It is an irony that should not be missed: the true symbol of Judaism is a wall. The country’s department of tourism uses a rendition of two spies carrying a cluster of Eschol’s grapes; the Israeli flag is emblazoned with magen David, the six-pointed shield; the knesset (parliament) boasts a large seven-branched menorah. But world Jewry always finds its way to the Wall.
The Wall, or ha-Kotel (often called by Gentiles the Wailing Wall–never by the Jews; they call it Kotel Ha’Maaravi or the Western Wall), is really a portion of the Herodian retaining wall built to enlarge the Temple Mount area. Mount Moriah’s southern peak was not large enough for Herod the Great’s grandiose plans, so he had a large stone “table” built over the summit. The outer (eastern) wall of the city was extended to the south, and three other walls were built in a rough rectangle around the base of the mountain. Then, upheld by pillars, domes, and arches, a huge platform was built between the walls (approx. 1000ft. x 1500ft.). On this expansive “tabletop” were erected the temple precincts. Herod beautified the Second Temple, including the addition of a solid gold crown around its parapet.
Sitting on the commanding slope of Olivet east of the city, a knot of men gathered around a Prophet, in animated conversation. They were impressed with Herod’s beautification program in the Eternal City. But their Master told them, “There shall not be left here one stone upon another” (Mt. 24:2). Could it be?
One full generation would pass. This last great Prophet, the Stone rejected by the builders, would be executed outside the city walls. The fledgling Church would be scattered by the threatenings and slaughter of one, Saul of Tarsus. Israel, chafing under the Roman yoke, in 66 a.d. rebelled against her masters, bringing down the fury of Titus and his legionnaires. After a bloody five-year siege, the city would be put to the torch. And the temple’s golden crown, once her glory, would bring about her final shame. Running down between her mighty stones, its wealth, once cooled, was sought by the soldiers by breaking each stone apart.
All that was left was the Wall. The first few layers on the top were thrown over into the valley, but the work became more difficult with succeeding rows. The stones each weigh several tons (one foundation stone north of the plaza approximates 400 tons!) The Romans left off their destruction and so the Wall remains.
Almost half a world away, in Richmond, British Columbia, I was standing in a quick-print shop, waiting to have a chart photocopied. In through the door came a cheerful woman, dark haired, sallow skinned. She greeted the proprietor and then stood beside me, waiting to be served. She noticed my chart on the counter.
“Is that yours?” she asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“What is it about?”
“These are the major teachings of the Bible.”
“Would you explain it to me?”
The conversation lasted an hour-and-a-half. She kept coming back to the Jews. Why was she so interested in the Jews?
“I’m a Jew,” she said. “I just arrived from Israel.”
The conversation took a decided turn at that point and we made progress until she asked, “Do I have to become a religious Jew to make it to heaven?”
I told her I didn’t know any religious Jews. There were many in Israel, she told me–the ultra-orthodox. I said I had never met a religious Jew, even among the ultra-orthodox. Puzzled, she asked me what I meant.
“You know what the Jewish religion is, don’t you? The true God lives in the Holiness of Holinesses. Outside is man, the sinner. Between these two is an altar. And a priest. And a sacrifice. Your scripture says, ‘Without the shedding of blood is no remission.’ Do these religious Jews have an altar? A priest? A lamb?”
Her hopeless countenance gave me her answer.
“Your scriptures give the solution. Isaiah said that Messiah would be ‘wounded for our transgressions.’ Jehovah would lay on Him the iniquity of us all.”
It was then that she came to the Wall. After a few more words to her about what Yeshua meant to me, and encouraging her to examine the New Testament, written entirely by Jews, she left the shop. My prayers followed her out the door. They follow her still. Because I know Someone who can take down walls more mighty than Kotel Ha’Maaravi (Eph. 2:14).