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In the foreground, Avir can be seen sitting under the shade of a date palm at the Jaffa
Gate entrance to the Old City. The Jaffa Gate is one of many gates, each with its own unique
story. Avir is resting and waiting for his friends to arrive after a two-kilometre walk from the
famous Old City markets commonly known as “the Shuk”
If one was to retrace Avir’s steps and walk back up the path, they would find the shop
and offices of the Bible Society of Israel, which is situated near the front of the modern
building in the middle of the picture.
The Jaffa Gate was built in the 16th Century by the Ottomans. It is located on the
western side of the old city, facing in the direction of Jaffa and Tel Aviv. It’s a very busy
thoroughfare, which leads to the Jewish Quarter, the Kotel (the Western ‘Prayer’ Wall) and
the Christian Quarter. In front of Avir, there are also several open-air vendors selling fresh
bread, juices and other delights.
The high stone walls in this part of the city were first built by the Hasmonean kings in
the 2nd Century B.C. The city sits on Jerusalem’s highest point which is 773 metres above sea
level. The reconstruction on this side of the Old City was necessary in order to strengthen
the expanded western side of the ‘upper city’ which had no natural defences, whereas the
Kidron Valley on the other side provided a natural defence line.
In 1948, during the War of Independence, the Israeli Forces attempted to enter the old
city through the Jaffa Gate. Numerous bullet holes can be seen in the walls as a result of
heavy fighting around the gate during this time. After this skirmish, the Jordanian army was
able to hold their position, take the Gate and shortly afterwards, seal up the entrance. The
Israelis would have to wait another 20-years before they would win back the Jaffa Gate
during the 1967 war. They then re-opened up the gate to once again unite the city. A major
road was constructed on the southside of the gate, which is a busy thoroughfare into the Old
City.
Over the next few weeks we will show more pictures of Jerusalem and the travels of
Avir.