If Stones Could Talk
by Shalom Pollack

If stones could talk...they would certainly chew our ears off in the Old City of Jerusalem! Luckily for me they can not or iI'd be out of a job. I am a tour guide and let me take you on a short virtual tour in the rebuilt Jewish Quarter with a special stop next to the recently revealed 'Broad Wall" at the very center of all the action.

The Jewish Quarter is one of four - the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian. During the first Jewish - Arab war in 1948 the Arabs cut Jerusalem off on three sides and the situation was critical for the one hundred thousand Jews reduced to starvation rations . It was worse within the walls of the Old City. When the Jordanian army joined the local Arab militias a two week, round the clock shelling of the Jewish Quarter began. Finally the tiny Jewish force and tattered population surrendered after a lion hearted fight.

Once again Jews were expelled from Jerusalem, now through the bullet pocked Zion Gate (If foget thee Oh Zion...) All was destroyed, desecrated and lie in ruins , and would for ever but for the one time miraculous events of the Six Day War of June 1967. Israel returned to the Old City and was elated as well as aghast at what they had found.

There were two silver linings in the cloud of destruction and mayham. One was the ability to clear and build an even nicer more comfortable Quarter. The other was the ability to actually dig and excavate under former homes for treasures more valuable than any mineral the earth can offer. Jerusalem of a century ago, a millennia two three.. were discovered and restored. Oh if the stones could speak!

One of the more dramatic finds is the "Broad Wall". Twenty seven hundred years ago a great wall surrounded First Temple Jerusalem. It was some twenty five feet high and six feet thick. The lower remains of this wall was uncovered. And to think what that wall has seen! For starters, one of the most famous biblical pairs, King Hezekia and the prophet Issiah stood together atop the wall facing the challenge of their lives. Sancehrev, king of Assyria and world conqueror had just one more trophy to win and then he could go home. Jerusalem defied the greatest army in the world at the time. The tyrant send Ravshaka, perhaps a Jewish turn coat or a translator to demand surrender. He spoke perfect Hebrew and addressed the starving and frightened population suggesting they serve his master and live or rely on the god of Israel and die a terrible death The king and his court were distraught. They asked Isaiah what they should do. He said don't worry God has promised that "not one arrow will strike Jeusalem and Sancherev will go back the way he came."

The Assyrian king boasted that each one of his soldiers will take one stone out of the walls and the city will be taken the next day. But God had other plans. That night a plague swept the vast army and one hundred and eighty five thousand soldiers were dead by morning. The king fled back to Ninve his capital and there he was over heard by his two sons promising his favorite idol " that which is most dear to him if he saves him from this predicament. His sons did not like the sound of this deal and so they - killed their father. And Jerusalem stood for another hundred years until the Babylonians broke through these very walls.

As the Jews were exiled from their beloved Jerusalem to the waters of Babylon and all were distraught, it was the prophet Zacharia who comforted them with a vision shown him. He said "There will yet be children playing in the streets of Jerusalem..." I dont know if it was planned that way but there is a play ground just next to the broad wall and guess who plays there as the stones watch. Same "Jerusalem stone" being built all around them - and the same Jewish people are back again. Zacharia's prophecy comes true today again an is quite properly cut into the Jerusalem stone.

The stones don't even have to talk. What a country!

Written by :

Ray