedrock descends eastward of the passage in the Mishna-
from the Western Hill down to (Haaser Sheni 4:10): "If a man
the Tyropoean Valley (the "Cheese- found a vessel and on it was
Ten Mile at Kenosha, Oak Park
makers' Valley") and then rises written Qorban . . " The repre-
up again to the Ophel Mount—the sentations of the two birds may
slope on which David built his be' connected with the offering of
(Children ages 5-17 Kdg. through 12th)
royal citadel—drastic changes oc- the woman in confinement.
curred in the landscape as a result
As an indication of the tre-
Classes Are Held on Sunday Mornings
of Herod's tremendous undertak- mendous pace at which work at
ing when he doubled the extent the site is proceeding, and where
We Have Three Sessions Which Meet
of the ancient Temple area by fill- new finds are made daily, no
ing in the Tyropoean Valley, as sooner had the report gone to
From 9 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.
well as the western slope of the press than two findings of major
Kidron Valley.
importance were unearthed.
The leveling-off of this large
The first of these was the dis-
area by vast quantities of fill was covery in January 1971 of an
accomplished by means of huge eight-ton stone lying in the debris
walls founded on bedrock. In the along the Herodian street just by
outer Temple courtyard, along its the southwestern corner. All the
southern edge, Herod built his signs are that the stone once
"royal stoa" (portico) concerning formed a corner parapet of the
As a Service to the Community , Students
which Josephus tells us that it Temple walls and had been toppled
was "a structure more noteworthy from its position when the Roman
of Non-Members are accepted.
than any under the sun." (Ant. invader razed the city 19 cen-
turies ago. The stone, which has
XV, 412).
Between this stoa and the nobles' a niche large enough to hold a
Phone the Synagogue office for school
palace of the Upper City to the man, bears a Hebrew inscription
registration information
west, it was believed that Herod incised in its margin in the same
built a bridge, of which only Rob- script found in the Dead Sea
LI 8-9000
inson's Arch remains today, jut- Scrolls. It reads: "Le'Beth Hat-
ting out from the Western Wall, qiyah," -which means, 'to (or be-
just north of the southwestern longing to) the place of trumpet-
blowing'. When in its original posi-
corner of the Temple Mount.
2
NEW CADILLAC?
in BIRMINGHAM at
NOW SHOWING
FURNISHED MODEL
the four
sons
rKi.
CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE
B'NAI MOSHE
RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
REGISTRATION FOR
1971-72
ACADEMIC YEAR
OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 6:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M.
Classes Begin
Sunday, September 12