The beams were used in the construction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and became visible to the public in the 1930s while the building was being refurbished. These beams may have originally been part of the Holy Temple’s roof structure.
Byzantine-era designs were also discovered etched on some of these beams.
“It appears that this is part of the systematic attempts by Arabs to destroy all connections between the Jewish people and the Temple Mount,” a spokesperson from one of the groups trying to secure Jewish rights on the Temple Mount said (Arutz Sheva).
Despite Arab denial that any Jewish Temples ever existed on the Mount, and despite their unauthorized excavations on the Mount that destroy evidence of such a Jewish presence, many Jews and Christians are planning to build a Third Temple on this holiest site in the world.
In fact, the furnishings, instruments, and vessels for Temple worship have already been created and are on display at the Treasures of the Temple exhibition in Jerusalem.
Just beyond the courtyard of the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem is Misgav Ladach Street, a sheltered cobblestone road that leads Israelis and tourists to the Temple Institute (Machon HaMikdash). There, visitors can view Temple treasures that have not been seen in over 2,000 years.
The Temple Institute also offers group tours that can be organized ahead of time and given in Hebrew, English or other languages so that anyone can take in the well-documented history of the Jewish Temple.
A gift shop with Temple-themed books, videos, puzzles, games, computer software, and replicas await visitors. But these items pale in comparison to the 25 years of research and craftmanship that the Institute has invested in creating the Temple treasures.
These are no mere models or replicas. They have been created for use in the Third Temple, which could possibly be constructed within our lifetime. Every dazzling piece in the Institute’s collection is made of pure gold, silver, copper, and other authentic materials.
They have been crafted only after lengthy research into the designs and practices of the original Temple, as required in the Torah and Talmud (oral law). Researchers also studied images on ancient coins and other artifacts that survived the Second Temple era.
The Institute relied on dozens of people—rabbis, scholars, scientists and other experts—who contributed their talents to recreate the Temple vessels.
According to its website, one of the Temple Institute’s mandates is to raise awareness “of the importance of the Holy Temple in the life of all mankind, both Israel and the nations of the world.”
So, in addition to the vessels and furnishings, a variety of paintings, which were commissioned by the Temple Institute, cover the exhibit walls.
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